Private Client Solicitor

Churchgates Ltd; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday leave

Flexible home working policy

Private health insurance

Pension contributions match

Death in service

CPD/training opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Social events

Job summary

Churchgates Ltd in Langton Place, Bury St Edmunds, seeks a newly qualified solicitor or up to four years’ post-qualification experience to join the legal department. You will advise high-net-worth clients on a broad range of private client matters with empathy, discretion and confidence.

Your duties include drafting wills, LPAs, deputyships, inheritance tax planning, and drafting lifetime trusts, while coordinating with colleagues across our legal, tax, accounting and financial services teams to

Qualifications

• Qualified as a Solicitor required.
• Interest in private client work.
• Good IT skills, esp. MS Office.
• Strong organisational and communication abilities.
• Commitment to excellent client service.

Responsibilities

• Advise high-net-worth clients on private client matters.
• Draft wills, LPAs, and assist with deputyships and Court of Protection applications.
• Advise on inheritance tax planning, exemptions and reliefs.
• Draft lifetime trusts and related deeds.
• Manage matters from instruction to completion and keep clients updated.
• Collaborate with colleagues across legal, tax, accounting and financial services teams.

Skills

Private client work

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organization

Client service

Initiative

Education

Qualified as a Solicitor

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Churchgates brings together a unique and powerful combination of Accountants, Tax Advisers, Solicitors, Financial Planners, Investment Managers and a dedicated team of operational support staff, all under one roof. We believe in treating everyone with respect, and our culture reflects this through a friendly yet professional environment where traditional values still matter.

Based in the legal department at our Langton Place office in Bury St Edmunds, this role would ideally suit a newly qualified solicitor or someone with up to four years’ post-qualification experience.

We are looking for someone who will maintain our high standard of client service, enjoy working within a multi-disciplinary professional services firm, and build trusted, long-term relationships with clients. You will be approachable, empathetic and discreet, with the ability to communicate complex and often sensitive matters clearly and with confidence.

The Role

You will advise high-net-worth clients on a broad range of private client matters, providing clear, practical advice tailored to their individual and family circumstances.

Your work will reflect your experience and include:

• Drafting wills to reflect clients’ wishes and circumstances.
• Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney and advising on deputyships and other Court of Protection applications.
• Advising on inheritance tax planning, including relevant exemptions and reliefs.
• Advising on and drafting lifetime trusts.
• Helping clients understand the wider implications of their decisions, transactions and legal arrangements.
• Dealing with probate and the administration of estates, including intestacy.
• Advising on and drafting deeds of variation.
• Keeping up to date with developments in private client law and maintaining your professional knowledge.
• Managing matters from initial instruction through to completion, organising deadlines and keeping clients informed, with a level of responsibility appropriate to your experience and seeking guidance when needed.
• Working closely with colleagues across our legal, tax, accounting and financial services teams to provide a joined-up service to clients.

Desired Skills

• Qualified as a Solicitor.
• A genuine interest in private client work, with relevant experience gained during training or after qualification.
• Confident IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office, document management and legal document production software.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and draft accurate documents with close attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative approach and the confidence to use your initiative and seek advice when needed.
• A commitment to excellent client service, with the empathy, discretion and sensitivity to support clients through important and sometimes difficult decisions.

What you will receive

• A competitive salary
• 24 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays
• Birthday leave
• Holiday purchase/sale scheme
• Flexible home working policy
• Matching employer pension contributions up to 6% of salary
• Salary sacrifice available for pension contributions
• Income protection equal to 50% of salary until State Pension age if you are off work due to long-term illness or injury
• Death in service benefit (4x basic salary)
• Private health insurance – individual cover available
• Up to two professional subscriptions paid for
• Encouragement to develop and learn by attending training courses and CPD events
• Soft skills workshops
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Length of service recognition
• Social events paid for or subsidised by the firm