Senior Associate / Partner

William James Recruitment; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Enhanced pension provision

Professional development and training

Excellent quality work

Job summary

William James Recruitment is assisting a leading Legal 500-ranked law firm to recruit a Senior Associate or Partner in Private Client for a Reading-based role. You will handle Wills, Probate and estate planning for high-net-worth clients with autonomy and clear progression opportunities.

The role offers excellent quality work, strong client base, and flexible hybrid working. You will join a firm renowned for its advisory excellence and long‑standing client relationships.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE in Private Client law.
• Strong Wills, Probate, Tax and Trust expertise.
• Excellent technical and client-care skills.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied private client caseload including Wills, Estates and Probate.
• Provide inheritance tax and estate planning advice.
• Advise on Trust creation and succession planning.
• Build long-term client relationships and develop business.

Skills

Private Client experience

Wills & Probate expertise

High-net-worth clients handling

Relationship building

Job description

Senior Associate / Partner – Private Client (5+ PQE) - Reading - Competitive Salary + Benefits + Bonus

A leading Legal 500-ranked law firm is seeking a Senior Associate or Partner to join its highly regarded Private Client team in Reading. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Private Client lawyer to join a well-established practice with an outstanding reputation for advising individuals, families, business owners and high-net-worth clients on complex wealth and succession planning matters.

This role offers significant autonomy, high-quality work and genuine progression opportunities. Whether you are an ambitious Senior Solicitor looking to take the next step, an established Associate seeking a broader platform, or an experienced Partner looking to join a growing team, the firm is keen to speak with talented Private Client lawyers who can contribute to the continued success of the department.

The Role:

• Managing a varied caseload of private client matters
• Advising on Wills, Estate Administration and Probate matters
• Providing inheritance tax and estate planning advice
• Advising on Trust creation, administration and succession planning
• Supporting high-net-worth individuals, business owners and families
• Advising on Lasting Powers of Attorney and lifetime planning matters
• Building and maintaining long‑term client relationships
• Developing relationships with professional referrers and intermediaries
• Supporting business development and networking initiatives
• Contributing to the continued growth of the Private Client practice

The Candidate:

• Qualified Solicitor with 5+ years' PQE in Private Client law
• Strong experience across Wills, Probate, Tax and Trust matters
• Excellent technical knowledge and attention to detail
• Experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families
• Commercially aware with strong relationship‑building skills
• Confident communicator with excellent client care abilities
• Strong organisational and case management skills
• STEP qualification or progress towards STEP would be advantageous
• Ambitious and motivated to develop within a highly regarded team

The Benefits:

• Competitive salary (depending on experience)
• Hybrid working opportunities
• Enhanced pension provision
• Excellent quality work from an established client base
• Strong progression opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative working culture
• Professional development and training support
• Modern systems and strong administrative support
• Opportunity to join a highly regarded Legal 500‑ranked team