Senior Private Client Lawyer

Foot Anstey LLP; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking law firm in Exeter seeks a professional to join their Succession & Tax team. This role involves leading estate administration matters and providing expert advice on inheritance tax among other responsibilities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in private client law and a strong knowledge of UK tax law. The firm offers competitive salary and benefits, alongside a supportive environment for your professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and performance-linked bonus

Enhanced parental leave policies

Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in private client law, particularly in high-value and technically complex matters.
• Strong working knowledge of UK tax law as it relates to estates and inheritance.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive client relationships with professionalism and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Lead on estate administration matters, including estates with international assets.
• Provide expert advice on inheritance tax and succession planning.
• Support and mentor junior team members, fostering a culture of learning.

Skills

Private client law experience

UK tax law knowledge

Client relationship management

Operational leadership

Collaboration skills

Job description

Exeter (We are keen to hear from any one based/operating in the South West region)

Ready to take your career to the next level?

We’re one of the UK’s most forward-thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us, and let’s shape the future together.

We are in a period of exclusive direct sourcing for this role and are not currently accepting applications from recruitment agencies.

The role in 60 seconds

• Team: Succession & Tax
• Location: Exeter with flexible working arrangements. We are keen to hear from any one based/operating in the South West region.
• Working Pattern: Full-time / Part-time / Flexible

Why this role matters

This is an exciting opportunity to join our highly respected Succession & Tax team, advising a diverse client base on a range of matters. We're seeking someone with both technical expertise and operational and management skills to perform a senior role within our Wills & Probate team facilitating strong performance from team members and driving efficiency.

What you’ll do

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead on estate administration matters, including estates with international assets and agricultural property.
• Provide expert advice on inheritance tax, succession planning, and estate-related tax matters.
• Advise on powers of attorney, elderly client care and estate planning strategies.
• Contribute to business development, helping grow the firm’s client base and reputation.
• Take an active role in operational delivery, managing caseloads efficiently, improving processes, and ensuring high standards of client service.
• Support and mentor junior team members, fostering a culture of learning, collaboration and excellence.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who brings a blend of operational leadership and deep technical expertise, alongside the following attributes:

• Extensive experience in private client law, particularly in high-value and technically complex matters.
• Strong working knowledge of UK tax law as it relates to estates and inheritance.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive client relationships with professionalism and discretion.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a trust corporation or similar governance structure.
• A client‑centric approach and strong relationship‑building skills.
• Passion for innovation, collaboration, and contributing to a forward‑thinking team.
• Motivation to develop a career within a transparent and supportive framework.

Join a seriously ambitious firm

At Foot Anstey, we’re committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and society. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving startups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training – whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

Progressive benefits tailored to you

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth and personal wellbeing, including:

• Competitive salary and performance‑linked bonus.
• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., mental health support, gym memberships).

Ready to apply?

• Hit the "Apply Now" button.
• Send us your CV and a quick note on why this role is perfect for you.
• Our team will review your application and be in touch, whatever the outcome.
• Invited for interview?
• With a straightforward process typically involving two interviews, our talent acquisition team will guide you through every step, ensuring you feel confident and prepared to show us what you can do.
• We’re here to support your individual needs. If you require any adaptations or adjustments, we’re more than happy to accommodate these. Before your interview, we’ll contact you to discuss the themes we’ll cover and answer any questions you might have.
• If you’d like to visit our offices prior to your interview or would like help testing your kit for your virtual interview, just let us know.

Let’s make your next career move the start of something extraordinary.

Demographic Questions

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we invite applicants to complete optional demographic questions. Any information you choose to share will be anonymised and not linked to your application.

For applicants in Northern Ireland: To meet our obligations under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998, we monitor community background and sex to promote equality of opportunity. While you’re not required to answer these questions, we encourage you to do so. Your responses will be used anonymously for reporting to the Equality Commission and will not influence any recruitment or employment decisions.

Community Background: In Northern Ireland, individuals are often perceived as belonging to either the Protestant or Roman Catholic communities, regardless of religious practice. If this section is left blank, we may use the residuary method to determine community background based on the personal information in your application.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at our firm – click here