Solicitor/Associate - Succession & Tax

Blake Morgan; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Blake Morgan in Southampton invites an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join the Succession & Tax team. The role suits a solicitor or associate with proven advisory experience on trusts, estate planning, and complex tax matters.

You'll work closely with the Trust and Tax Team, handling trusts administration, wills, grants of probate, and related tax considerations, with hybrid working 2-3 days in the office per week.

Qualifications

• Experience in trusts and estate planning with independent caseloads.
• STEP qualification preferred or actively pursuing it.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to supervise and delegate within a team.
• Commitment to high levels of client care.
• Experience managing relationships with colleagues and third-party introducers.
• Flexible, able to prioritise and work under pressure.
• IT literate with familiarity of Practice Management Systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide trust advice on setting up, managing and administering trusts.
• Advise trustees and beneficiaries on trust operations and tax treatment.
• Prepare Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
• Estate planning including Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax; create lifetime trusts.
• Obtain Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration and administer estates.
• Prepare deeds of variation, gifts and family arrangements.

Skills

Trusts & estate planning experience

STEP qualification preferred

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration / leadership

IT literacy (Peppermint, iManage)

Education

Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales)

Tools

Peppermint

iManage

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join our established Succession & Tax team in Southampton (ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500) which serves the wider Hampshire region. The role will ideally suit an experienced Solicitor or Associate. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate experience in and an interest in developing expertise in relation to all aspects of advising in relation to complex trust arrangements, their taxation and administration and estate planning generally.

You will typically be involved in the following:

• Providing trust advice particularly around setting up, termination, management and administration of all types of trusts, working closely alongside the trust administration and tax team*
• Providing advice to trustees and beneficiaries concerning the operation of trusts and related tax treatment
• Preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning (including lifetime and post-death planning), to cover advice on Inheritance Tax,Capital Gains Tax* and Income Tax* and the creation of lifetime trusts
• Obtaining Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration and administering estates
• Preparing deeds of variation, deeds of gifts and deeds of family arrangement

* We have a dedicated Trust and Tax Team who deal with the administration and compliance aspects of trust administration within the firm. The successful candidate will be required to work alongside our Trust and Tax Team to provide advice and assist in the administration of trusts.

We support hybrid working, typically with 2-3 days flexible office attendance, according to business need.

Skills / Experience Required

• Experience in relation to trusts and estate planning advice with experience of running independent caseloads
• Strong technical competence and intellectual ability (STEP qualification preferred or committed to obtaining it, where appropriate)
• Confident and personable approach, with excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• A proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, providing a role model for others to follow, to supervise others and to delegate effectively depending upon your particular role in the team
• An understanding and appreciation of the value of high levels of client care
• Demonstrable experience of managing relationships with colleagues (including those in other legal disciplines) and third party introducers of work
• Flexible outlook with an ability to prioritise and work under pressure
• IT literate (you will receive training on our Practice Management System, Peppermint and Document Management System, iManage)

The interview process will start as soon as suitable candidates have been identified.

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