Trusts Associate (6141)

Irwin Mitchell; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holidays plus bank holidays

Flexible pension schemes

Paid volunteering days

Health membership refunds

Well-being initiatives

Job summary

A national law firm is seeking an experienced Trusts Lawyer to join their pensions team in Sheffield. The candidate will advise on discretionary trusts for insurer clients, assess beneficiary claims, and contribute to trustee decision-making. Applicants should have a strong background in trusts and a pragmatic approach to decision-making. The role offers extensive benefits, including flexible working options and generous leave entitlements.

Qualifications

• Experience in trusts, contentious or quasi-contentious trusts, or private client disputes.
• Ability to provide practical advice in sensitive cases.
• Experience working with or alongside institutional clients.

Responsibilities

• Advise on death in service discretionary trusts for insurer clients.
• Assess beneficiary claims and factual evidence.
• Support trustee decision-making with clear documentation.
• Collaborate within a pensions team and maintain client relationships.

Skills

Trusts expertise

Analytical skills

Client relationship management

Discretionary decision-making

Education

Legal qualifications (Trusts Lawyer or Legal Executive)

Job description

Overview

Irwin Mitchell LLP is a national law firm with a local reach, providing legal expertise to individuals and businesses. You will join our market‑leading pensions team supporting insurer‑led death in service trust work for life assurance providers in the employee benefits and pensions market.

Responsibilities

• Advise on death in service discretionary trusts for trustee of several life assurance master trusts established by insurer clients.
• Assess competing beneficiary claims, evaluating factual evidence and representations.
• Support and document trustee discretion decision‑making, ensuring decisions are robust, consistent and defensible.
• Provide clear, practical advice in sensitive and high‑judgement cases.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the pensions team and wider BSG.
• Support key client relationships.

Qualifications

• Experienced Trusts Lawyer or Legal Executive.
• Background in trusts, contentious or quasi‑contentious trusts, private client disputes, or trustee advisory work.
• Comfortable exercising and advising on discretionary decision‑making, particularly where beneficiaries’ interests compete.
• Strong analytical skills, with ability to distil complex information into clear, defensible conclusions.
• Commercial and pragmatic, with experience working for or alongside institutional clients.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.

Benefits

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays; can buy up to 35 hrs of extra holiday.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Two fully paid volunteering days per year for a chosen cause.
• Westfield Health membership with refunds on medical services and Aviva Digital GP services.
• Well‑being initiatives and a Flexible by Choice programme for hybrid working where role and client allow.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.