Private Client Lawyer - Senior Associate

Burgess Paluch Legal Recruitment; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Modern CBD offices

Competitive remuneration package

Strong mentoring

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Burgess Paluch Legal Recruitment is seeking a Senior Associate for a leading private client team in Auckland. The role offers exposure to trusts, estates and private wealth matters, with mentoring and clear progression paths.

The successful candidate will have 5+ years PQE, strong drafting and analytical skills, and the ability to manage files autonomously, working within a collaborative, high-calibre firm. STEP qualification preferred.

Qualifications

• A lawyer with 5+ years’ PQE in trusts, estates or private client law.
• Technically strong with excellent drafting and analytical skills.
• Capable of managing files autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Experienced in advising on complex private client structures and estate matters.
• Commercially minded with strong interpersonal skills.
• A collaborative team player with a proactive approach to client service and business development.
• STEP qualified or working towards the STEP Diploma (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Advise on the establishment, restructuring, administration and winding up of trusts, including charitable trusts
• Prepare and advise on wills, enduring powers of attorney and estate planning structures
• Assist executors, trustees and beneficiaries with complex trust and estate matters
• Manage estate administration matters, including complex and litigious estates
• Advise on relationship property issues intersecting with trusts and estate planning
• Handle transactional property work arising from private client matters, including transfers, transmissions and refinances
• Support complex trust disputes and estate litigation matters alongside the litigation team and external counsel
• Mentor junior lawyers and support staff
• Build and maintain strong client and referrer relationships
• Contribute to business development initiatives, articles and internal projects

Skills

5+ years PQE

Trusts & Estates

Private client law

Drafting & analysis

Client service

Team collaboration

Education

STEP Diploma (preferred)

Job description

This is a rare opportunity to join a leading specialist private client practice with an enviable reputation and a strong pipeline of quality work.

• Leading Mid-Sized Firm
• High-End Private Client Work
• Genuine Career Progression

The Opportunity:

Join a highly regarded and nationally recognised private client team at a leading mid-sized Auckland firm. This is an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Associate with 5+ years’ experience to work alongside respected practitioners on sophisticated trust, estate and private wealth matters in a collaborative and supportive environment.

Working closely with specialist partners, you will enjoy exposure to complex and rewarding private client matters, including trusts, estate planning, relationship property issues and estate litigation support. The team is known for its technical excellence, approachable culture and strong mentoring, with clear pathways for progression for the right candidate.

The Role:

• Advise on the establishment, restructuring, administration and winding up of trusts, including charitable trusts
• Prepare and advise on wills, enduring powers of attorney and estate planning structures
• Assist executors, trustees and beneficiaries with complex trust and estate matters
• Manage estate administration matters, including complex and litigious estates
• Advise on relationship property issues intersecting with trusts and estate planning
• Handle transactional property work arising from private client matters, including transfers, transmissions and refinances
• Support complex trust disputes and estate litigation matters alongside the litigation team and external counsel
• Mentor junior lawyers and support staff
• Build and maintain strong client and referrer relationships
• Contribute to business development initiatives, articles and internal projects

Skills & Experience:

• A lawyer with 5+ years’ PQE in trusts, estates or private client law
• Technically strong with excellent drafting and analytical skills
• Capable of managing files autonomously with minimal supervision
• Experienced in advising on complex private client structures and estate matters
• Commercially minded with strong interpersonal skills
• A collaborative team player with a proactive approach to client service and business development
• STEP qualified or working towards the STEP Diploma (preferred)

Benefits:

• High-quality and complex private client work
• A supportive and collegiate team culture
• Strong mentoring and genuine career progression opportunities
• Exposure to nationally recognised practitioners
• Modern CBD offices
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for the right candidate
• Competitive remuneration package