Senior Associate Solicitor – Private Client Department (Contentious Trusts & Probate)

Senior Associate Solicitor – Private Client Department (Contentious Trusts & Probate)

We are looking for an experienced solicitor with strong management skills and a strategic mindset to join our private client team. Working with one of the partners, the role would involve day to day oversight of the Contentious Trusts & Probate team and be based in our Islington office.

We are looking for a proactive candidate to deliver consistently high levels of client service whilst supervising a close-knit team based primarily in our Islington office. The team is recognised for its technical expertise in complex estate and trust disputes. The candidate will have the opportunity to make a real impact and some positive changes in this space whilst working on a varied and high-quality caseload.

The Role:

The successful candidate will handle a varied and high-quality caseload of private client disputes, acting for individuals, executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. Matters will include:

•    Challenges to the validity of wills, including issues of capacity and undue influence
•    Disputes involving executors and trustees, including breach of duty and maladministration
•    Inheritance Act claims
•    Estate administration and trust disputes
•    Proprietary estoppel claims

Duties:
•    Overseeing team members, to include solicitors, trainee solicitors and paralegals. 
•    Supporting and mentoring the team with managing their caseload; carrying out legal research and general administrative tasks as well as developing client relationship skills. 
•    Dealing directly with clients to take instructions and deliver on client expectations. 
•    Identifying and following relevant SRA principles and rules of professional conduct. 
•    Complying with risk management processes and policies. 
•    Contributing to business development and identify networking and marketing opportunities internally and externally.

Requirements:

•    A qualified Solicitor with strong experience in contentious trusts and probate. 
•    Proven leadership skills with experience of managing a team
•    Confident managing complex disputes autonomously. 
•    Strong client-handling and relationship-building skills. 
•    Commercially minded, with an interest in practice development. 
•    Excellent client-facing skills with empathy and discretion. 
•    Business development mindset. Proven leadership skills with experience of managing a team
•    Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, organisational, and administrative skills, as well as accuracy and attention to detail. 
•    Must be experienced at multi-tasking, managing time sensitive documents, and taking responsibility for delegated tasks. 
•    Must thrive in a busy, team-oriented environment.

Experience & Qualifications:

•    Must have obtained a 2:1 or 1st class degree.
•    Must have at least 6 years’ experience as a private client solicitor in estate and trust disputes.
•    Must have supervisory experience of paralegals and/or solicitors.

Benefits:

•    Target related bonus structure.
•    25 days holiday a year; plus, birthdays and the period between Christmas and New Year.
•    Pension contributions as per the Streathers Daynes Smith pension scheme 
•    Group Life Assurance Scheme which offers financial support to colleagues’ families in the event of an unexpected death. 
•    An extremely friendly and welcoming working environment.
•    A growing wellbeing programme with an exceptional range of initiatives and benefits such as the Employee Assistance Programme. This offers all colleagues generous access to professional services to help with wellbeing and mental health. 
•    Free training opportunities.
•    Monthly socials and a heavily subsidised annual trip with the wider team.
•    Bicycle funding as part of the Cycle to Work scheme.

Working Hours: 

•    Weekdays from 9.30am to 5.30pm with an hour lunch break.

Please apply by sending your CV and cover letter to : hrnorthlondon@sdslaw.co.uk