The Role
We are looking for a fee earner with a proven track record in client care and technical competence, billing, business development and networking. The successful candidate will manage their own caseload and be able to supervise and mentor junior members of the department.
The role will require the successful candidate to lead the development of the Tax and Estate Planning offering in our new Bournemouth office, which recently opened in the summer of 2025. This role will be based primarily in the new Bournemouth office. Appropriate supervision and PA support will initially be provided from our main office in Southampton, with regular visits from our Southampton staff to support the new Bournemouth office.
This is a full-time role.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
* Administration of estates and trusts
* Will drafting and updating
* Variation of wills
* Preparation and registration of lasting powers of attorney
* Advising on all aspects, including inheritance tax and capital gains tax treatment, of trusts
* Drafting all types of trusts and associated trust deeds
The Candidate
* Ideally have at least 5 years’ experience respectively across all areas of tax and estate planning. Candidates with less than 5 years’ experience may be considered, if the experience gained has been with a firm which deals with complex private client work and is highly rated for its tax and trusts practice
* STEP qualified
* Provide a major contribution to, and delivery of, the department’s development plan and be a key player in its future growth
* Have the drive and ambition to maintain the department’s outstanding reputation
* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
* Highly organised
* A good team player
* Flexible and proactive approach
* Good IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
Specifically, the areas of knowledge and skills required include:
* a thorough understanding of the law relating to wills;
* a good understanding of the law relating to lasting powers of attorney;
* expertise in trust law;
* expertise in inheritance tax planning and compliance;
* a good understanding of capital gains tax, stamp duties and income tax;
* a commercial approach to problem solving for clients;
* excellent drafting skills; and
* a willingness to accept new challenges and develop personally.
Rewards & Benefits
We want you to thrive at Paris Smith and be the best version of yourself. That’s why we do what we can to support your health and happiness both at work and outside it.
As well as a competitive salary, we offer a range of other benefits.
Competitive salary
We’ll give you a salary that’s appropriate for your experience, service line and location. We use third-party market research to make sure what we pay is competitive compared with the rest of the market.
Performance incentive
We take a performance driven approach at Paris Smith. So, if you perform well and are eligible, you may receive a bonus on top of your salary.
Benefits
Whilst pay is of course important, we look to provide a broad range of benefits as well, focused on health, wellbeing and family.
* 26 days’ holiday (increasing by one day per one year of service up to a maximum of 30 days) plus bank holidays
* Pension scheme membership
* Private medical insurance (subject to eligibility)
* Group income protection (subject to eligibility)
* Life assurance cover
* Personal accident cover
* Discounted legal fees
* Shopping Gateway: get product discounts by shopping online
* Data protection and privacy notice
Wellbeing
At Paris Smith, the health and wellbeing of our staff is of the utmost importance. In support of this, we offer:
* access to a number of fully trained Mental Health First Aiders;
* health assessments (subject to eligibility);
* an annual Wellbeing Week;
* annual flu vaccinations;
* eyecare vouchers;
* financial wellbeing – access to professional financial advice throughout the year; and
* Employee Assistance Programme.