Job Title: Private Client Fee Earner
Find out exactly what skills, experience, and qualifications you will need to succeed in this role before applying below.
Location: Epsom
Reports to: Michael Calfe and Matthew Bell
Department: Private Client
Personal Attributes:
A proactive approach to team development and client care.
High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards.
Excellent organisational and time-management skills to handle a busy and varied workload.
Ability to work under pressure, managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
A client-oriented mindset, with a strong desire to build and maintain high-quality client relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
Client Relationship Management:
Manage and grow a portfolio of individuals, offering tailored legal advice and services.
Advise clients on a wide range of matters, including estate planning, trusts, tax planning, succession planning, wills, and probate.
Build and maintain long-term relationships with clients, becoming their trusted advisor on personal legal matters.
Act as the main point of contact for clients, ensuring their needs are met and their expectations exceeded.
Business Development and Marketing:
Develop strategies for attracting new private client business, both from new clients and referrals.
Represent the firm at networking events, conferences, and seminars to raise the firms profile and attract potential clients.
Build strong relationships with external professionals, such as accountants, financial advisors, and tax specialists, to provide integrated services to clients.
Contribute to the marketing and business development efforts of the firm by writing articles, hosting events, or engaging in client-facing initiatives .
Legal Expertise and Service Delivery:
Provide expert legal advice on a broad spectrum of private client issues, including estate and succession planning, tax planning, trust formation, and administration.
Supervise the drafting of complex wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other legal documents.
Oversee the administration of estates, including probate matters, and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Keep up-to-date with changes in legislation, tax rules, and legal trends that affect private client services.
Risk and Compliance:
Ensure that the private client team complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including anti-money laundering (AML), know-your-client (KYC), and data protection laws.
Manage risk within the department, ensuring that all matters are handled with due diligence and in line with the firms risk management framework.
Conduct regular reviews of ongoing matters to ensure they comply with legal and regulatory standards.
Financial Management:
Oversee the financial performance of the private client department, including billing and pricing strategies.
Ensure that services are delivered efficiently, optimising fee structures and cost management.
Monitor and manage the profitability of client relationships, ensuring that work is billed accurately and promptly.
Client Advocacy and Representation:
Represent clients in disputes or negotiations relating to their private matters, including disputes over estates, trusts, or family wealth.
Advise on litigation or contentious issues, particularly in relation to representing the firm itself, collaborating with other departments in the firm when needed.
Skills and Qualifications:
Education: Qualified solicitor (law degree or equivalent) and member of the relevant professional body (e.g., Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Experience: 4+ PQE in private client law, including expertise in estate planning, tax, trust administration, and wills and probate.
Leadership: Proven experience within a private client team, with strong people skills.
Client-Focused: Strong interpersonal skills and a track record of building and maintaining long-term client relationships.
Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of tax planning, estate administration, wills, and trusts law, with a detailed understanding of relevant regulations.
Business Acumen: Experience in business development, client acquisition, and marketing within a legal practice.
Regulatory Knowledge: A strong understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks in relation to private client matters (AML, KYC, GDPR).
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal concepts in a clear, concise manner to clients.
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