Key Responsibilities
Provide a high quality legal service to clients on all aspects of wills, trusts, tax planning, Enduring Powers and Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection and Probate law including:
1. Will drafting
2. Probate and administration of estates
3. Lifetime tax planning and trust drafting
4. Advising in relation to Enduring Powers and Lasting Powers of Attorney
5. Court of Protection
Develop own technical knowledge and skills including the ability to:
6. Analyse information and reach sound decisions
7. Understand and adhere to instructions
8. Communicate succinctly both orally and in writing
9. Research appropriate case law and technical and legal precedents to progress matters
KNOWLEDGE
10. Ensuring that professional services provided by the team are of the highest quality, that client care standards are effectively maintained, and that work completed meets the appropriate standards. To ensure that the files are maintained properly and that matters are progressed in line with the firm’s standard up to and including billing and file closing.
11. Ensure efficient file management including adherence to timescales, compliance with precedents, letters or documents on the case management system with appropriate supervision.
12. Optimise the use of technology and applications to make the client experience as smooth and efficient as possible.
13. Complying with the Office Manual and immediately reporting to the partner on any areas of concern or risk to the client and/or firm.
PRACTICE GROWTH & FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
14. Being responsible for billing and administration processes in line with team procedures; taking responsibility for delegating work to junior solicitors, trainees, paralegals and /or the group legal administrator(s) where appropriate; providing guidance on legal issues for more junior members of the team where appropriate; managing cash and disbursement control and working on ad hoc projects as and when required.
15. Ensuring work is prioritised and progressed as efficiently as possible; new business is effectively introduced and managed into the firm; the partners in the Group are sufficiently aware of your workload and specific issues which arise on your matters and you maintain a flexible and proactive approach to work and good working relationships with external institutions including clients and any professional referrers to promote IBB’s brand in the marketplace.
CLIENTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
16. Regarded as ‘Trusted Advisor’ by clients and other professional bodies.
17. Helping to develop team capability to the point it can be marketed more extensively to existing clients not yet using the service and/or new prospects.
18. Looking for ways to innovate with existing streams of ancillary work, building your own personal reputation and building eminence for the firm by; developing existing and new contacts and referrers of work; taking the lead on article writing in your team; joining relevant associations and seeking out positions of responsibility to support your personal ambitions to become or maintain your position as a leader in your field and encouraging others in the team to build the team reputation.
PEOPLE
19. Remain professionally and technically up to date by participating in learning and development activities and recording CPD, as well as developing knowledge of the marketplace and client base.
Person Specification
Qualifications
20. Educated to degree level (with a 2:1 or above) with a strong LPC pass or equivalent and hold a current unencumbered practising certificate from the SRA.
Skills and Experiences
21. Indicatively, 6 + years post qualification experience in this area of legal work
22. Good technical grounding in this area of law.
23. Any following/ local connections (an advantage).
24. A passion for this practice area.
25. Flexible with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality standards and attention to details.
26. IT literate and self-sufficient in using document management systems, MS Office and the internet as a business tool. A candidate that demonstrates embracing technology.
27. Previous experience in managing people within a team and supporting junior members of the team (desirable) in developing and widening their own career progression and legal experience.
28. A clear awareness of the need to develop business with past experience in marketing and promoting expertise in order to attract work and further opportunities.