Job Description
Job Title: Wills and Probate Solicitor
Location: Greater Manchester
Salary: up to £65,000 DOE
The Role
My client is seeking a client-focused and dedicated Wills and Probate Solicitor to join their team. The role offers flexibility in location, provided the candidate is within a reasonable commuting distance from one of their offices. Regular travel between offices, attendance at local events, and home visits to clients will be required. This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive professional to become part of a forward-thinking and well-established firm.
The successful candidate will provide expert and compassionate guidance to clients on all aspects of wills, probate, and estate planning.
Key Responsibilities
Drafting & Reviewing Legal Documents
* Will Drafting: Preparing wills that accurately reflect clients' wishes, including estate distribution, guardianship arrangements, and other personal directives.
* Complex Wills: Handling more intricate estate planning needs, including discretionary and life interest trusts, as well as provisions for business and agricultural assets.
* Powers of Attorney: Drafting and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) for financial affairs and health & welfare, ensuring legal protection for clients’ future needs.
* Document Review: Assessing existing wills, trusts, and other legal instruments to ensure they remain legally compliant and aligned with clients’ intentions.
Estate Administration
* Probate Applications: Managing the process of obtaining grants of probate or letters of administration to facilitate the legal handling of a deceased person's estate.
* Asset Management & Distribution: Identifying, valuing, and collecting estate assets, settling debts and tax obligations, and ensuring the proper distribution of remaining assets according to the will or intestacy laws.
* Tax Compliance: Overseeing inheritance tax, income tax, and capital gains tax filings to ensure all liabilities are met.
* Trust Administration: Implementing trusts created in a will, registering trusts post-death, and drafting associated documentation such as Deeds of Appointment.
* Record-Keeping: Maintaining detailed records of estate transactions, communications, and legal filings.
Client Consultation & Advisory Services
* Client Meetings: Engaging with clients to understand their needs, providing tailored estate planning, will drafting, and trust creation advice.
* Ongoing Support: Offering continuous guidance and responding to any concerns throughout the legal process.
* Inheritance Tax Planning: Advising on strategies to minimize inheritance tax exposure, including lifetime gifting, trust formation, and utilizing available tax reliefs and exemptions. Drafting Deeds of Variation where appropriate.
* Compassionate Communication: Handling sensitive discussions with professionalism and empathy, particularly when assisting bereaved clients or navigating complex family situations.
Professional & Business Development
* Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to industry standards, including those set by the SRA, Lexcel, CQS, and other regulatory bodies.
* Confidentiality & Data Protection: Ensuring strict confidentiality regarding all client information and firm operations.
* Technology & Efficiency: Leveraging legal software to enhance service delivery, improve efficiency, and maintain a high-quality client experience.
* Continuous Professional Development: Keeping up to date with legal developments, attending training, and actively seeking opportunities to expand expertise in the field.
* Marketing & Networking: Supporting the firm’s business development strategy by engaging in networking activities, attending industry events, and positively representing the firm.
The role also involves any additional duties that contribute to the growth and success of the department and firm.