Private Client Solicitor/Associate

Solicitor / Associate - Private Client

Location: Southampton
Experience: 2-4 PQE ideally - exceptional 1 or 5 PQE candidates also considered
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Base Salary: £55,000-£66,000 DOE
Working Arrangement: Hybrid - typically 3 days in office / 2 days from home
Firm: Legal 500 ranked - Tier 1 Succession & Tax team

A highly regarded Tier 1 Legal 500 ranked law firm is seeking a talented Private Client Solicitor / Associate to join its established Succession & Tax team in Southampton.

The successful candidate will have experience in, and a genuine interest in developing expertise across, complex trusts, trust taxation and administration, estate planning and wider Private Client matters.

The Role

You will work as part of an established Succession & Tax team, handling a varied and technically interesting caseload including:

• Advising on the establishment, termination, management and administration of trusts
• Advising trustees and beneficiaries on the operation of trusts
• Advising on the tax treatment of trusts
• Preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Estate planning, including lifetime and post-death planning
• Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax advice
• Creation and use of lifetime trusts
• Obtaining Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration
• Estate administration
• Preparation of deeds of variation
• Deeds of gift and deeds of family arrangement
• Advising on complex family wealth and succession planning

You will work closely with the firm's dedicated Trust and Tax Team, who deal with the administration and compliance aspects of trust matters.

You will also:

• Manage your own caseload with appropriate support
• Develop trusted relationships with clients, trustees and beneficiaries
• Work alongside colleagues across other legal disciplines
• Build relationships with professional and third-party introducers
• Contribute to the development of the wider Succession & Tax team
• Support and supervise more junior colleagues where appropriate
• Maintain consistently high standards of client care

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• 2-4 years' PQE in Private Client ideally, although exceptional 1 PQE and strong 5 PQE candidates will also be considered
• Experience advising on trusts and estate planning
• Experience managing an independent caseload
• Strong technical ability and intellectual curiosity
• A genuine interest in developing a specialist practice within Succession & Tax
• STEP qualification preferred, or a clear commitment to obtaining STEP where appropriate
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A confident and personable approach
• Strong client-care skills
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across different disciplines
• Experience supervising or supporting junior colleagues would be advantageous
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively
• The ability to work under pressure while maintaining high standards
• Good IT literacy and the ability to adapt to new systems

This role would suit a Private Client Solicitor who wants to develop deeper expertise in trusts, taxation and succession planning within a highly regarded Legal 500 team.

What's On Offer

• £55,000-£66,000 base salary DOE
• Hybrid working - typically 3 days in office / 2 days from home
• Legal 500 Tier 1 ranked Succession & Tax team
• High-quality and technically complex Private Client work
• Strong focus on trusts and estate planning
• STEP support and professional development
• Excellent training and career development
• Opportunity to work alongside specialist Trust and Tax professionals
• Exposure to complex and high-value client matters
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Clear long-term progression opportunities