NQ+ - Private Client Solicitor/Legal Executive
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
PRIVATE CLIENT - Are you looking for your next step in a Private Client? A new environment? A better benefit package?
I am excited to be working with a reputable regional firm, who are true investors in their staff and foster an extremely supportive environment.
Our client is looking for an NQ+ Private Client Solicitor or Legal Executive to join their thriving Private Client department.
The ideal candidate will have experience in Private Client, either through a trainging contract or through Paralegal work, in Private Client and be able to cover the whole remit of Private Client work including tax, estate administration, wills and probate, trusts and court of protection.
STEP is ideal but not essential.
Hybrid options potentially available.
If you feel you have the right skills and experience, then please apply with your updated CV.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your Private Client experience prominently at the top of your CV — the advert explicitly requires coverage of the full Private Client remit including wills, probate, trusts, estate administration and Court of Protection.
📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. "Managed 45 active probate files simultaneously, reducing average administration time by 20%" to demonstrate capacity and efficiency.
🎯 If you hold or are studying towards a STEP qualification, place it clearly in your qualifications section — the advert flags it as ideal, giving you a competitive edge over other NQ candidates.
🌐 Specify the breadth of your Private Client experience — the advert values candidates who can cover the whole remit, so list each sub-area (tax, trusts, Court of Protection, estate administration) explicitly in your CV skills or profile.
🤝 Mention any hybrid or flexible working experience to align with the firm's hybrid options, and reference any client-facing responsibilities to demonstrate the relationship management skills valued in Private Client work.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Administered 30+ active probate files concurrently, including 8 taxable estates requiring IHT400 submissions to HMRC, achieving grant of probate within an average of 14 weeks.
- •Drafted wills and trust deeds for 60 Private Client matters annually, incorporating discretionary trusts and nil-rate band provisions to mitigate Inheritance Tax liabilities totalling over £2.1M.
- •Prepared and filed 12 Court of Protection deputyship applications in a 12-month period, managing all correspondence with the Office of the Public Guardian and reducing client waiting time by 3 weeks through proactive case management.
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Letter preview — tailored to Reed
Dear Hiring Manager,
Having qualified as a solicitor with a focus on Private Client work, I was immediately drawn to this NQ+ opportunity at your Bedford firm. The breadth of the role — spanning wills and probate, trust drafting, estate administration, Court of Protection, and tax planning — aligns precisely with the experience I have built through my training contract and subsequent caseload management.
My background in Private Client law has equipped me to handle complex, sensitive matters with care and technical rigour. I have advised clients on Inheritance Tax mitigation strategies, administered estates with multi-jurisdictional assets, and prepared Lasting Powers of Attorney for clients with varying capacity needs. I am currently progressing towards my STEP qualification, which I believe will further strengthen my advisory capability in this area.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Walk me through the end-to-end process you follow when administering a complex estate with Inheritance Tax liabilities.
- ›How do you approach drafting a Lasting Power of Attorney for a client with capacity concerns?
- ›What is your experience with Court of Protection applications, and what types of orders have you dealt with?
- ›How do you advise clients on the use of trusts for estate planning and Inheritance Tax mitigation?
- ›What steps do you take to ensure compliance with HMRC requirements during probate and estate administration?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you managed a particularly sensitive or complex client matter in Private Client — how did you handle it?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to manage competing deadlines across multiple Private Client files. How did you prioritise?
- ›Give an example of when you identified an error or risk in a client's estate plan and how you resolved it.
- ›Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex legal concept (such as a trust structure) to a client with no legal background.
- ›Describe a situation where you went above and beyond to support a client during a difficult time, such as bereavement.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you managed a particularly sensitive or complex client matter in Private Client — how did you handle it?
Describe a situation where you had to manage competing deadlines across multiple Private Client files. How did you prioritise?