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⚡ Source: ReedRef: 50167935

Private Client Solicitor/Legal Executive

Reed·East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire·Posted 38 months ago
💰 £46-58k/year👑 Executive
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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 a 2+ PQE Private Client Solicitor or Legal Executive to join their thriving Private Client department.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum 2 years PQE 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.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a very talented, friendly and forward-thinking team.

If you feel you have the right skills and experience, then please apply with your updated CV.

SpeedCV AI

Key skills

AI-extracted from the job advert

Must-have skills
Private Client law (2+ PQE)Wills draftingProbate and estate administrationTrust lawCourt of ProtectionInheritance tax planningSolicitor or CILEx Legal Executive qualification
Nice-to-have
STEP qualificationLasting Power of Attorney draftingHybrid working experience
Soft skills
Client relationship managementAttention to detailEmpathyCommunicationSelf-motivation
SpeedCV AI

Application advice

5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.

1

⭐ Lead your Personal Statement with your PQE level and the breadth of Private Client work you cover — the advert explicitly requires the 'whole remit' including tax, probate, trusts and Court of Protection.

2

📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. 'Managed a caseload of 80+ active Private Client matters including 30 estate administrations valued at over £2M'.

3

🎯 Mention STEP membership or progress towards it prominently — the advert flags it as ideal, so even part-qualification (STEP Foundation) is worth highlighting.

4

🌐 Note your hybrid working experience if relevant, as the firm is open to hybrid arrangements — frame this as evidence of autonomous, organised practice.

5

🤝 Reference any experience with vulnerable clients or Court of Protection specifically, as this is listed as a core requirement and differentiates candidates at this PQE level.

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Suggested CV bullets

3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.

How to tailor your CV

Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:

  • Administered 45+ estates annually including taxable estates requiring IHT400 submissions to HMRC, reducing average grant-to-distribution time by 20% through proactive client communication.
  • Drafted 60+ wills per year incorporating discretionary trusts and nil-rate band provisions, advising clients on Inheritance Tax mitigation strategies saving an average of £35,000 per estate.
  • Managed a Court of Protection caseload of 15 active deputyship matters, preparing annual reports and deputyship orders with zero compliance breaches over a two-year period.

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Letter preview — tailored to Reed

Dear Hiring Manager,

Private Client law at a firm that genuinely invests in its people is exactly where I want to take my career — which is why this role at your East Cambridgeshire practice stood out immediately. With over two years' PQE covering wills drafting, estate administration, trusts and Court of Protection applications, I am confident I can contribute across the full remit your Private Client department requires from day one.

My background in Private Client practice has equipped me to manage a varied caseload independently, advising clients on Inheritance Tax planning, administering complex estates and preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney. I am currently progressing towards my STEP qualification, which has deepened my technical knowledge of trust structures and cross-border estate issues.

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SpeedCV AI

Interview questions

10 questions generated from this advert.

Technical

  • Walk me through your process for administering a complex estate involving both property and investment assets.
  • How do you approach Inheritance Tax planning when drafting a will for a high-net-worth client?
  • Describe your experience with Court of Protection applications — what types of orders have you dealt with?
  • How do you structure a discretionary trust and what tax considerations do you advise clients on?
  • What case management software have you used for Private Client matters, and how do you manage competing deadlines across a large caseload?

Behavioural

  • Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult news to a bereaved client during estate administration — how did you handle it?
  • Describe a situation where you identified a tax planning opportunity for a client that they had not considered.
  • Give an example of when you managed a particularly complex or contentious probate matter — what was the outcome?
  • Tell me about a time you had to balance a high caseload while maintaining quality — what systems did you put in place?
  • Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with colleagues in other departments (e.g. property or litigation) to resolve a client matter.
SpeedCV AINEW

STAR answer examples

Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.

1Question

Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult news to a bereaved client during estate administration — how did you handle it?

Situation: A client whose mother had recently passed away discovered during estate administration that the estate was insolvent due to an undisclosed mortgage, meaning they would receive nothing. Task: I needed to explain this sensitively while managing their expectations and ensuring the estate was wound up correctly. Action: I arranged a face-to-face meeting rather than communicating by letter, walked the client through the order of priority for creditors under the Administration of Insolvent Estates Order, and provided a written summary afterwards. I also signposted them to a bereavement financial adviser. Result: The client wrote to the firm expressing gratitude for the clarity and compassion shown, and subsequently instructed us to draft their own will — generating £850 in new fees.
2Question

Describe a situation where you identified a tax planning opportunity for a client that they had not considered.

Situation: During a routine will review for a married couple with a combined estate of £1.4M, I noticed their existing wills left everything directly to each other, making no use of the Residence Nil-Rate Band transferability provisions. Task: I needed to advise them on restructuring their wills to maximise available reliefs. Action: I prepared a detailed advice note illustrating a potential IHT saving of £140,000 by incorporating a flexible life interest trust and ensuring both RNRBs would be available on the second death. I also reviewed their property ownership and recommended severing the joint tenancy. Result: The clients updated both wills and transferred the property to tenants in common, securing the full £140,000 saving and referring two further family members to the firm.

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