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 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.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Lead your Personal Statement with your PQE level and Private Client specialism explicitly — the advert requires "2+ PQE in Private Client" so make this the first line recruiters read.
📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. "Managed a portfolio of 80+ active probate and trust matters simultaneously, reducing average administration time by 15%".
🎯 List every Private Client sub-discipline you cover (wills, probate, estate administration, trusts, Court of Protection, tax) as a dedicated skills section — the advert explicitly requires the "whole remit".
⭐ If you hold or are working towards STEP membership, place it prominently near your name/qualifications header — the advert flags it as ideal.
🤝 Highlight any hybrid or flexible working experience to align with the firm's stated hybrid options, demonstrating you can manage client files and deadlines remotely.
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 45+ concurrent probate estates annually, including 12 taxable estates requiring HMRC IHT400 submissions, achieving average grant turnaround of 14 weeks.
- •Drafted and executed over 60 Lasting Powers of Attorney per year across property/financial affairs and health/welfare, maintaining a 100% registration success rate with the Office of the Public Guardian.
- •Advised 3 high-net-worth clients on discretionary trust structures, collectively sheltering £1.2M from immediate inheritance tax liability through nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band planning.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
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Letter preview — tailored to Reed
Dear Hiring Manager,
Private Client law — specifically the full remit of wills, estate administration, trusts, and Court of Protection work — is where I have built my career, which is why this role at your West Suffolk firm immediately stood out. With over three years of post-qualification experience in a busy Private Client department, I have developed a thorough grounding in inheritance tax planning and complex probate matters that aligns directly with what you are seeking.
My background in Private Client practice has equipped me to manage a varied caseload independently, from drafting bespoke discretionary trusts to guiding families through contentious estate administrations. I am currently working towards my STEP qualification, reinforcing my technical knowledge in trust and estate planning. I am confident I can contribute to your department from day one.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Walk me through your end-to-end process for administering a complex estate involving both UK property and overseas assets.
- ›How do you approach inheritance tax planning for a client with a taxable estate above the nil-rate band threshold?
- ›Describe your experience with Court of Protection applications — what types of orders have you dealt with and what were the key challenges?
- ›How do you structure a discretionary trust for a client with vulnerable beneficiaries, and what ongoing compliance obligations do you advise on?
- ›What practice management or case management software have you used to track probate and trust matters, and how do you ensure deadlines are met?
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 managed competing deadlines across multiple complex Private Client matters. How did you prioritise?
- ›Give an example of when you identified a tax planning opportunity for a client that they had not previously considered. What was the outcome?
- ›Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague or supervisor on the best legal approach for a client. How did you resolve it?
- ›Describe a situation where a client's instructions changed significantly mid-matter. How did you adapt and manage their expectations?
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
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 managed competing deadlines across multiple complex Private Client matters. How did you prioritise?