Head of Wills and Probate
Salary: Up to £80,000 DOE
Working Pattern: 4-day working week (full-time salary) | Hybrid working
Location: Mansfield (NG21)
The Opportunity:
A growing East Midlands-based professional services firm is seeking an ambitious and driven solicitor to lead the development of its Wills and Probate department.
This role is not simply about servicing existing work. We are looking for a commercially minded individual who can develop the department, create processes and systems, build a team and become the recognised Head of Wills & Probate within the firm.
The successful candidate will have significant autonomy and be expected to play a key role in shaping the future growth of the practice.
Key Responsibilities:
Department Leadership & Growth
- Establish and lead the firm's Private Client department.
- Develop and implement the department's business plan.
- Build and maintain a profitable caseload.
- Recruit, train and supervise future team members as the department grows.
- Implement systems, procedures and precedents to support an efficient and scalable service.
Fee-Earning Responsibilities
Manage a varied caseload including:
- Wills and estate planning.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney.
- Trust creation and administration.
- Estate administration and probate matters.
- Intestacy matters.
- Inheritance Tax planning.
Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities
- Ensure all work is undertaken in accordance with SRA requirements and professional obligations.
- Maintain high standards of client care and risk management.
- Contribute to precedent development and knowledge sharing.
- Ensure compliance with AML, data protection and other regulatory requirements.
Who We’re Looking For:
We're deliberately open-minded about the level of candidate we appoint. This could suit:
- An experienced Private Client solicitor with strong technical expertise who is ready to take the next step into leadership, with the support and autonomy to build and develop a department over time; or
- An established Senior Associate, Legal Director, Partner or existing Head of Department who already has leadership experience, referral contacts and a proven track record of growing a successful Private Client practice.
Candidate Requirements:
Essential
- Qualified Solicitor of England & Wales.
- Minimum 5 years' PQE in Private Client law.
- Strong technical knowledge of:
- Wills.
- Probate and estate administration.
- Trusts.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney.
- Inheritance Tax planning.
- Court of Protection matters.
- Demonstrable experience managing a substantial private client caseload.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Excellent client relationship skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and make strategic decisions.
- Experience supervising junior fee earners or support staff.
Desirable
- STEP qualification (or working towards).
- Membership of Solicitors for the Elderly.
- Experience building or growing a private client department.
- Existing referral relationships.
- Experience dealing with high-net-worth clients and owner-managed businesses.
- Experience of contentious probate matters.
What’s On Offer:
- Permanent four-day working week with no reduction in salary.
- Full five-day salary for a four-day working week.
- One of only a small number of UK law firms offering this benefit.
- Genuine opportunity to build and lead a new department.
- Significant autonomy and influence over departmental strategy.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- Ongoing professional development and training.
If you feel like you could be the person we’re looking for, apply today – we’d love to hear from you!