Paralegal

Working hours: | Full-time

Team: | Private Client

Location: | Leicester

Meet the team

Our award-winning, highly skilled and experienced Private Capital group provides a wide range of services and advice to empower families to define their unique long-term goals and legacy. We undertake various Family and Private Client work at all levels and across many sectors. Our Private Client team, including 13 members of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), offers advice on the following areas of Private Client law: Capital Tax planning including advising on the most appropriate structures via Wills, Trusts & Family Investment Companies, the creation and administration of Trusts including tax compliance, accounting services and professional Trusteeship, administration of estates (simple to complex), Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work, the creation and administration of Charitable Foundations and personal tax advice and compliance.

Our clients’ profiles consist of family business owners, landed estates, newly acquired wealth, private individuals with inherited wealth and their families, and Trustees of substantial trusts. Our team was recently voted the winner of the National Private Client Team in the Modern Law Awards 2023.

Department: Life and Business - Wealth - Private Client - Private Client - 1302

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Leicester

Workplace type: Hybrid

Reporting To: Sarah Brack

What You Will Be Doing

• Assisting with probate and estate administration cases, running your own cases where appropriate and under supervision.
• Using case management programmes to run cases.
• Liaising with clients (taking messages, arranging meetings etc.), demonstrating professionalism, diplomacy, and sensitivity in all communications.
• Liaising with other professionals; e.g. financial advisers and accountants.
• Document production; e.g. preparation of PowerPoint presentations and seminar materials, creating and updating Excel spreadsheets, marketing material.
• Legal research.

You will develop your experience in these areas and, in time, handle your own cases.

This is a busy role, with deadlines to manage and competing priorities, so you will be required to work quickly, accurately, and efficiently while remaining calm under pressure. You will be expected to think ahead to meet the needs of our lawyers and clients. You may also be involved in other activities as required, including helping other team members during busy periods, and covering absences from work.

The role may include travel to visit clients in the local area, and while a hybrid role based from our Leicester hub, office attendance will be required 4 days per week.

What You Will Need

As an experienced Private Client Paralegal you will have a caring nature, seeing this role as more than a ‘job’, taking your responsibilities to our clients very seriously, whether the task is big or small. When it comes to individuals’ lives, every detail matters, so you will be someone who considers the wider implications of what you do and who likes to go the extra mile.

You will be personable, approachable, and have a genuine interest in dealing with individuals and their families.

This role involves some basic accountancy skills for reconciling client accounts, so good numeracy skills and a competent knowledge of Microsoft Excel are important.

You will also need strong written and oral communication skills, being able to adapt your style to communicate effectively with a wide range of clients and fellow professionals alike.

You will be exceptionally organised and used to working efficiently and accurately in a busy and varied role. You pride yourself on your professionalism, with a personal touch and a high standard of honesty and integrity.

We are open to candidates from a variety of backgrounds. What is important is your attitude, personality fit, and interest/knowledge in private client work; due to the nature of the work it is essential that you have Probate Estate Administration experience. Training will be provided to enable you to succeed in this role and make a real difference to the lives of our clients.

Benefits, Agile Working And Additional Information

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work.

We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible; after all, we value what you do, not where you do it.

We have hubs in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leicester, London, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Solihull, Southampton, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lincoln, and Sheffield.

Additional Information

Please be aware, for some vacancies, where we receive high numbers of applications we may need to bring the close date forward.

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop, and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

About Shakespeare Martineau

Welcome to Shakespeare Martineau, where we're more than just a full-service law firm. With over 1100 specialists, including lawyers and business support professionals, we're committed to unlocking potential in our people and clients, inspiring confidence, growth, and development.

Our purpose is clear: we provide creative solutions and advice that help individuals and businesses achieve their commercial and personal goals. But what truly sets us apart is our focus on building lasting relationships and championing our clients, ensuring they receive the best possible business and personal advice.

At Shakespeare Martineau, it's our people who make us special. We understand what our team members want and give them the support they need to succeed. Recognising everyone's contribution and harnessing the unique power of teams, we work together to achieve success.

Diversity is at the heart of our firm. We actively build and develop diverse teams, bringing together different backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives to deliver amazing solutions for our clients. We believe in playing to our strengths, constantly striving to improve, and empowering our teams with individual responsibility for their own learning and growth.

Join us at Shakespeare Martineau and become a valued member of a team where we unlock your potential, appreciate your contributions, and achieve success together.

As part of Ampa, we are part of a large multi-brand group, all of our brands are linked by a shared purpose and set of values that brings about a positive, inclusive and diverse work culture - helping everyone achieve their ambitions.

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