Reference Code: | PROBSOL |
Location: | Horwich, Bolton |
Main purpose of the job:
Manage a varied case load of Wills and probate matters including preparation of Wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts including personal injury trusts, Court of Protection matters and estate planning.
Responsible to:
Department manager
Main key result areas
- Attending and advising clients in areas of probate and Wills.
- Managing a case load including a full risk assessment of all matters, ensuring compliance with Law Society rules and work type procedures.
- Responding to post, telephone enquiries and queries from clients, other professionals/experts and colleagues in order to progress cases effectively and efficiently.
- Control and management of work in progress ensuring that it is recorded and converted into paid profit costs.
- Effective management of own time, ensuring that non chargeable and chargeable hours targets are achieved.
- Ensuring that disbursements and debtors in the case load are managed in order to reduce the financial exposure of the firm.
- Compliance with client care and complaints procedures.
- To report any potential errors/negligence matters to the work type managing partner as soon as the risk is apparent.
- To delegate effectively and efficiently, ensuring that work on the file is carried out at the right level, thus maximising profitability and assisting the development of other staff.
- To actively seek opportunities to cross refer work within the firm and to carry out cross referrals at the earliest possible time.
- To actively promote the Stephensons brand at all times.
- To undertake the above in accordance with the firm’s Equality & Diversity Policy.
- Keeping abreast of relevant legislation and keeping CPD requirements updated.
Direct reports:
None
Person specification
Qualifications | |
Qualified solicitor | Essential |
STEP qualification either through qualified practitioner route or diploma | Desirable |
Member of solicitors for the elderly | Desirable |
Experience | |
Experience of managing a wills and probate caseload (including taxable estates and post-death variations) together with experience of Court of Protection | Desirable |
(Non-contentious) cases including acting as, or assisting, a professional deputy and making other applications to the Court of Protection (such as for a statutory Will) | Desirable |
Experience of drafting and implementing trusts (as part of estate planning strategies and/or following injury litigation settlements) | Desirable |
Experience working with case management computer systems | Desirable |
Knowledge and skills | |
Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation | Essential |
Excellent IT and keyboard skills | Essential |
Good working knowledge of solicitors accounts rules | Essential |
Time management/organisational skills | Essential |
Stephensons’ client complaints rules and client care procedures | Desirable |
Experience of handling cases from external referrers (such as accountants, independent financial advisers and/or referrers where external SLA arrangements are required to be followed) | Desirable |
Personality / Other Qualities | |
Ability to be flexible to suit the needs of the department | Essential |
Discretion and be able to work in a confidential environment (the environment is largely open plan) | Essential |
Pleasant, approachable, patient and polite | Essential |
Ability to remain calm under pressure | Essential |
Thrives on challenge | Essential |
Ability to demonstrate an interest in progressing in the field of probate work and assisting the department managers and managing partner of the work-type, where necessary, to promote the interests of the department with regard to potential external referrers | Essential |
Please do not send enquiries to the department manager of the specific team.