Private Client Solicitor - Head of Department / Director

Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd):

Regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, Duncan Lewis Solicitors was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in the City of London (Fenchurch Street EC3M), with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK independent legal directories as a top-tier law firm - "a diligent and professional team that is prepared to go the extra mile for its clients". A paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, we service both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages. We give people a voice - that is our ethos.

Choosing a career with Duncan Lewis is choosing a law firm that is the largest provider of publicly funded (legal aid) legal services in the country, has been Investors in People Gold Standard accredited for over 15 years and is continuously applauded nationally for the work that it does.

Having demonstrated unparalleled legal expertise and a commitment to justice, we were awarded Law Firm of the Year at both the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards. We are named as one of the Times 200 Best Law Firms. In 2021 we were celebrated by the Chambers Europe Award as an 'outstanding firm’ for diversity and inclusion. In previous years we have been awarded a number of awards, including the Law Society Excellence Award for Large Law Firm of the Year in 2020, Access to Justice at the UK Legal Diversity Awards in 2019 and the Family Law Firm of the Year at the 2015 Family Law Awards, to name just a few. Duncan Lewis is Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 Information Management accredited.

We look to recruit dedicated and talented employees in both legal and non-legal capacities, and we are always interested to receive applications from quality candidates. If you can demonstrate a strong commitment to the areas of law provided by the firm, and you are keen to build a career with us, please apply online with your details and CV.

Wills and Probate Department Background:

We understand that drawing up a will or administering an estate can be an emotional experience, therefore, our specialist team will make sure that the future of our clients’ families are secure and their wishes are carried out.

We offer a comprehensive and personal service to clients including will drafting, inheritance tax planning advice, assistance with the administration of a will or advice on a contested will. Our team has considerable expertise in advising on international wills, wills involving extended families/ estranged family and contested wills/ probate litigation.

Our probate experts offer advice under the law of England and Wales in addition to Islamic wills and inheritance matters.

Main Responsibilities of the Role

• Report directly to and collaborating with the Board to ensure performance targets are met
• Professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills and a sensitive and sympathetic understanding of clients’ needs
• Responsible for all aspects of Wills & Probate work
• Supervising a team of solicitors/trainees & paralegals undertaking private client work
• Ability to manage appropriate caseload types and complexities
• Assisting with casework including dealing with a range of Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney cases including: Estate administration; Applying for and obtaining the grant of probate; Setting up trusts; Advising on inheritance tax; court of protection matter; Contesting a will; Settling any tax liabilities and affairs
• Attending clients, taking instructions and preparing cases
• Dealing with correspondence
• Maintaining accurate time costing procedures
• Implementing any recommendations made by your supervisor following monthly file reviews ensuring that these are dealt with promptly
• Ensuring compliance with file management

Key Skills Required

• 5 Years+ PQE
• Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying
• Committed team player and adapt well to new challenges
• Previous proven supervisory experience and working to key performance indicators
• Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with client matters in a sensitive manner and resolve complicated practicalities
• Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with client matters in a sensitive manner to deal with vulnerable clients and resolve Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to use own initiative and sound judgment
• Working knowledge of Wills and Probate work and have the ability to service privately funded cases
• Have extensive experience in dealing with Wills & Probate related work
• Experience in own advocacy is an advantage
• Excellent IT Skills -familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills
• STEP qualification preferable but not essential

The recruitment process will fully comply with GDPR and other applicable laws. Background checks including CRB / DBS checks will establish your eligibility to work in the UK and suitability to the role.

Equal Opportunities:

Duncan Lewis is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity of its staff. The Company strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, which is reflective at all levels within our workforce.

We guarantee an interview for candidates that disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the post. Please provide additional details in your covering letter if this applies.

If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please visit our website and apply using our online process for your application to be considered.