Legal Executive

Farrer & Co is an independent law firm, with a rich history. A centuries-long tradition of advising private families, individuals and charitable institutions is today complemented by our work with Businesses, Financial Services, Individuals, Families and Family Offices (IFFO), Education and Not For Profit organisations.

We look to be the market leader in our chosen areas of expertise, advising clients on the contentious and non-contentious legal, business and personal issues they face.

Our reputation and success is based on the goodwill of numerous close client relationships. We are trusted advisers, acting in our clients' long-term interests and paying careful attention to quality and personal service.

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence, as well as our broad perspective, practical solutions and value for money. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' too.

Farrer & Co is recognised as one of the leading firms in advising private clients, as well as advising on tax and trust planning, and has a strong and growing probate practice.

The Firm also acts for the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall and administers all bona vacantia assets that vest in the Duchies. These assets vest when an individual resident in the Duchy areas dies intestate without any heirs or where a company is dissolved and the last registered office of the company is in the Duchy areas.

The main focus of the role will be, with the support of two partners, to lead the Bona Vacantia team on intestacy and company bona vacantia matters (except where they involve property) and to administer intestate estates.  We also expect the successful candidate to assist and help develop the firm’s Private Client team in all probate matters.

This role would be of interest to a person who has experience of and interest in undertaking probate work across an interesting and diverse client base.

In Bona Vacantia intestacy cases:

• Administer estates of individuals dying intestate and without kin
• Liaising with hospitals, nursing homes, local authorities, housing associations and friends and neighbours for the purposes of obtaining information regarding deceased persons
• Instructing agents to search properties for the purposes of recovering relevant documents and papers and receiving their reports regarding owner/occupied properties or giving instructions for rented properties to be cleared and the contents disposed of collating papers received
• Making enquiries regarding the value of assets and liabilities
• In certain circumstances instructing genealogists to make searches for kin and if kin are found checking the genealogists report and agreeing their findings
• Releasing papers to solicitors instructed by qualifying kin
• Arranging for estates to be advertised for the purposes of inviting claims from kin and again checking any claims received
• Applying for Grants of Letters of Administration
• Arranging for assets to be collected, debts paid and generally completing the administration of the deceased's estate
• Considering claims for payment of ex-gratia grants from the assets of a deceased's estate or advising whether it would be more appropriate for the claimant to make a claim in accordance with the provisions of the Inheritance Act
• Receiving from genealogists late claims to estates administered on behalf of the client during the previous 30 years, considering the claims received and if agreed arranging to have revoked the Grant of Letters of Administration previously issued to the client solicitor, and thereafter releasing the value of the deceased's estate and if appropriate calculating interest thereon if the claim is less than 12 years old
• Explain and assist NHS trusts, local authorities, solicitors and housing associations as to whether or not it is appropriate for cases to be referred to us (including commenting on their practice notes for referring cases when these are up-dated by them from time to time)

Dissolved Company matters:

• Receive and consider requests for ex-gratia payments
• Sell trademarks and assign other items of intellectual property
• Deal with the sale of shareholdings where the dissolved company owns shares in another company
• Supervise the provision of waiver letters for company restoration
• Supervise the collection of bank balances and money held by the Insolvency Service of the Court Funds Office

General Bona Vacantia:

• Assisting NHS trusts, local authorities and housing associations with regard to responses in connection with Freedom of Information enquiries
• Advise on questions of jurisdiction
• Prepare financial reports
• Report monthly to the client Solicitor
• Advise in non-property situations where a vesting order under the Trustee Act 1925 is required by a claimant and liaise with the Attorney General as appropriate

General Probate:

• Assist the Private Client team in a wide variety of estate administration matters including the extraction of UK Grants of Representation for a diverse client base

• Good knowledge of estate administration (we do not expect knowledge of company law matters)
• Good leadership skills
• Efficient communication skills and the ability to communicate across all levels
• The ability to deal with and manage conflicting priorities
• An enthusiasm for team work and an ability to assume responsibility and deal efficiently with a varied and often demanding workload are key requirements

• Proactive team player and supportive colleague, with an enthusiastic manner, who takes a flexible, ‘can-do’ approach to work
• Confident in working autonomously/independently to meet ever-changing deadlines
• Meticulous and well organised
• Adaptable and open to change, with a strong sense of responsibility
• Possesses a highly proactive and innovative approach to problem solving
• Ability to accurately follow complex procedures and instructions

• Minimum 2.1 degree and experience in a mid-sized or city firm
• Cilex qualified

Our office hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm but it is essential that the applicant is committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond normal office hours when necessary and in response to the demands of the business.