Solicitor

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 55 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Our Contentious Probate team is one of the largest specialist teams in the country, and deals with all aspects of contentious trusts and probate work, including which disputes over wills, financial provision claims, disputes with executors, disputes regarding powers of attorney and contested Court of Protection applications.

We pride ourselves on our technical expertise and resources to deliver the best possible solutions for our clients, which include large household charities, high-net worth individuals and financial institutions.

The role:

We are looking for a 2 year PQE Solicitor to join our Contentious Probate team, part of our firm’s wider Lime & Corclaim group.

The role is to produce high quality legal services to clients on all aspects of contentious trusts and probate work.  The role will be based in either our Leicester or Nottingham office, but travel to other office locations may be required.

Your key duties will include:

• to assist senior colleagues on a broad range of contentious trusts and probate cases
• running own case load efficiently and cost effectively and within strict service level agreements as required by the client
• advising clients about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases
• with appropriate supervision, to assist on large complex matters, and you will also be building up your own caseload of straightforward matters
• having active involvement in business development activities, both individually and as part of a team
• attending and conducting client meetings
• drafting and preparing court documents in a time sensitive manner

Skills and experience you will have:

• a minimum of 2 years’ post-qualified experience, ideally specialising in contentious trusts and probate matters
• we would be open to considering candidates with a background dealing in non-contentious private client probate matters or broad contentious litigation experience, with exposure to probate
• experience in dealing with clients on a day to day basis
• strong IT skills
• a proven ability to be flexible in your approach in finding practical and innovative solutions to a range of problems

Key competencies you will need:

• a high degree of initiative and the ability to cope in a demanding environment
• the ability to be proactive and effectively manage your own workload
• to be resilient, confident and calm under pressure
• exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• an entrepreneurial nature and an outgoing manner
• excellent organisational, prioritising and time management skills
• strong negotiation and communication skills

About you – you will be:

• highly enthusiastic, willing to the extra mile and be happy to go beyond the job description
• highly ambitious, hardworking with an excellent work ethic, taking pride in all you do
• respectful towards others and have a positive, willing and ‘can do’ attitude

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.

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.