About the Firm
Berry & Lamberts is a three-office firm of solicitors based in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Paddock Wood. The firm provides private client, commercial property, litigation, family, residential property and company commercial services to individuals and businesses across West Kent, East Sussex and beyond. As the firm continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Private Client Solicitor to join our expanding private client team.
Role Overview
The role will involve handling wills, LPAs, probate matters and trusts.
Key Responsibilities
-
Conducting interviews with clients at any of the firm’s offices or at the client’s premises.
-
Assessing legal problems.
-
Advising clients on the likely cost of the legal advice they require and ensuring that adequate funding is in place.
-
Conducting legal research.
-
Drafting papers including, but not limited to; wills, trusts, applications for grants of probate, letters of administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications
-
Meeting deadlines for the submission of probate and tax papers, and responding to clients and other parties.
-
Maintaining client confidentiality
-
Ensuring that adequate funds are held on account to cover solicitors’ costs.
-
Preparing regular invoices for clients.
Compliance
-
Ensuring that cases are handled in accordance with the departmental manual and the professional rules governing your conduct, including, without limitation, the SRA Regulations.
-
Understanding and correctly applying the law and practice relating to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, and following firm and departmental guidance.
-
Maintaining files to the required ISO 9001 standard and the Department's standard format.
-
Ensuring that you comply with all relevant firm policies including but not limited to those on Client Care, Undertakings and Key Dates.
-
Participating in team meetings.
-
Attending internal and external courses.
-
Keeping up to date with law and practice, and developing knowledge in specialist and technical areas.
Business Development and Role Requirements
-
Contributing to marketing and business development activity.
-
Assisting with the development and progression of the department and the firm.
-
Meeting the financial billing target set by the Head of Department for the role.
-
Ideally STEP qualified or working towards the accreditation.
Person Specification
Essential
-
4–6 years’+ PQE, ideally with trust experience.
-
Strong working knowledge of practice management software commonly used in law firms (e.g. Actionstep, Advanced Legal).
-
Excellent attention to detail, particularly given the compliance-critical nature of client account work.
-
Confident communicator, comfortable communicating with clients and third parties.
-
Willingness and ability to work across all office locations as required.
What the Firm Offers
-
Competitive salary.
-
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
-
Auto-enrolment pension scheme.
-
Discretionary Bonus Scheme if targets are exceeded
-
25 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and additional time off at Christmas.
-
Birthday off work.
-
Private healthcare.
-
Death in service cover.
-
Employee Assistance Programme.
-
Local shop discount card, currently the TN card.
-
Social events.
-
Charity events.
