QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Degree level 2:1 and ideally commendation at LPC level
• Working towards qualification of a relevant professional body such as STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) or ATT
• Highly numerate, IT literate, with excellent working knowledge of Excel.

THE ROLE

We are looking for an ambitious, professional English qualified Associate to join our large and expanding Private Client team based in Putney. Candidates also qualified in another jurisdiction are welcome to apply too.
The candidate should ideally be around 2 years + PQE (although we will consider all levels) with excellent academics (ideally 2:1 or equivalent). Speaking fluent French is a must.
The candidate should be highly motivated and demonstrate experience of a wide range of private client work, with a keen desire to develop their knowledge and practice specifically for cross-border work. The caseload would include all the variety of private client work, and expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas would be a bonus: trusts, tax, mental capacity, cross border work. STEP qualification or tax focused qualifications, such as ATT, will be strongly supported.
In addition to the provision of technically expert legal advice, the candidate will be expected to take responsibility and ownership of their work and clients, engage in proactive financial management of their matters, engage in business development and marketing to build their own network and bring in instructions, and work towards developing their management skills, with a view to progressing within the firm.
The Private Client team at Russell Cooke has a well-established reputation and broad experience over the entire sector. The team is well known for its Cross-Border expertise in international matters and includes dual French, Italian and Spanish qualified teams. This role will involve working with those teams and assisting clients with, for example, French property and private client matters.
This role is based in our Putney office and candidates should live within reasonable travelling distance of the office. Attendance at our other offices in Holborn (8 Bedford Row) and Kingston will depend on client need or meetings with referrers. We have an agile working policy which includes working from home for up to 40% of working time each month.
We handle varied and high-quality work to include: advising on and drafting wills; estate, business succession and inheritance tax planning advice; the administration of complex estates; the creation, administration and taxation of UK trusts; inheritance tax, capital gains tax and income tax advice in relation to trusts and estates; advising on mental capacity issues and Lasting Powers of Attorney (or equivalent).
Russell Cooke offers an excellent opportunity to join a stimulating work environment, working alongside friendly and supportive colleagues. The Private Client Team is client-focused in its approach and offers superb career development opportunities.

MAIN DUTIES:

• Proactive conduct of own caseload - under line management of supervising partner and with support of other more junior fee-earners including trainee solicitors and legal assistants (paralegals)
• Strong focus on business development to bring your own work, to include networking, article writing, cross-departmental relationship building, developing referrer relationships such as Accountants, Wealth managers etc
• Excellent financial management including time recording and billing to reach annual targets (measured on fees received).
• Participation in firm wide events