Paralegal – Private Client

Bristol, Somerset
Birketts LLP
The firm

Bristol is our seventh office opening in the early Autumn so come and be part of the founding team. Since January 2021 we have had a ‘hub’ which has hosted our Southwest based partners but to reflect our growth in this area and the firm strategy we are now here to stay. We are establishing a full-service presence in Bristol, and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of that and help form the office as we grow.

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals with our other offices being located in in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: real estate, corporate services, litigation and private client advisory.

We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face. Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do.

The department

We are recognised as one of the leading regional firms in advising private clients on a broad range of issues relating to estates and private property, tax planning and family matters, and our team has experienced a period of continued growth and investment.

The role will be in the Tax and Trusts Team which complements the wider Private Client Advisory Team. The Tax & Trusts Team has two core service offerings which are:-

– provision of tax advice to private clients and trustees regarding particular events or transactions and dealing with the associated tax reporting;

– administration and taxation of trusts and estates for individuals, families and charities.

The Team is split into two sub-teams namely a team of personal tax advisors and a team of Trusts & Fiduciary Executives focussed upon the administration and taxation of trusts and estates.

Purpose of job

If you are seeking a new, challenging role with a modern, forward-thinking firm with potential to qualify as a solicitor in the near future, then this could be the role for you!

You will be given early responsibilities, with the opportunity to manage your own small caseload (and fee-earn alongside the Trusts and Fiduciary Executives), and the chance to get involved in some really exciting and complex trust work!

Accountabilities

Technical ability

• To have an understanding of administration of trusts and estates.
• To be familiar with the taxation of trusts.
• Use of Isokon for the administration of trusts would be a benefit
• To draft and amend documents with speed and accuracy
• To proactively work with the fee earners to ensure relevant documentation is produced to meet clients’ expectations and deadlines
• Undertake fee earning under supervision

Administrative skills:

Manage diaries of allocated fee earners in Microsoft Outlook to include:

• Making appointments
• Arranging meetings/conferences
• To process all forms including new client form, new matter form, money laundering form, training course booking forms etc.
• To ensure that all electronic filing and paper-based filing is up to date and maintained at regular intervals

General Approach:

• To show a positive approach and interest in the work
• Show initiative when responding to queries and actively try to seek solutions to problems
• To support your team members when clients are demanding the work product to be delivered
• To support and build working relationships with colleagues and to actively work for the interests of the whole team

The candidate

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing team dealing with high quality and varied tax and trust work. We are ideally seeking an experienced Private Client Advisory Paralegal with training from a well-regarded firm.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to recruiting individuals on merits of suitability for each role, on the basis of qualifications and experience. All applications are treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, religious beliefs and any other protected characteristic, ensuring that there are equal opportunities at all stages of the recruitment process.

Benefits

One of the best things about joining Birketts is our rewards package. At Birketts we are appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. A competitive salary and benefits package is given but you can also expect a great team and supportive colleagues, a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, a programme of wellbeing and mental health support and structured career development and study support.

• 25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays rising with service
• Long Service holiday award – 1 extra week every 10 years continuous service
• Private Healthcare – BUPA (offered after probation is passed)
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)
• Staff Profit Share / Salary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)
• Life Assurance – 4 x salary / Permanent Health Insurance
• Paid ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) day
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Season Ticket Loan
• Gym Flex membership
• Electric car scheme
• Dress for your Day Policy
• Agile Working Policy

Birketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. We welcome applications from people looking for flexible, agile and part-time roles and we are happy to explore your preferred working patterns as part of your application.