Partner

About the role

Our focus is on providing outstanding client service, through expert, clear advice and assistance with Private Client matters, delivered in a professional and engaged way that leads to high levels of client satisfaction. We work together at all levels of our team to create a supportive and pro-active environment to achieve this.

You will work closely with the Partners and Deputy Head, assisting with strategic direction, technical expertise, client service, business development, management and contributing to the firm’s overall growth strategy.

Department: Private Client

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Leatherhead

Workplace Type: In office

Job details

Key tasks, duties and quality standards:

• To assist the department as a whole in meeting its fee earning targets by providing help regarding advice and assistance to clients of the department as well as other departments of the firm.
• Conduct of matters on behalf of clients.
• Maintain their client/referrer base and practice/following and continue to develop it, in a manner consistent with the firm’s values.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the business of the firm, particularly that beyond the particular team/department in which the individual works.
• Consistently demonstrate willingness and aptitude to help those outside the individual’s own practice area, and to take part in management, marketing and practice development activities at a firm, department and office level.
• Where appropriate, demonstrate good management skills in terms of supervision of junior staff and delegation of work.
• Show initiative in terms of practice development.
• Always “go the extra mile” for colleagues, the firm and its clients.
• Demonstrate a high level of commercial awareness.
• Financial control with particular regard to cash-flow control through collection of monies on account and billing procedures.
• To assist during the absence of other fee earners.
• Carry out work outside of normal hours where the work requires this.
• Travel to client meetings both in and outside the UK when required.
• Assist with formulating and advancing internal procedures.
• Promote good file management.
• To maintain professional knowledge base including attainment of annual CPD points.

To be successful in this role, we are seeking the following:

Qualifications

• A good honours degree followed by LPC, training contract and PSC;
• or a good honours degree followed by SQE and qualifying work experience;
• or a good honours degree with CILEX to Fellow level, LPC and PSC;
• and admitted by SRA as a solicitor.

Essential personal qualities, skills and abilities

• Demonstrates a very high level of technical competence in the chosen area of law (and a sufficient understanding and awareness of all relevant areas of law as appropriate), with no need for supervision in their area of specialism.
• Has the confidence of all Partners and colleagues in terms of the handling of referred work, including as to quality of advice, quality of service levels, promptness of work done, and levels of fees charged.
• Achieves or exceeds targets appropriate for a Senior Associate in respect of chargeable hours, fees, recovery rate, lock-up and non-chargeable time and is either achieving, or working towards achieving, targets for a Salaried Partner. Possibly looking to progress further.
• Has successfully established, developed and maintained a client/referrer base and practice/following of their own in a manner consistent with the firm’s values.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the business of the firm, particularly that beyond the particular team/department in which the individual works.
• Consistently demonstrates willingness and aptitude to help those outside the individual’s own practice area, and to take part in management, marketing and practice development activities at a firm, department and office level.
• Where appropriate, demonstrates good management skills in terms of supervision of junior staff and delegation of work.
• Has shown initiative in terms of practice development.
• Is a consistent and clear advocate of the Firm and its values, both internally and externally.
• Will always “go the extra mile” for the colleagues, the firm and its clients.
• Demonstrates a high level of courtesy and respect in dealings with all colleagues, including Central Management, Finance, IT, HR and Marketing and clients/key business introducers.
• Demonstrates a high level of commercial awareness
• Well-developed interpersonal, social and communication skills including an appreciation of the vulnerability of some of our clients, both generally and also specifically at distressing times.
• Sound training
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Computer literate with an ability to develop its use in own functional area
• Enthusiasm and commitment
• A sound knowledge of your responsibilities as a solicitor including in the following areas:
• Rules and principles of professional conduct
• Client care
• Conflicts of interest
• Confidentiality
• Relations with third parties
• Relations with other solicitors
• Regulatory and compliance procedures
• Client following