Job title: Principal Associate/Director

Department: Private Client

Our Purpose: To forge long-term relationships that have a positive impact on our people, our clients, our business partners, and our community.

Our Commitment to Our People: We do not think there is a magic formula to the Higgs culture. The key is to listen to and respect our people. If we take care of our people and our people take care of our clients, then everything we want as a firm will take care of itself. We are friendly and open to new ideas.

Our Core Values: Higgs core values are “CLEAR” – Care, Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, Relationships

Overview

The role is within the Private Client team and involves advising on estate planning and related wealth matters, with an emphasis on wills, trusts, tax, and lasting powers of attorney. The role requires providing leadership and support to junior team members and contributing to departmental and firm-wide plans.

Responsibilities

• Review existing estate planning documentation to include both lifetime trusts and will structures and advise in connection with the suitability of the same.
• Prepare all types of wills, including those to absorb qualifying business assets and agricultural assets, with an extensive understanding of the role of trusts for asset protection.
• Maintain an excellent working knowledge of inheritance tax and a good understanding of capital gains tax in the context of individuals and trusts.
• Advise on pilot trusts associated with pension planning and life policies.
• Ideally, but not essential, experience of dealing with business trusts to support cross option arrangements and an interest in wider business succession planning.
• Prepare and advise on Lasting Powers of Attorney and Enduring Powers of Attorney, with some experience of dealing with Lasting Powers of Attorney for business owners an advantage.
• Deal with termination of trusts, including events such as life tenant death or beneficiary age, ensuring all trust closing procedures are followed and preparing deeds of variation.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of the wider private client team to support clients on all aspects of wealth work.
• Provide supervision and support to more junior team members with regard to their wealth caseloads, including contributing to bi-monthly file reviews.
• Efficient administration, billing and cost recovery, meeting targets for self and the team.
• Regularly review debts, work in progress and disbursements; support time recording processes.
• Assist in implementing the departmental and firm business plans, contribute to wealth business plan, and help grow a professional following to generate new work streams.
• Keep up to date with changes in the law as part of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Show willingness to contribute to the wider business by attending events as required.

Person Specification

• High level of attention to detail.
• Great communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Confident to take responsibility and lead on client matters.
• Able to deliver work in line with deadlines in a busy environment.
• Uphold an excellent reputation and be a role model to others.
• Maintain a strong profile, network and establish a reputation within the business community.
• Complies with all requirements of the SRA code and firm accreditations.
• Ideally STEP qualified.

What We Offer You

We offer more than just a job. Our benefits reflect our commitment to your development, wellbeing and work-life balance. Click here to discover more.

Higgs offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people can complete their best work from the most appropriate location. If you are looking to work flexibly then let us know and we will do what we can to accommodate your request.

We also encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach which means dressing in a manner appropriate for your schedule or the specific appointments you have on any given day.

Equal Opportunities

Higgs LLP is proud to be a signatory of The Law Society’s Diversity, Inclusion Charter and a Disability Confident Committed Employer. These commitments reflect our dedication to building a workplace that is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities.

As part of our Disability Confident commitment, we offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role and choose to opt into the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

We are also committed to ensuring that all applicants can fully participate in the recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know by contacting us at recruitment@higgsllp.co.uk

We recognise that inclusion is an ongoing journey, and we regularly review and publish our diversity data, which can be accessed here.

People Driven. Legal Excellence.