Legal Director

IBB Law is not your usual law firm. We work hard to understand our clients and deliver the best solutions to let them get on with what matters to them most – be that personally or in their businesses.  We have one foot in the Thames Valley and the other in the thriving inward investment market of West London. Close to Heathrow, we are perfectly placed to support businesses, both regionally and across the UK.  We are a modern law business that is proud of the people we work with – both our clients and our employees.  We care about the communities we serve and take time to reach out to those in trouble through our community legal services. We provide expertise in commercial, property and private client law.

The Contentious Probate Team

This is based at our Uxbridge office and comprises a partner, a consultant (a recently retired former partner), a senior associate, a solicitor and two legal administrators.  The team is headed by Paul Grimwood who is also an accredited mediator.

It forms part of the Private Client Group which is spread over our Uxbridge, Beaconsfield, Ascot and  Reading offices and which is headed by Shital Mehta. The wider Private Client Group is recognised as a regional heavyweight and includes a specialist non contentious probate/estate planning team, a high-net-worth residential property team, a family team and an education law team

The contentious probate team handles a wide-ranging of privately funded work acting for claimants and defendants, executors, trustees and beneficiaries. We are ranked as a leading team in Chambers and Partners and in band two in the Legal 500.

This role is to provide senior level technical resource and support to the team leader, other partners, and the team of lawyers in the Contentious Probate team. The main base for the role will be Capital Court in Uxbridge although where necessary this role could require attendance at the Beaconsfield office to support the wider team. The successful applicant will be recognised for their seniority, technical expertise and professional reputation with proven business development skills.

At an operational level this role will be about working collaboratively as a Legal Director supporting the current team of lawyers in managing the smooth running of their case load.

Technical Skills

Areas of Dispute Resolution you will be dealing with may include:

• Will Validity Disputes
• Inheritance Act Claims
• Trust Disputes
• Estate Administration Disputes
• Removal of Personal Representatives
• Related Professional Negligence claims
• TOLATA claims with a contentious probate element
• Independent Administrator work?

Knowledge

• Ensuring that professional services provided by the team are of the highest quality, that client care standards are effectively maintained, and that work completed meets the appropriate standards.
•  Ensuring that all client files are maintained properly and that matters are progressed in line with the firm’s practice management standards up to and including billing and file closing.
• Ensuring efficient file management including adherence to timescales, compliance with precedents, letters or documents on the precedent system.
• Optimising the use of technology and applications to make the client experience as smooth and efficient as possible.
• Complying with the Office Manual and immediately reporting to the partner on any areas of concern or risk to the client and/or firm.

Practice Growth and Financial Awareness

• Being responsible for billing and administration processes in line with team procedures; taking responsibility for delegating work to junior solicitors, trainees, paralegals and /or the group legal administrator(s) where appropriate; providing guidance on legal issues for more junior members of the team where appropriate; managing cash and disbursement control and working on ad hoc projects as and when required. 
• Ensuring that work is prioritised and progressed as efficiently as possible; that new business is effectively introduced and managed into the firm; that the partners in the Group are sufficiently aware of your workload and specific issues which arise on your matters, and that you maintain a flexible and proactive approach to work and good working relationships with external institutions including clients and any professional referrers to promote IBB’s brand in the marketplace.

Clients and Business Development

• Being regarded as a ‘Trusted Adviser’ by clients and other professional bodies.
• Helping to develop team capability to the point it can be marketed more extensively to existing clients not yet using the service and/or new prospects.
• Looking for ways to innovate with existing streams of ancillary work; building your own personal reputation and building eminence for the firm by developing existing and new contacts and referrers of work; taking the lead on article writing in your team; joining relevant associations and seeking out positions of responsibility to support your personal ambitions to become or maintain your position as a leader in your field and encouraging others in the team to build the team reputation.

People

• Remaining professionally and technically up to date by participating in learning and development activities and recording CPD, as well as developing knowledge of the marketplace and client base.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (with a 2:1 or above) with a strong LPC pass or equivalent and holding a current unencumbered practising certificate from the SRA.

Skills and Experiences

• 8 + years post qualification experience in this area of legal work
• Good technical grounding in this area of law.
• Any following/ local connections would be an advantage.
• A passion for this practice area.
• Flexible with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality standards and attention to details.
• IT literate and self-sufficient in using document management systems, MS Office and the internet as a business tool.
• Previous experience in managing people within a team and supporting junior members of the team (desirable) in developing and widening their own career progression and legal experience.
• A clear awareness of the need to develop business with past experience in marketing and promoting expertise in order to attract work and further opportunities.