Senior Associate - Private Client

Senior Associate - Private Client (Future Head of Department) Salary: £70,000-£90,000 + Bonus Location: Harrow (Hybrid)

Step into a senior Private Client role with a clear route to leading the department, in a stable, well-regarded firm with a strong local reputation and quality work.

The opportunity

If you're a Private Client solicitor who enjoys building trusted client relationships and wants more than "just another caseload", this is a rare chance to join our client in the Harrow area at Senior Associate level, with genuine scope to progress into a Head of Department position.

You'll take on a varied, high-quality Private Client workload, with the autonomy to shape how the team operates, develop junior colleagues, and play a visible role in the department's growth.

The role: what you'll be doing

You'll manage a broad Private Client caseload, with a focus on high standards of client care and technical accuracy, including:

• Wills (including complex wills)
• Probate and estate administration
• Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
• Trusts and trust administration
• Inheritance Tax (IHT) and estate planning
• Advising a loyal client base including HNW elements (where applicable)

Progression: why this role is different

This isn't a "title-only" Senior Associate position. The firm is open to the right person stepping into a department leadership pathway, including:

• Clear route to Head of Private Client (for the right hire)
• Opportunity to mentor and develop junior fee earners
• Input into process improvement, precedents and client journey
• Scope to support business development in a way that feels natural and relationship-led

Requirements

To be considered, you should have:

• 5+ years' PQE as a Private Client Solicitor (or equivalent experience)
• UK practice experience handling Private Client matters end-to-end
• Strong technical grounding across wills, probate, LPAs, trusts and IHT planning
• Confidence running files with minimal supervision and delivering excellent client care
• A collaborative approach and interest in supporting team development

Desirable (not essential):

• STEP qualification (or working towards STEP)
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or informally leading others
• Exposure to HNW clients, complex estates, or trust work

Location & working arrangement

• Harrow area (North West London)
• Hybrid working available (details to be confirmed based on team needs and seniority)
• Full-time preferred, with flexibility discussed for the right person

Salary & benefits

• Salary: £70,000-£90,000 (depending on PQE, technical strength and leadership potential)
• Bonus (where applicable)
• Hybrid working
• Generous annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Pension scheme
• Support for professional development (including STEP support where relevant)
• Clear progression framework and the chance to shape a growing department
• A firm culture that values quality, stability and long term client relationships

Apply / enquire (confidential)

If you're interested, send your CV or a brief note outlining your current situation to:

David Hawthorne Finch
d.hawthorne

If you'd prefer, you can also reach out for a confidential chat first I'm happy to talk through the firm, the work, and the progression route before you commit to an application.

Confidentiality statement: All applications and enquiries will be handled in strict confidence.