Job title: Senior Associate – Private Client
Job type: Permanent
Industry: Legal
Sub-Functional Expertise: Senior Associate / Solicitor
Salary type: Annual
Salary: GBP £90,000.00
Location: Harrow, UK
Job published: 2026-03-26
Job ID: 58270
Contact name: David Hawthorne-Finch
Phone number: +443339962882
Contact email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com

Job Description

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-finch@h-fts.com
 
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.