Paralegal - Estates Administration

Your Future At Higgs

Job title

Paralegal - Estates Administration

Career Stage

Level 1

Department

Private Client - Estates

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

Role Purpose

As a Paralegal you will be working within the Estate Administration team which is part of the Private Client Department. Your quick thinking, attention to detail and accuracy are vital attributes. The Estate Administration team is a growing team and you will need a broad understanding of legal matters, transactions, client requests and the demands of your team often connected to sensitive or complex issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Processing funds in, to include identifying the correct client and matter for allocation and updating the relevant file for the purposes of assisting with the production of estate accounts.
• Actioning the production of the formal documentation to send funds from this firm’s client account to both beneficiaries and financial institutions and HMRC.
• Production of death verification forms.
• Production of initial letters of enquiry to financial institutions and other service providers providing support to chase the Probate Registry and HMRC with regard to applications for probate.
• Assisting with the collection of assets post the issue of the Grant of Probate to include the completion of withdrawal forms and liaising with administrators for signature of the same.
• Preparation of receipts for beneficiary payments.
• Undertaking bankruptcy searches.
• Working towards running some of the more straightforward estates from start to finish following a suitable training period.
• Help maintain estate accounting records.
• Provide key event diary management (to include insurance renewals, loss on sale relief and deed of variations)
• Compliance – monitor and update matter checklists.

Person Specification

The criteria below will be assessed via application (A), interview (I) or both (A/I).

Essential Criteria

• Acts with integrity and discretion, recognising the importance of confidentiality when managing personal, client, or firm information (A/I)
• Ability to accurately record, organise, and maintain client and matter information using appropriate systems, ensuring information is accessible, secure, and supports the team efficiency (A/I)
• Communicates with clarity, sharing ideas appropriately, listening actively, and contributing to discussions that support effective decision-making and continuous improvement. (A/I)
• Experience in taking ownership of tasks with responsible time management, attention to detail and professional responsibility. (A/I)
• Brings a positive attitude and proactive approach to the role, helping to foster a respectful and inclusive workplace. (A/I)
• Previous experience within Estate Administration (i.e. Probate) (A/I)

Desirable Criteria

• Able to demonstrate awareness of our purpose and how the role contributes to wider goals. (I)
• May have experience working in a professional or client facing environment. (A)

Technical Knowledge

• Proficient in using Microsoft 365 applications to organise tasks, manage time effectively and support collaborative working (essential). (A/I)

Please note: This role does not lead to a training contract. Professional development will be supported through alternative routes such as CILEX, and applicants should be committed to progressing within this team and area of practice

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.