Legal Executive – Wills, Estates and Succession Planning (WESP)

Edinburgh

Full time position

An opportunity has arisen for a Legal Executive to join our WESP department to carry out legal administration activities in respect of Estates, Trusts, Power of Attorney administration and Guardianship administration.

The successful candidate will work in conjunction with, and under the supervision of, solicitors in the department managing busy caseloads of legal administration ensuring that case files are opened and kept up to date, and that fee targets are met.

This role is predominantly based in our Edinurgh office, but we are open to considering a hybrid arrangement of working from home and in the office.  Flexibility to travel to our other offices in Helensburgh and Edinburgh may be required from time to time.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Attending meetings with families/executors in order to collect information regarding the deceased’s assets
• Writing letters to obtain information from all relevant third parties, e.g. Banks, Stockbrokers to obtain a full list of assets and debts due at the date of death
• Preparing the application for Confirmation (C1) and the relevant IHT forms required by HMRC dependent upon the value of the estate, fully consider the IHT position and arrange for payment of any IHT liability and liaise with HMRC to obtain IHT clearance
• Lodging all papers with the appropriate Sheriff Court to obtain Grant of Confirmation
• Considering Legal Rights, settling legacies and specific bequests under the terms of the Will
• Completion of Trust and Estate Income tax return to include CGT and relevant R185EI’s for residual beneficiaries.
• Preparing Executry account for approval by the executors and residuary beneficiaries
• Settling remainder of the estate to the residual beneficiaries.
• General administration of Trusts incorporating the preparation of annual accounting
• Building and maintaining ongoing relationships with Trustees, beneficiaries and any other relevant third parties, such as stockbrokers/ IFAs  
• Ensuring that the Trust’s annual tax position (income and CGT) is monitored and the appropriate returns are made to HMRC
• Ensuring payments are made to beneficiaries within the terms of the Trust Deed and relevant R185s are issued to beneficiaries
• If appointed by the Adult/Attorney, undertake daily financial administrative tasks on behalf of the Adult, including liaising with financial institutions, social workers, care homes and other third parties
• Reporting to the Attorney and preparing financial accounting as required
• Maintaining full and accurate financial records, and obtaining advance approval from the Office of the Public Guardian as required
• Preparing annual accounts and reporting same to the Office of the Public Guardian within the relevant time frame.
• Supporting clients on an as and when required basis, fulfilling a range of legal administration and welfare functions
• Managing credit balances in accordance with Law Society of Scotland guidelines
• Achieving and seeking to exceed the chargeable time recording/fee earning targets
• Supporting the private client department on various legal administrative duties as required
• Attending in-house seminars to keep knowledge of the law and legal administration procedures up to date
• Cross-referring any marketing opportunities to other departments as appropriate
• Carrying out any other reasonable duties as required

 

Essential knowledge, skills and experience required include:

• Effective communication and client relationship building skills
• Knowledge of the law, including testate and non-testate succession, gained through education and/or work experience
• Executry Paralegal and SOLAS qualified
• Experience of working in a legal office and in Estates procedures
• Adherence to ethical standards and rules of professional responsibility
• Attention to detail and ability to prioritise heavy workload to meet tight deadlines
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Numerate, and comfortable using spreadsheets
• Self-starter and team player

 

A STEP qualification, paralegal qualification, or membership of the National Association of Registered Paralegals would be advantageous.

A competitive salary and flexible benefits package will be offered commensurate with experience.

 

How to apply (please click on links)

• To apply, please forward your CV along with a covering letter and details of your salary expectation to hr@bto.co.uk 
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO

Closing Date: Friday 29 July 2022

Position:  Insurance Claims Handler

Location:  Glasgow

BTO’s market leading casualty and motor claims team is looking for a new recruit who will handle cases on behalf of clients and insurance companies with the purpose of defending and negotiating settlement. 

Caseloads can include both litigation and pre litigation work so experienced knowledge of the Compulsory Pre-Action protocol and Sheriff Court personal injury court procedures is essential.  Experience of simple procedure would also be beneficial.

Our new team member will be responsible for assessing issue of liability and quantum in a range of different cases.  Specialist knowledge of credit hire cases is desired.  The majority of our cases are motor but there are also EL and PL claims so knowledge of casualty claims of that nature would also assist. 

The role involves client reporting, reserving, keen negotiation of claims settlements and costs, maintaining standards against client SLAs and KPIs and data capture to allow management information reporting centrally. 

Essential knowledge, training and experience required: 

• Broad experience of personal injury insurance claims.
• Sound judgement commensurate with experience.
• Highly organised, with ability to prioritise and work efficiently to strict deadlines ensuring high attention to detail
• Good time management and project management skills.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and relationship-building
• Proficiency on MS Office systems, with experience of using Practice Management IT systems

The post holder will have frequent external communication withinsurance brokers, the insured, witnesses, the Police etc., and constant engagement with claimant agents, solicitors and clerks of court where litigated.

There is a high-volume case load with strict adherence to client protocols and timelines.  Personal Injury claims can be highly contentious and therefore good relationship skills are key.

Although work is supervised by Solicitors, the post holder is expected to work autonomously and liaise directly with clients and the Insured.

How to Apply (please click on links)

• To apply, please forward your CV to hr@bto.co.uk along with a covering letter and details of your salary expectation, or send by post to Human Resources, BTO Solicitors LLP, 48 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5HS.
  
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO

Closing date for applications is 11 July 2022

Feeing Unit Assistant

Location: Glasgow

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Feeing Unit Assistant within BTO’s Finance Department based in our Glasgow Office. 

You will have experience in a similar role within a legal firm and will be familiar with cash room functions including preparations and processing of fee notes, credit control and assisting staff and clients with queries relating to BTO invoices. A strong level of numeracy and an attention to detail is essential as well as an understanding of IT office. This is a busy office and flexibility to perform a variety of finance admin functions to support the team is necessary.  A working knowledge of 3E or similar practice management system and purchase ledger experience would be an advantage.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience in a similar role.

A competitive salary and flexible benefits package will be offered commensurate with your experience.

How to Apply (please click on links)

• To apply, please forward your CV along with a covering letter and details of your salary expectation to hr@bto.co.uk
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO

Please note that applications will not be accepted without a fully completed application form.

Closing date for applications is 24 June 2022.

Cashroom Assistant

Location: Glasgow 

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Cashroom Assistant within BTO’s Finance Department based in our Glasgow Office. 

You will have experience in a similar role within a legal firm and will be familiar with cash room functions including processing daily banking of client’s funds, reviewing and reconciliation of bank statements, processing telephone bank statements and printing cheques.  A strong level of numeracy and an attention to detail is essential as well as an understanding of IT office and Law Society Accounting rules. This is a busy office and flexibility to perform a variety of finance admin functions to support the team is necessary.  A working knowledge of 3E or similar practice management system and purchase ledger experience would be an advantage.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience in a similar role is essential.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience in a similar role.

A competitive salary and flexible benefits package will be offered commensurate with your experience.

How to Apply (please click on links)

• To apply, please forward your CV along with a covering letter and details of your salary expectation to hr@bto.co.uk
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO

Please note that applications will not be accepted without a fully completed application form.

Closing date for applications is 24 June 2022.

Cashroom Admin Assistant

Location: Glasgow

An opportunity has arisen for a Cashroom Admin Assistant within BTO’s Finance Department based in our Glasgow Office. 

You will have experience in a similar role within a legal firm and will be familiar with cash room functions including filing (bank cheques, bank statements etc), photocopying, faxing, printing cheques and other reasonable duties as required under the direction of the Cashroom Manager.  A strong level of numeracy and an attention to detail is essential.  This is a busy office and flexibility to perform a variety of finance admin functions to support the team is necessary.  A working knowledge of 3E or similar practice management system and purchase ledger experience would be an advantage.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience in a similar role.

A competitive salary and flexible benefits package will be offered commensurate with your experience.

How to Apply (please click on links)

• To apply, please forward your CV along with a covering letter and details of your salary expectation to hr@bto.co.uk
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO

Please note that applications will not be accepted without a fully completed application form.

Closing date for applications is 24 June 2022.

Solicitor / Senior Solicitor (0-4 years PQE) - Dispute Resolution

Location: Glasgow 

We have an exciting opportunity to join the team at BTO which deals with Property & Professional Liability disputes. The majority of the team are based in Glasgow with some working in Edinburgh too. The position would suit a Solicitor / Senior Solicitor (0-4 years PQE).

The role involves dealing with a diverse portfolio of commercial disputes including handling claims involving property damage, product liability, professional negligence, construction contracts, the construction of insurance policies and also a small number of personal injury claims with a foreign jurisdiction element. Most of the instructions will come via insurance companies with some instructions coming directly from commercial organisations and private clients.

The job will involve handling litigated and unlitigated claims and pursuing and defending actions. Candidates must have knowledge and experience of handling some of the sorts of claims relevant to the role and be familiar with managing the day to day aspects of cases within the Court of Session and Sheriff Court. Advocacy and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) experience would be an advantage. Candidates suited to the role will have good interpersonal skills, an ability to translate complex legal arguments, experience of devising effective strategies for clients and an appetite for networking and business development.

A competitive salary and flexible benefits package will be offered commensurate with experience.

How to Apply (please click on links)

• Please submit your CV to hr@bto.co.uk 
• Job Description
• General Information on BTO
• Equal Opportunities Form (save file to your computer)

 

Closing date for applications is 8 July 2022.