Explore a dynamic and rewarding career path with Locum Head of Private Client jobs, a unique senior-level opportunity within the legal profession. This role is a specialized, temporary leadership position designed for experienced private client solicitors who step in to manage a firm's private client department during periods of transition, such as sudden departures, extended leave, or special projects. It offers the chance to apply deep expertise in a high-impact, short-term capacity, providing strategic leadership without the long-term commitment of a permanent post. A Locum Head of Private Client is fundamentally a managerial and hands-on legal expert. The core responsibility is to provide immediate leadership and stability to the private client team. This involves supervising junior solicitors and paralegals, mentoring staff, and ensuring the seamless delivery of legal services to clients. The professional in this role is the go-to person for complex queries and is accountable for maintaining the department's operational standards and compliance protocols. Crucially, this is not solely an administrative role; most Locum Heads actively manage a select, complex caseload. Typical responsibilities include overseeing and personally handling matters related to wills drafting, the creation and administration of trusts, obtaining grants of probate, estate administration, the creation of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), and providing strategic advice on inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning. They ensure the department adheres to the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules and other regulatory frameworks, safeguarding the firm and its clients. The typical skill set and requirements for these senior jobs are extensive. Candidates are almost always qualified solicitors or legal executives with a significant post-qualification experience (PQE), often seven years or more, exclusively within private client law. Proven leadership or management experience is non-negotiable, as is the ability to "hit the ground running" with minimal induction. Excellent technical knowledge of relevant legislation is a given. Beyond the legal acumen, superior communication and interpersonal skills are vital for managing a team, reassuring vulnerable clients, and liaising with financial advisors and other professionals. A high degree of commercial awareness, impeccable organizational skills, and the ability to work autonomously under pressure are the hallmarks of a successful Locum Head. For legal professionals seeking variety, challenge, and the ability to shape legal departments on a project basis, Locum Head of Private Client jobs represent a prestigious and intellectually stimulating career niche.
