Probate Solicitor

Stratford-upon-Avon
11 months ago
Applications closed

Closing date: 17-03-2025

Probate Solicitor
£32,000-£65,000 dependant on experience (Work level 6A and Work level 5)
Full time, 37.5 hours or part time hours available
We’re now working in a hybrid way, with colleagues dividing their time between home and any of our offices in Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, or Stratford upon Avon.

We’re looking for solicitors/fee earners to join our specialist probate team within Co-op Legal Services at a variety of levels.

At Co-op Legal Services we do things differently - we’re future-focussed, we’re committed to providing an exceptional client experience, and we’re passionate about developing our colleagues.

In this role, you’ll manage a varied caseload of probate cases from start to finish, with a client-focussed approach to targets. You won’t need to bring a following of clients with you as we will source new work for you. You’ll also be supported by our innovative legal technology - we’ve introduced AI enabled processes into our legal technology platform, and plan to have our estate administration processes fully AI enabled through 2025, so there’s never been a more exciting time to join! We’ve also doubled our probate team within the past year, and as we continue to grow and innovate, they’ll be plenty of opportunities to build a rewarding career with us.

What you’ll do

•    own caseload of probate cases varying in complexity end to end, using a case management system and artificial intelligence tools 
•    use our case management system to make sure information is recorded accurately 
•    engage with clients mainly by telephone and email
•    work collaboratively with expert support from the team to continually develop your legal skills, administrative support will also be provided 
•    use your legal knowledge to mentor more junior members of the team

This role would suit people who have

•    qualified as a solicitor or legal executive in private practice (CILEX or STEP qualification), or have the equivalent experience in probate law
•    the ability to use your initiative and effectively prioritise and organise your work in a fast-paced and high-volume environment 
•    a client-focused approach with the ability to build positive relationships in a remote setting

Why Co-op?

Our legal team is the number one market leader in probate. Here you’ll do work that matters. Co-op is an organisation with a purpose beyond profit, and by contributing to our success you’ll help us to realise our vision of co-operating for a fairer world. You’ll also get a package that includes:
•    an annual bonus scheme (dependent on personal and business performance)
•    a pension with up to 10% employer contributions
•    28 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 32 in line with service)
•    private healthcare (WL5 only)
•    wellbeing benefits to support your physical financial and mental health
•    coaching, training, and support such as study leave, to help you develop your skills and progress your career
•    discounts on Co-op products and services

Building an inclusive work environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. We want to build inclusive work environments, where our colleagues have equal opportunities to reach their full potential. We celebrate our differences, and recognise the importance of our teams reflecting the communities they serve.

If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you’d like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we’ll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

You can find out more about our recruitment process at (url removed)/apply-process.

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme and all our commitments to diversity and inclusion at (url removed)/diversity-inclusion-and-wellbeing.

If you’re successful in your application, we’ll perform some background checks as part of our pre-employment screening process. These will include an SRA check, credit checks, and a DBS (disclosure and barring service) check. Please note Co-op does not offer visa sponsorship for this role. 

#NonvolPJ

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How Many AI Tools Do You Need to Know to Get an AI Job?

If you are job hunting in AI right now it can feel like you are drowning in tools. Every week there is a new framework, a new “must-learn” platform or a new productivity app that everyone on LinkedIn seems to be using. The result is predictable: job seekers panic-learn a long list of tools without actually getting better at delivering outcomes. Here is the truth most hiring managers will quietly agree with. They do not hire you because you know 27 tools. They hire you because you can solve a problem, communicate trade-offs, ship something reliable and improve it with feedback. Tools matter, but only in service of outcomes. So how many AI tools do you actually need to know? For most AI job seekers: fewer than you think. You need a tight core toolkit plus a role-specific layer. Everything else is optional. This guide breaks it down clearly, gives you a simple framework to choose what to learn and shows you how to present your toolset on your CV, portfolio and interviews.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in AI Job Applications (UK Guide)

Hiring managers do not start by reading your CV line-by-line. They scan for signals. In AI roles especially, they are looking for proof that you can ship, learn fast, communicate clearly & work safely with data and systems. The best applications make those signals obvious in the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down what hiring managers typically look for first in AI applications in the UK market, how to present it on your CV, LinkedIn & portfolio, and the most common reasons strong candidates get overlooked. Use it as a checklist to tighten your application before you click apply.

The Skills Gap in AI Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how businesses operate, how decisions are made, and how entire industries compete. From finance and healthcare to retail, manufacturing, defence, and climate science, AI is embedded in critical systems across the UK economy. Yet despite unprecedented demand for AI talent, employers continue to report severe recruitment challenges. Vacancies remain open for months. Salaries rise year on year. Candidates with impressive academic credentials often fail technical interviews. At the heart of this disconnect lies a growing and uncomfortable truth: Universities are not fully preparing graduates for real-world AI jobs. This article explores the AI skills gap in depth—what is missing from many university programmes, why the gap persists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build a successful career in artificial intelligence.