BLOGS

A Day in the Life of a Private Client Solicitor: The Will Whisperer

Ah, the life of a private client solicitor. Glamorous, right? Forget the high-octane world of corporate deals and embrace a more refined (and slightly eccentric) world where inheritance tax, wills, and family feuds over grandma’s porcelain figurines take centre stage. Welcome to the life of a private client solicitor—a day packed with legal jargon, spreadsheets, and the occasional tea break (or six).

Here’s a peek into what it’s like to be the legal custodian of people’s posthumous wishes. Hold onto your trust funds, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

8:00 AM – The Morning Ritual (Coffee Required)

The day starts with the noble sound of an alarm—also known as "the morning groan." A quick glance at the inbox reveals a slew of emails titled "Urgent: Estate Planning!", "Help! Inheritance Tax Question", and "My Uncle’s Beagle Has a Trust Fund?"

After a stiff coffee (or two), it's off to the office, where the day’s true adventure begins. Because nothing screams “morning excitement” like a client’s desire to split their stamp collection between 14 grandchildren.

9:00 AM – The Meeting Marathon

First up, a meeting with the Watson family. Mr Watson has realised (over tea and scones) that his will needs updating, because his youngest child, the golden retriever, wasn’t accounted for in the original draft. He insists that Rex gets “at least 20%” of his estate, in kibble, naturally.

After some gentle probing about how, legally, Rex can inherit anything, the conversation veers toward trusts, tax efficiency, and whether anyone else in the family will object to the dog’s newfound wealth. Mr Watson then spends 15 minutes asking if Rex can also have voting rights on family decisions. After a delicate "no," it's off to the next meeting.

10:30 AM – Inheritance Tax Gymnastics

Time to roll up those sleeves and dive into the glorious world of Inheritance Tax (IHT)—a subject that strikes fear into the heart of many a client. Today’s task? Figuring out how Mrs Green can pass down her prized collection of Fabergé eggs without HMRC taking a 40% bite.

Cue the calculator. Trusts? Check. Gifts before death? Check. Rewriting the will for the 7th time this year? Of course. The goal is simple: keep as much of the eggs in the family and out of the taxman’s hands. Mrs Green leaves happy, and you feel like a magician who just made a very expensive rabbit disappear.

12:00 PM – The Eternal Email Loop

Lunchtime? Not yet. First, the inbox demands attention. Emails flood in from clients who have just one more thing to add to their will. Like Mrs Taylor, who wants to bequeath her antique cuckoo clock to her estranged cousin (but only if he doesn’t contest her decision to leave the family home to her cat).

Then there’s the lovely Jenkins family who’ve been strategising over their estate plan for six months but have now decided to leave everything to their pet llama. Apparently, a lot of pets are getting rich today.

1:00 PM – Lunch… or Something Like It

Finally, it’s time for lunch! But in true private client solicitor fashion, you’ve got a sandwich in one hand and a phone in the other. “No, Mrs Perkins, we can’t exclude your brother-in-law from the will without risking a legal challenge. Yes, even if he did steal your favourite casserole dish in 1985.”

After an educational (read: exhausting) conversation about the pitfalls of familial dish disputes, you savour a single bite of your sandwich before getting pulled back into your next task.

2:00 PM – Will Drafting: The High Art of What-if

Back to the fun part: drafting wills. Today, Mr Davies wants to make his will “foolproof,” which means running through every possible scenario. What if his kids don’t want the house? What if his son marries someone with "dubious" taste in art? What if all the beneficiaries are abducted by aliens? (OK, maybe not that one, but close.)

This is the moment where you become both legal expert and fortune teller. You must craft a will that accounts for every twist of fate, while ensuring no one leaves the office with more questions than answers. Also, is it legal to specify that your ashes must be spread from a helicopter over the Glastonbury Festival? Spoiler: it’s complicated.

4:00 PM – The Family Feud (No, Not the Game Show)

Just as you’re getting ready to pat yourself on the back for drafting the perfect will, the Johnsons call. They’ve just read the will you drafted for their late uncle and...let’s just say, not everyone is happy. It turns out that Uncle Fred left his prized garden gnome collection to his long-lost neighbour, much to the dismay of his children.

What follows is an hour of mediation, legal explanations, and managing expectations. You calmly explain that garden gnomes have no real financial value, but the emotional attachment? That’s a different story. Somehow, you get through it without anyone throwing a teapot.

5:30 PM – Wrapping Up the Day (or Not)

By the end of the day, you’ve drafted three wills, calmed two disputes, and avoided a minor tax disaster. There’s a sense of satisfaction, knowing you’ve safeguarded someone’s future, even if that future involves complex trusts for fluffy pets.

But before you can head home, the phone rings. It’s the Perkins family again—turns out the brother-in-law’s legal team got wind of that casserole incident, and now there’s a whole new layer of drama. You sigh, reach for your tea, and remind yourself that this is why you love the job.

Conclusion: A Day of Laughs, Legalities, and Family Legacies

Being a private client solicitor is never dull. You’re part therapist, part detective, and part legal wizard. Your days are filled with eccentric clients, bizarre inheritance requests, and endless discussions about family heirlooms, pets, and estranged cousins. But at the heart of it all, you’re helping people ensure their legacies are protected, and that’s a pretty rewarding (and occasionally hilarious) way to spend your time.

Now, if only you could figure out how to write a clause that prevents future family arguments about grandma’s china…