Private client lawyers are usually the first port of call for individuals, families or trusts requiring legal advice on wealth management and tax planning. Some private client lawyers also focus on legal issues arising out of the death of an individual, such as the distribution of a deceased person’s money and property.
The current trend is for clients to invest their money overseas (‘offshore’) in tax havens such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands or the Channel Islands and day-to-day work could well involve advising clients on the legal and tax implications of making such investments. However, a typical private client lawyer will still spend a lot of time on the more traditional work of drafting wills and filling forms. Clients often range from high-net-worth individuals to families.
Private client lawyers are not normally expected to do all-nighters or to work at weekends and they generally have a better work-life balance than corporate lawyers, for instance. However, clients can be demanding and they often need advice at a moment’s notice. The work of a private client lawyer is extremely varied. Private client lawyers must have a strong interest in people.
