Claire Atkinson
Head of Practice - Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
I am proud to have recently joined Slater & Gordon as Head of Practice for their Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate Department in November 2023.
Get to know Claire
I started in the legal profession in 2007 as a paralegal in the Wills Probate and Court of Protection team for Bromleys Solicitors, having previously been in the financial services industry.
I studied at Manchester Metropolitan University 2 nights a week for 4 years to obtain my Law Degree, which wasn’t easy whilst still working full time with a small child.
I qualified as a Solicitor on the 15th May 2014 and have subsequently worked for a further 2 large firms within the Manchester area heading up their Wills and Probate teams before joining the team at Slater & Gordon.
Career highlights
Working as a solicitor and providing people with the legal support they need, often during highly emotional and difficult times, is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career. Having previously worked in financial services, I began retraining as a solicitor over 15 years ago as I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.
Retraining whilst working a full-time job and raising my child was tough, and I am incredibly proud of the hard work it took to qualify as a solicitor at the age of 41.
I have worked with many different clients during my time as a solicitor, and feel privileged to have been able to support so many in what can often be tough circumstances. I am here not just to help them navigate the legal processes involved in wills, trusts, tax and probate, but also to support them in their time of grief with care and understanding. From assistance in obtaining probate and handling their loved one’s estate, to support with planning inheritance tax, I work hard to ensure the legal process is straightforward and painless for my clients.
The extra mile
I am passionate about providing people with the support and guidance they need to plan for the future, whatever their circumstances, and believe that by doing so, we can make a real difference to people’s lives. That is why I have taken part in Free Wills Week, a campaign offering over people over the age of 55 a free wills writing service and raising money for charities such as Christies, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, and the Anthony Seddon Fund.
