Community Care Solicitor

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated legal professional to join our friendly Community Care and Court of Protection team. Reporting to the Senior Associate, you will manage a diverse caseload of privately fee-paying clients while supporting junior fee earners and contributing to the development of our niche area of law. As a founding member of the Professional Deputy Forum and a recognised leader in Chambers and The Legal 500, our team offers specialised, holistic advice in Community Care/Public Law, Court of Protection Health and Welfare, and Special Educational Needs.

This role provides a clear path for career progression, including opportunities for business development, within a supportive and highly regarded team.

We welcome applications from both junior and senior candidates.

Our Clients

We act for a range of clients. This includes Boyes Turner’s Court of Protection team (subject to the scope of a Deputy’s authority pursuant to Re ACC) and Professional Deputies nationwide.

In addition, the team also works with a range of other private clients. This includes parents, young people with capacity, families, lay attorneys, lay deputies, professional trustees, case managers, litigators and charities.

Responsibilities… what will you do?

• Managing a mixed caseload of Community Care and Court of Protection matters under supervision of senior fee earners. Subject to the candidate’s legal experience, there may be the opportunity for involvement with Special Educational Needs cases.
• Assisting with marketing events and business development.
• Assisting the Court of Protection Property & Affairs fee earners with Community Care/Public law and Court of Protection issues subject to Re ACC.
• Dealing with new enquiries from lay clients and Professional Deputies, including responding to Re ACC quotation requests.
• Drafting a range of complex legal documents including advice letters, grounds of appeal, formal complaints, instructions to experts and counsel, court forms and applications, position statements and witness statements.
• Opportunity for advocacy at needs assessments, dispute resolution meetings, statutory appeals and court or tribunal hearings.
• Liaising with clients, experts, public bodies, counsel and the Court.
• Overseeing preparation of bundles by junior fee earners and support staff.
• Assisting with the training and supervision of junior fee earners and support staff where appropriate.
• Ensuring work is maintained at a high level of quality throughout to promote the reputation of the firm.
• Assisting with management of fee estimates, invoicing and accounts processes.

Essential skills and experience… what are we looking for?

• Experience of Community Care/Public Law and Court of Protection Health & Welfare.
• Ability to independently manage a mixed case load of privately fee-paying clients under the supervision of senior fee earners.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Strong client care and interpersonal skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent IT skills plus good knowledge of Microsoft Office (including Excel spreadsheets).

Desirable skills

• Experience of Court of Protection Property & Affairs.
• Experience of Special Educational Needs law.
• Experience of advocacy (e.g. NHS Continuing Healthcare appeals, round-table/ADR meetings).
• Experience of training and supervising junior fee earners and support staff.

Benefits… what do you get?

Contractual benefits

• 25 days holiday
• 4 % employer contribution and 4% employee contribution towards the pension scheme
• Life Assurance - 5 x final salary
• Private Medical Insurance

Non contractual benefits include (Pro Rata)

• Flexible Hybrid working
• An additional days holiday for your birthday
• A weekly wellbeing hour
• 8 hour per annum charity work
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Bring your dog to work
• Social committee events
• Season ticket travel loan
• Eligible to purchase an additional five days holiday