Court of Protection Solicitor / Associate

City of Bristol, England, United Kingdom

What you’ll do

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and motivated Solicitor or Associate (ideally with at least 2+ years PQE) to join our highly regarded Court of Protection team, which forms part of our wider Private Client Team.

Based in our Exeter or Bristol offices but with the opportunity for some home working in line with our ‘Ways of Working’ framework, you will report directly to and work closely with the head of the team, playing an integral part in a wide range of Court of Protection work, with a focus on managing your own caseload of files with support. You will be working with clients on a range of matters that may include the following:

Court of Protection health and welfare disputes

Disputes in relation to a person's capacity to make particular decisions

Appeals against the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Applications to appoint deputies

Applications to remove attorneys

Giving advice in relation to general healthcare and community care matters

As part of a collaborative team, you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues across the Private Client team as need arises, in order to secure the best possible outcomes for your clients.

Whilst we will provide training on any specialist areas which are new to you, we expect you will have gained some experience as a qualified lawyer across a range of Court of Protection work, and be enthusiastic to expand your skills and knowledge, whilst working within a supportive and experienced team.

We pride ourselves on our ability to develop our people, and as such, you will be responsible for dealing with complex high quality, high value work and will be afforded high levels of responsibility from the outset.

Who you are

With previous experience working in a reputable Court of Protection team, you will possess the ability to balance your empathy and understanding with clients in this challenging area of law, with being solutions focused and pragmatic, in order to deliver the best possible outcomes to your clients. You will be able to readily demonstrate your ability to develop and maintain strong and effective working relationships with clients from the outset, showing a genuine commitment to their needs. An excellent communicator with proven organisational skills and natural resilience, you'll be accustomed to working at pace and under pressure to meet challenging deadlines, and understand the responsive nature of this area of practice.

With an eye for detail, you'll be meticulous and thorough in your work, with some experience in acting for clients on Court of Protection related matters. Being self-motivated and ambitious, you will be keen to increase your skills and knowledge in this specialist area of practice, and possess the drive to help us continue to grow and develop our business. In this important and emotionally charged work, clients will be looking to you to be up to date with the latest developments in health and social care law. As such, you'll need to demonstrate a genuine interest and enthusiasm for this area of practice, and its wider implications for our clients. In return, we will support you to grow your professional networks, and maximise business development opportunities through access to relevant events and conferences, enhancing your knowledge and credibility as you progress.

Why join Team Ashfords?

Ask our people, and they will tell you that they genuinely enjoy coming to work and spending time with their colleagues. We’re confident that once you discover our open and friendly culture, it won’t take long for you to feel the same.

We have a genuine team approach at Ashfords because we know that when talented people work together, we achieve more for our clients and each other. We also recognise that each of our career journeys is unique. So, we will be ambitious for you and give you the support you need to develop your career, your way.

Importantly, we will give you the space and flexibility for your life outside work too.

Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team and business.

That’s what sets us apart.

Our offer

We offer a range of benefits to support you at work and at home.

This includes a flexible working framework giving you the freedom to mix home and office working, extra annual leave for your birthday and the option to buy more holiday.

We have a comprehensive package to support physical and mental health including onsite yoga classes and a gym at our head office, healthcare plans, an Employee Assistance programme and free access for you and up to five friends to the ‘Calm’ Mindfulness App.

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our responsible business programme, including fundraising initiatives through the Ashfords Foundation and bringing your energy to our environment or diversity groups.

For a full list of benefits, please find the attachment below.

What next?

Interested in this vacancy but not sure you match all the requirements? At Ashfords, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We offer training and development opportunities to all of our people to help everyone reach their full potential. Even if your skills and experience aren’t a perfect match, we’d still love to hear from you. If you’re not the right candidate for this role, you could be the right candidate for other positions at Ashfords.

For an informal and confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Toby Tompkins, Talent Attraction Specialist, on 01392 333 654 or via email: [email protected].

Or apply now, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.