Reporting to: Head of Department and Partners
Job Title: Court of Protection Solicitor
Job Purpose: Conduct of Mental Capacity Matters
Location: London (hybrid working available)
Job Description
Court of Protection Solicitor
We are looking for a Court of Protection Solicitor to join our Mental Health and Capacity team. This is a great opportunity for the right candidate to join a large highly regarded team of accredited specialists with many years’ experience working in this specialised area of law, and as such are highly recognised in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.
Applicants should send a C.V. and covering letter to katy.jennings@milesandpartners.com.
The ideal candidate will:
- Be an experienced Mental Health and Capacity Solicitor with at least 6 years PQE.
- Have experience in Welfare cases in the Court of Protection.
- Have good working knowledge of Mental Health law and the Care Act.
- Have good working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Law and Practice appropriate to PQE.
- Be a member of the Law Society Mental Health (Welfare) Accreditation Scheme.
- Be committed to delivering a high level of client service.
- Have excellent client care and communication skills.
- Have knowledge and experience of the Legal Aid system.
- Have a proven track record in this field.
Terms to be agreed with salary commensurate with experience. This is an excellent opportunity for career progression for the right candidate, to build their own and the firm’s profile whilst advancing to team leadership with responsibility for developing an interesting niche caseload and supervising and assisting in the development of junior members of the team.
For a full job description, please see below.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Primarily to deal with Mental Capacity welfare matters in the Court of Protection and related matters as agreed with and directed by the partners to include conduct of Community Care matters and related Judicial Review matters insofar as they relate to Mental Capacity issues.
- To contribute to the overall provision of legal services on behalf of the firm, by conducting all matters so assigned, at all times ensuring that the professional standards of the firm and the profession are adhered to.
- To provide assistance in the supervision and guidance on technical matters to colleagues.
- Maintain professional standards of work and comply with The SRA Handbook, practice management standards and agreed codes of relevant specialist groupings and court practice directions.
- Maintain professional standards of work and comply with external and internal regulatory requirements where relevant, comply with internal policy and provide a service in accordance with the policy set out in the office manual.
- Provide a legal service to the Lexcel standard as laid down in the office manual.
- Receive instructions from clients and identify tasks to be done and plan work, researching where necessary and delegating if appropriate.
- Ensure the client is kept informed of progress and discuss details of the case with client giving advice as appropriate.
- Ensure that the client files and records are maintained in accordance with Lexcel specification and file management procedures.
- To assist with and comply with Practice Manager and supervisors in the event it is necessary to respond to complaints concerning conduct of work.
- Market the department and firm as necessary especially with regard to those cases referred by the Official Solicitor and other referral sources.
- Be an accredited member of the Law Society Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation Scheme.
Person Specification Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Skills
- Written and oral communication skills
- Working with vulnerable clients, including those with learning disabilities and/or mental disorders
- IT skills
- Ability to work under pressure and meet competing court deadlines
- Ability to build good working relationships with members of the team and clients
- Ability to build relationships with other professionals and third parties
Knowledge
- Good working knowledge of Mental Capacity Law and Practice appropriate to PQE
- Good working knowledge of Mental Health Law and the Care Act.
- Awareness of the needs of vulnerable clients who have a learning disability and/or mental disorder
Experience
- Welfare cases in the Court of Protection.
- Member of the Law Society Mental Health (Welfare) Accreditation Scheme
- At least 6 years PQE
Qualifications
Solicitor or FILEX
Attributes
People and Leadership
- A team player
- Responsible for producing good quality work and facilitating productive working relationships with colleagues
- Can provide supervision and guidance on technical issues and on handling clients
- Is considered as a ‘safe pair of hands’
- Able to supervise work and provide feedback on the performance of Paralegals, Trainee Solicitors and Assistants
- Expected to behave in a manner which is consistent with the firm’s values and behaviours
- Able to assist in on-going training within the department.
Finance
- Achieves the financial objectives and targets set for them with minimal supervision
- Is aware of the importance of properly scoping work, clearly explaining to the client what a matter will cost, issuing regular bills and assisting cashiers with payment
- Uses, understands and interprets the firm’s financial reporting systems
Business Development, client relationships and marketing
- Provides an excellent service to clients that meets their expectations
- Receives good feedback from clients
- Knows how to progress matters in line with client expectations
- Is interested in and understands what we offer to clients
- Is able to establish common ground when communicating with clients
- Demonstrates a natural ease when dealing with people
- Takes advantage of opportunities to start to develop internal and external networks and understands the value of these networks for the future
- Participates in marketing and business development events
- Is starting to identify marketing and BD opportunities
Benefits
We are well known for being a friendly, inclusive and collegiate firm. We value our staff and acknowledge daily that personal development enriches the working environment for all. Our teams are rightly proud of the achievements they make every day on behalf of their clients.
All Miles and Partners team members benefit from:
- The opportunity to be part of a team of passionate lawyers at the top of their game
- A supportive team who love what they do and like to have fun together doing it, whether it’s over lunch or in team events
- Hybrid working for all – combining remote and in-office work creating the opportunity for work-life balance
- The chance to get involved in our legal community and improve access to justice for all – we support the Great Legal Bake and the London Legal Walk
- Recognition for a job well done or moments that matter in your life – we celebrate Eid, Christmas, Pride and Black History Month together, and many more
- Flexible use of the Easter Bank holidays to celebrate other religious festivals
- Additional benefits to enhance your health and wellness including an employee assistance programme delivered by Health Assured – the UK and Ireland’s leading wellbeing provider, as well as monthly wellbeing events
- A cycle-to-work scheme – purchase a bike and accessories and safety equipment through your gross salary, saving 25-39%
- Consideration for the annual discretionary bonus scheme.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community – we recruit on merit, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
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