At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and establish a new family law office while managing complex cases.
- Company: A respected family-owned law firm with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, bonus potential, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Genuine long-term progression opportunities and a collaborative work environment.
- Why this job: Shape your own practice and make a real impact in family law.
- Qualifications: 8+ years of family law experience and strong leadership skills.
Job Description
Family Solicitor or Legal Executive / New Office Lead
Location: Flexible across England (new office location to be agreed)
Salary: Open to discussions on salary and bonus
Experience: Ideally 8+ years’ relevant family law experience (other strong candidates considered)
If you’re an experienced private family lawyer who wants to build something of your own, with the backing of a respected specialist brand and a genuinely supportive culture, this is a rare opportunity.
Our client is a family-owned, long-established private family law firm with a strong reputation for practical, commercially aware and client-focused advice. Due to continued success and a growing national profile, they are looking to appoint a Family Solicitor or Legal Executive to establish and lead a new office in an agreed location.
This is not a standard fee earner position. You will have real autonomy to shape the local practice, recruit and develop a team, and grow a sustainable pipeline, supported by central operations, compliance, marketing and business development.
Despite growth and additional offices, the firm has retained the personal, collaborative feel of a traditional family business. They are looking for a well-rounded family lawyer who combines strong technical ability and sound commercial judgement with leadership skills and a genuine business development focus.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Establishing and leading a new office in a location agreed with the firm
- Managing a varied and complex private family law caseload with minimal supervision
- Advising on private children matters and financial remedy claims
- Advising on divorce, separation and cohabitation disputes
- Advising on pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements
- Advising on protective injunctions where appropriate
- Handling TOLATA matters where experienced (desirable, not essential)
- Conducting litigation and the reserved legal activities required for the role
- Conducting negotiations with solicitors, other representatives and litigants in person
- Attending client meetings, conferences and court hearings where appropriate
- Exercising rights of audience where required and within your authorisation
- Instructing and working effectively with counsel and experts
- Maintaining high standards of time recording, billing, costs management and compliance
- Developing a local referral network and professional profile
- Attending networking events and building relationships within the local community
- Supporting marketing and business development initiatives
- Identifying opportunities for sustainable growth
- Contributing to decisions on the location, development and operation of the new office
- Recruiting, supervising and developing colleagues as the office grows
- Collaborating with colleagues across the firm’s other offices
- Contributing to the firm’s wider strategy and continued growth
What We’re Looking For
- A Solicitor (England and Wales) with a current practising certificate, or a CILEX Lawyer / Chartered Legal Executive with the practising rights and authorisations required for the role
- Authorised to carry on the reserved legal activities essential to the role
- Substantial practical experience of private family law
- Strong experience of private children and financial remedy matters
- Confidence managing a varied and complex caseload
- Strong technical knowledge and practical judgement
- A strong billing history and clear understanding of the commercial requirements of private family work
- Excellent client-care, communication and interpersonal skills
- Clear, accurate and persuasive drafting
- Confidence negotiating and handling sensitive matters
- Strong file management, time recording and financial discipline
- Confidence using case management systems and Microsoft Office
- Leadership potential and, where applicable, experience supervising and developing colleagues
- A collaborative approach and willingness to share knowledge
- Genuine interest in networking, marketing and business development
- Ambition to build a sustainable local practice and team
- Commitment to the firm’s values, culture and long-term growth
What’s On Offer
- The opportunity to establish, develop and lead a new office in an agreed location
- The backing of an established, specialist private family law brand with a strong reputation
- Central administrative, compliance and operational support
- Central marketing and business development support
- Access to colleagues across existing offices with different areas of experience and strengths
- Open to discussions on salary and bonus (depending on experience)
- Full-time or part-time considered
- Flexible start and finish times where operationally possible
- Potential for agreed homeworking arrangements (subject to client, team and business requirements)
- Regular file reviews and constructive professional support
- Opportunity to recruit, supervise and develop a local team
- Genuine long-term progression opportunities
- Potential eligibility for a discretionary bonus scheme (subject to eligibility)
- Paid birthday day off (in addition to annual leave)
- Christmas office closure (in addition to annual leave)
- Opportunity to accrue additional annual leave with length of service
- Workplace pension
- Death-in-service cover
- Health cash plan, including access to a remote doctor
- Discretionary rewards recognising individual achievements
- Inclusive staff and family social events
Working Arrangements
The location and development plan for the new office will be agreed with the successful candidate, taking account of your existing network and local knowledge, local demand for specialist private family services, and the commercial viability and growth potential of the proposed location.
As this is an office establishment and leadership role, you will be expected to maintain an appropriate physical presence in the agreed location, particularly during the office’s initial development and when recruiting or supervising colleagues.
Home working days can be discussed for work suited to focused remote working, such as drafting and file preparation, subject to client, team and business requirements.
Next Steps
Apply online or send your CV to lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.
All applications are handled in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.
Family Law Solicitor/Head of Location - New employer: Hawthorne-finch Talent Solutions
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values autonomy and high standards of client care. Located in Leeds, the firm provides its employees with competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a health cash plan, alongside ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Joining this team means being part of a supportive environment where your contributions are recognised and encouraged.
Contact Details:
Hawthorne-finch Talent Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Law Solicitor/Head of Location - New
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Hawthorne-finch Talent Solutions, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Hawthorne-finch Talent Solutions
✨Know Your Legal Principles
Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.
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Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.
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