Senior Associate – Care in Bournemouth

Lester Aldridge has an exciting opportunity for a talented and motivated Senior Associate to join our nationally recognised Health & Social Care team. This is a unique opportunity to work on complex and rewarding cases across the care and community care sector, with the chance to develop your expertise alongside market-leading professionals.

This is a real opportunity to carve out a specialism within a respected and growing practice, offering intellectually stimulating work, a supportive environment, and excellent career development prospects.

Your Responsibilities

• Case Management: Handle a broad and varied caseload across the health and social care sector, including regulatory and community care matters.
• Client Advisory: Advise care providers and individuals on a wide range of issues, including CQC regulation and enforcement, safeguarding, Coroner’s Inquests, and funding disputes.
• Community Care & SEN: Represent individuals in EHCP and SENDIST appeals, package of care disputes, and issues under the Care Act.
• Legal Representation: Defend clients in enforcement proceedings, appear at Inquests and hearings, and liaise with regulatory bodies and public authorities.
• Business Development: Contribute to growing the profile of the team through client relationships, networking and marketing initiatives.

About Us

Lester Aldridge’s Health & Social Care team is a recognised market leader in the care sector, acting for a broad spectrum of clients including national care groups, independent providers, and individuals. Our team is known for its in-depth knowledge of the sector, strategic advice, and its practical, client-focused approach.

We are proud of our collaborative and inclusive culture, and offer flexible working arrangements from our Bournemouth or London offices. Our work blends high-quality legal practice with a strong social impact—making a difference in the lives of care providers, vulnerable individuals, and families alike.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: Prior experience in the health and social care sector is highly desirable—particularly with CQC regulation, inquests, or community care law.
• Legal Skills: Strong written and verbal communication, case management, and advocacy preparation. Comfortable advising both individuals and commercial clients.
• Client Focus: A commercial, solutions-driven approach to service delivery with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Motivation: A team player with the confidence to handle responsibility and the ambition to grow within a specialist team.
• Adaptability: Ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving area of law with a flexible, proactive approach to learning and development.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary: Reflective of experience and contribution to the team.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid and flexible working options available from our Bournemouth or London office.
• Career Progression: Clear development path with access to high-quality training and mentoring.
• Client Variety: A wide range of interesting and impactful work, with high levels of responsibility from the outset.
• Team Culture: Join a highly respected and close-knit team of sector specialists, with regular collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
• Additional Benefits: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, your birthday and an extra day at Christmas off, private medical insurance, pension, life assurance, and access to Perkbox—an online platform offering discounts and rewards.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your legal career within one of the UK’s leading care sector teams, we’d love to hear from you.