Solicitor - Court of Protection

Are you a compassionate legal professional with a gift for guiding clients through sensitive, often life-changing decisions? Do you thrive when advocating for vulnerable adults and ensuring their voices are heard? If you’re looking for a meaningful and varied role within a supportive, forward-thinking legal team, we’d love to hear from you!

The Role

As a Court of Protection Solicitor at Stephensons, you’ll provide expert advice, assistance, and representation to family members and litigation friends acting on behalf of vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity. You’ll manage your own caseload of welfare proceedings efficiently and profitably, with a focus on delivering exceptional client care. From visiting clients in care settings to attending court, you’ll play a vital role in safeguarding the rights of some of society’s most vulnerable people — all while contributing to the development of the department and seeking opportunities to grow our work in this important area.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising and supporting clients in Court of Protection health and welfare proceedings.
• Visiting vulnerable adults in care settings to provide clear, sensitive legal guidance.
• Drafting Court applications, preparing case action plans, and managing files with ongoing risk assessment.
• Representing clients in Court (subject to rights of audience) or attending hearings with Counsel.
• Responding promptly and professionally to clients, colleagues, experts, and the Legal Aid Agency.
• Managing your caseload to Legal Aid Contracting and Law Society standards.
• Monitoring work in progress, ensuring efficiency, profitability, and accurate billing.
• Delegating and supervising tasks to ensure work is carried out at the right level while developing junior staff.
• Keeping up to date with legal developments, training requirements, and CPD.
• Reducing financial exposure by managing disbursements and debtors.
• Seeking marketing opportunities, cross-referring work internally, and actively promoting the Stephensons brand.

About You

You are empathetic, resilient, and passionate about protecting the rights of vulnerable adults. You combine legal expertise with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and sensitively. You can manage a busy caseload while keeping a steady focus on compliance, profitability, and client care.

Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Legal Executive, or equivalent level of experience.
• Experience in health and welfare proceedings in the Court of Protection.
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Previous legal aid experience.
• Strong IT skills and familiarity with case management systems.

Desirable

• Legal Aid Supervisor status.
• Law Society Accreditation in Mental Capacity.
• Advocacy experience.
• Experience supervising staff.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Up-to-date understanding of Solicitors Accounts Rules and Professional Conduct Rules.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify key issues quickly.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Business awareness and a proactive approach to developing work in the Court of Protection field.

Our Values

At Stephensons, we’re proud to be approachable, flexible, inclusive, resilient, and supportive. We’re looking for someone who not only has the technical skills for this role but also shares our commitment to making a real difference in the lives of our clients.

Why Stephensons?

Stephensons is an award-winning, top 150 law firm with a strong commitment to the future growth and development of the business. With an ambitious mindset, yet approachable and down to earth attitude, Stephensons provides an exciting place for long term career development and progression. Whilst we do look for highly motivated and driven individuals, we also have a strong commitment to work-life balance and flexibility.

What can we offer?

• Flexibility! Our agile/hybrid way of working means you get to work from where you feel comfortable.
• Generous annual leave package which increases with service.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme.
• Early monthly pay scheme.
• Life Assurance.
• Holiday sale & purchase scheme.
• Well-being package (financial, physical and mental health support).
• Free parking.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Will writing service.
• Season ticket & travel support.
• Payroll giving scheme.
• Social events & clubs.
• Reward and recognition schemes.
• Internal referral scheme.
• Retail vouchers/cashback schemes.
• Free eye tests.
• Cycle to work scheme.