Associate - Court of Protection

Penningtons Manches LLP; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Penningtons Manches LLP is seeking a qualified solicitor with 2-5 years PQE in Court of Protection to manage deputyships and personal injury trusts, with supervision as needed. The role emphasizes drafting applications, liaising with families, and supporting senior staff in a busy COP team.

We value diversity and inclusion, with opportunities to develop business development activities and professional growth. [e-mail] is the contact for applications.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years PQE with experience in Court of Protection.
• Degree qualification or equivalent.
• Ability to run own caseload with supervision.
• Part or whole STEP examinations.
• Good working knowledge of OPG deputy standards.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• IT literate with MS Office and legal systems.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a busy workload; balance between independence and seeking guidance.
• Collaborative team member with relationship-building skills.
• Interest in BD including social media channels.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day general affairs of clients under Deputyships and Personal Injury Trusts.
• Draft routine and complex applications to the Court of Protection with supporting documents.
• Support with Expert Witness Statements and OPG reports.
• Liaise with Case Managers, clients and families; supervise junior staff.
• Contribute to team policies and process improvements.

Skills

Court of Protection experience

Case load management

Drafting of Court documents

Client liaison

Education

Qualifying law degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Penningtons Manches Cooper is a leading UK and international law firm which provides high quality legal advice tailored to both businesses and individuals. We address the specific objectives of each client through our flair and technical expertise and offer a personal service founded on a strong team ethic.

Today, we have UK offices in the City of London, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford and Reading while our growing overseas reach covers Singapore, Piraeus, Paris, Madrid and Sao Paulo.

Among our clients we count multi-national corporations, public companies, professional partnerships, banks and financial institutions as well as private individuals, owner managed businesses and start-ups. We are conscious that our culture and close working relationships are vital assets and we are determined to maintain these as we increase in size.

The COP Team have established a significant reputation for advising and assisting individuals, their families, carers, trustees, beneficiaries and other professionals on a broad range of issues arising from catastrophic personal injury, including serious brain injury with high value compensation awards. The team supports litigation lawyers throughout the conduct of the claim.

We work closely with the Court of Protection, the individual and their family to establish long‑term relationships and to ensure all decisions are made in their best interests. Our aim is to relieve the pressure of financial decision making from family members, enabling them to continue to make the key choices and to support their relative on a day‑to‑day basis. Although our work largely focuses on financial management, we also become involved with welfare matters such as care funding, welfare benefits, deprivation of liberty special education and generally issues relating to capacity. The quality of work is both complex and rewarding undertaken within a dedicated growing team.

In the Legal 500, the COP Team are noted as "a very friendly yet professional team and are keen to ensure everything they do is centred fully around the client and in their best interests", which epitomises the ethos of the team; supporting each other and their clients to achieve the best outcomes.

We are looking for a qualified solicitor of 2-5-year PQE with experience in Court of Protection work to increase and strengthen our successful team.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day general management of the clients’ affairs, and in most cases will act as a primary point of contact for the client.

Working on both Deputyships and Personal Injury Trusts, the successful candidate will be required to be aware of the full details of the clients’ affairs and ensure compliance with the OPG Deputyship Standards in all general management tasks. They will have an allocated case load of clients with the support of a senior member of the team and a paralegal and will be expected to undertake all or any of the following tasks: Drafting routine and non-routine applications to the Court of Protection with accompanying documentation including Witness Statements;

• Supporting with the preparation of Expert Witness Statements;
• Assisting with the preparation of OPG Reports;
• Assisting senior members of the team with discrete tasks as required;
• Running their own case load with training and supervision
• Taking a role in the implementation of policies and processes relating to the team;
• Mentoring and training junior staff and delegating tasks as appropriate;
• Liaising with Case Managers, clients, and their family; and
• Liaising and consulting with senior members of the as appropriate on team policies and general management of client matters.

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact [e-mail]

Essential & Desirable Criteria

• 2-5 years PQE with experience in Court of Protection
• Degree qualification or equivalent
• Expected to be broadly able to run own caseload with supervision
• Part or whole STEP examinations
• Good working knowledge of OPG deputy standards
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• IT literate, confident user of MS office and potentially legal systems
• Ability to work to deadlines, manage a busy workload and to report on progress; appropriate balance between confidence in own judgement and knowing when to refer decisions to senior associates within the team
• Collaborative team member with ability to quickly build relationships with a wide range of people
• An interest and enthusiasm for BD including social media channel