Court of Protection Solicitor / Associate

Forbes Solicitors; Bamber Bridge; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Bamber Bridge seeks a Solicitor / Associate to join the private client team. This full-time role offers opportunities to grow a caseload in Court of Protection matters, emphasizing business development and team collaboration. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Solicitor with at least four years of relevant experience, strong client care skills, and a willingness to engage in business development activities.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Annual leave purchase scheme

Company pension

Health care benefits

Profit share scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years PQE in a specialist Court of Protection department.
• Demonstrable Court of Protection experience.
• Ability to manage deadlines and generate fees.

Responsibilities

• Handle a varied case load of Court of Protection matters.
• Contribute to business growth and departmental strategy.
• Support Head of Department and other advisors.

Skills

Client care skills

Presentation skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Business development knowledge

Education

Qualified Solicitor (or CILEX equivalent)

Tools

Case management systems

Word

Outlook

Job description

UK Employer of the Year 2024: Silver (250+) – Investors in People Awards

The Role

Are you looking for a unique role that can provide you with an opportunity to grow and develop your own caseload? Forbes Solicitors have a unique opportunity for someone with strong business development interests and Court of Protection knowledge to develop and grow a court of protection work stream.

Forbes Solicitors are looking for a Solicitor / Associate to join our award-winning private client team based at our Walton Summit Office.

This is a full-time role working 36.25 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 9 am until 5 pm. Hybrid working arrangements may be available depending on operational requirements.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and experienced Court of Protection Specialist looking for a new challenge to join our private client team, to progress their career and bring their skills and knowledge to a collaborative and professional team. Whilst the role will be working to the fast‑paced, customer focused and high standards of a law firm, the role will also provide a sustainable work‑life balance and relate to the regional area in which it is based.

The purpose of this exciting and unique role will be to help develop and shape the future of the Firm’s Court of Protection Services and build a strong and profitable client base.

• Growing and handling a varied case load of Court of Protection (COP) Matters such as deputyship applications, managing property and affairs files, including those related to personal injury and clinical negligence litigation settlements;
• Contributing to the development and implementation of the departmental strategic plan to drive business growth;
• Assisting the development and growth of the Court of Protection workstream;
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with current / prospective clients, referrers and stakeholders and enhancing the firm’s profile;
• Contributing to business development including, presentations and training events, articles / newsletters, Chambers & Legal 500 submissions, etc.
• Supporting the Head of Department, Partners and other advisors on their own cases, and the delivery of the departmental strategy and business objectives;
• Management, supervision, training, coaching, and mentoring of (and delegation of work to) Solicitors and Paralegals to facilitate the achievement of their business objectives and professional development goals;
• Ensuring compliance with internal and external business requirements including ISO 9001 quality control, SRA Principles / Code of Conduct, Court & Tribunal deadlines;
• Monitoring and reporting on own financial and business performance, and of colleagues under the Partners management / supervision responsibilities, to deliver work in a profitable manner;
• Contributing towards internal continuous improvement, innovation, and knowledge sharing;
• Inter‑departmental support and collaboration on joint files, projects, and events;

The Person

We will be progressing applicants to the next stage based on their demonstrated knowledge, experience, and skills in:

Essential

• Be a qualified Solicitor (or CILEX equivalent) with minimum 4 years PQE in a specialist Court of Protection department / team;
• Demonstrable Court of Protection experience and expert knowledge of the sector;
• Have a willingness to participate in handling large projects and business development activities;
• Proven experience of handling own caseload, working to and managing deadlines, alongside the capability to generate fees in accordance with agreed targets;
• Demonstrate good client care skills, providing professional and competent legal advice in accordance with the SRA Code of Conduct;
• Demonstrate strong presentation and client handling skills and be commercially astute;
• Good knowledge of IT systems, including Word, Outlook and case management systems;
• Demonstrate excellent organisational and communication skills;
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a supportive team and be reliable and enthusiastic;
• Demonstrate excellent attention to detail;
• Align with the Firm’s values;
• Have a high level of professionalism and ethical standards.

Desirable

• Have previous experience in supervising, managing and motivating others effectively;

If you are interested in this role or in joining Forbes Solicitors, please visit our website to learn more about us.

The Firm

At Forbes Solicitors, we believe in creating a supportive and collaborative environment where our team members can thrive and develop themselves and others. We offer a comprehensive range of legal services and have offices across the North, with deep roots in Lancashire. Our team are known for its genuine, practical advice and passion for achieving the best results. We are real people who listen to each other and work together to deliver exceptional service.

We are proud to have been awarded UK Employer of the Year: Silver (250+) at the Investors in People Awards 2024 and the Firm is ranked as a Legal 500 Top Tier Firm and a Chambers and Partners Leading Firm.

We are a values‑led firm and are looking for people who embody our values: authenticity, striving for exceptional results, and unity in teamwork to join our award‑winning firm.

The Benefits

We are dedicated to supporting our people and offer a range of benefits, including:

• 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays
• Annual leave purchase scheme (Subject to T&Cs)
• Celebration leave
• Ongoing professional development>
• Progression opportunities
• Company pension
• Profit share scheme
• Long service awards
• Subsidised tuck shops
• Health care benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services)
• BUPA (Solicitor positions only, for self, not dependents)
• Retailer and gym membership discounts
• Recruitment and legal department referrals (Subject to T&Cs)
• Annual Events

Forbes is an equal opportunities and disability‑confident employer, accredited by Investors in People and ISO 9001 quality management systems. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment, service provision, and supplier engagement, and strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the local communityp>

We kindly remind all recruitment agencies to respect our policy which prohibits the acceptance of speculative CVs, and not submit candidates for a role that we advertise, unless explicitly instructed to do so. Any candidates that are submitted on a speculative basis will not be considered an introduction. Our dedication to this process is part of our commitment to equal opportunities for all applicants.