Family Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm seeks a Family Senior Associate to lead the new Bristol office, focusing on private family law, including complex cases. This role promises immediate leadership responsibility, robust workflow support, and a fast-tracked route to partnership. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in family law and collaborative leadership abilities. The firm values strong initiative and offers an attractive bonus structure exceeding 20% for star performers. Join a highly regarded practice dedicated to continuous growth and support.

Benefits

Attractive bonus structure

Long-term career potential

Collaborative modern culture

Qualifications

• Solid experience across private family law, including complex financial and children matters.
• Ability to run contested work and strategic decision-making for clients.
• Ambition for partnership and long-term career progression.

Responsibilities

• Lead the new Bristol office for a specialist family practice.
• Manage a high-quality caseload across financial remedies and complex children matters.
• Develop local relationships and contribute to business development.

Skills

Private family law experience

Contested work

Leadership qualities

Business development

Strong profile-building

Collaborative approach

Job description

Family Senior Associate / HoD | 6+ PQE | Bristol

A senior opportunity to lead the launch of a new Bristol office for a nationally recognised, specialist family practice. This role offers immediate leadership responsibility, a strong platform of incoming work, and a fast‑tracked route to partnership within a well‑established and rapidly expanding boutique.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as the senior family lawyer for the new Bristol office, taking ownership of growth and day‑to‑day leadership
• Building and developing your own practice with strong marketing support, brand recognition and a proven regional network
• Managing a high‑quality caseload across financial remedies, complex children matters and HNW/international divorce
• Handling contested and strategy‑led work, with the support of a wider specialist team across multiple offices
• Playing a key role in developing local referrer relationships, personal brand visibility and community presence
• Providing supervision, guidance and support to future local hires as the office grows
• Contributing to the firm's wider development initiatives as part of a national family offering

About You

• Solid experience across private family law, including complex financial and children matters
• Comfortable running contested work and engaging in strategic decision‑making for clients
• Strong profile‑building instincts, with the confidence to grow a local presence backed by a recognised brand
• A collaborative approach, working seamlessly with colleagues across multiple offices
• Leadership qualities and a desire to mentor, supervise and help build a team
• Commercial awareness and an interest in contributing to business development and practice growth
• Ambition for partnership and long‑term career progression

What’s on Offer

• Leadership of a new Bristol office within a ranked, specialist family practice
• Robust workflow from established locations to ensure immediate stability and momentum
• A realistic, accelerated route to partnership tied directly to your leadership role
• A high‑calibre, exclusively family law platform with a strong regional brand and multiple Legal 500 rankings
• Exposure to sophisticated, often contested matters across finances, children and high‑value disputes
• A collaborative, modern culture with strong emphasis on flexibility, communication and lawyer support
• An attractive bonus structure that can exceed 20% of salary for strong performers
• Long‑term career potential within a national network that continues to expand

The Firm

You will be joining a specialist family boutique with a well‑known regional presence, a strong reputation in private family work and a track record of sustained growth across the South and South East.

The firm combines quality, structure and brand recognition with the cultural benefits of a modern, supportive and closely connected team. Recent expansion has seen more than ten offices opened, each led by senior lawyers who have progressed quickly through the business, demonstrating the firm's real commitment to developing future partners and office heads.

Apply now or contact Harrison for a confidential discussion.