Location:
Davies and Partners Solicitors, 250 Aztec West, Park Avenue, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TR or Latham House, Birmingham, B1 2AJ
Salary:
Competitive
Working hours:
Monday to Friday – 37.5 per week flexible hours in the Bristol or Birmingham office. Some hybrid working can be agreed but should be flexible to suit departmental needs.
Davies and Partners Solicitors is a well-established law firm with over 30 years' experience. It has a national reputation for excellence and strength in depth in a wide selection of legal services for businesses & individuals. There are 5 offices in Gloucester, Bristol, Birmingham, London and Devon.
Job Purpose
To work as a qualified professional with a team of specialists in the Court of Protection department who are primarily based in Bristol.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- To work alongside senior members of the Department with substantial case files and to provide litigation support, which may include contentious Deputyship work.
- To demonstrate an awareness of clients' needs and perceptions to the discharge of your work for them and to act promptly, pro-actively and efficiently in relation to all client matters.
- Areas of work will include the management of Property and Affairs Deputyships, working with brain injured and vulnerable clients, Trust management, assisting with tax affairs and accounts, drafting Personal Injury Trusts, Statutory Wills, Welfare Deputyship applications
- To have day-to-day contact with clients and act on their individual lifestyle requirements
- Delegate and supervise tasks where appropriate to paralegals and trainees.
- To apply proper professional standards (SRA and OPG Deputy Standards) and gaining an awareness of the provisions of the office manual and observing best practice in the prevention of claims against the firm for professional negligence and in particular operating with a high degree of personal organisation.
- To achieve legitimate billing in line with figures to be agreed with the Department/Unit Head.
- To comply with all other departmental procedures including the regulation and control client indebtedness.
- To maintain an up to date knowledge of the law in your areas of specialisation and to comply with the continuing professional development requirements.
- To seek to develop and improve the quality of your workload and level of your expertise.
The following tasks provide a general overview of the types of activity, the candidate will be expected to engage in or oversee on a day-to-day basis. The tasks are not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities as all employees are required to be flexible, dynamic and have the capacity to think creatively when presented with challenges.
Your job title does not define or limit your duties and you may be required to carry out other work within your abilities from time to time at our request.
We reserve the right to introduce changes in line with technological developments which may impact upon your job duties or methods of working.
As part of our compliance procedures, applicants are asked to note that:
- references will be followed up
- all gaps in CVs must be explained satisfactorily
- proof of identity and (where applicable) qualifications will be required
- reference requests will ask specifically whether the applicant has ever been subject to any proceedings/complaints initiated by the Law Society or any other professional body.
- appropriate suitability checks may be required prior to confirmation of appointment.
This role meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role will require applicants who are offered employment to be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.
Equal Opportunities
Davies and Partners Solicitors provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable national laws. Davies and Partners Solicitors complies with applicable national laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
Education/Qualifications:
- Legally qualified as a Solicitor and registered with the SRA, or FCILEx qualified Legal Executive within Court of Protection and Clinical Negligence, with between 3-5 years PQE (Grade B).
- Appropriate DBS disclosure will be required prior to confirmation of appointment
- Right to live and work in the UK e.g. valid UK passport or appropriate visa/work permits
Skills/Knowledge:
- Appropriate experience of Court of Protection law and practice.
- Ability to maintain and build upon existing client relationships through positive business development and acting as an ambassador of the company.
- Self-organised and proactive
- Ability to take responsibility and solve problems
- Attention to detail
- Ability to maintain client confidentiality
- Adaptable to the needs of the business as changes occur during the operational requirements
- Competent in the effective use of Case Management and other IT systems
- The ability to prioritise, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
You may have experience in the following roles: Court of Protection Solicitor, Clinical Negligence Solicitor, Private Client Solicitor, Mental Capacity Solicitor, Legal Executive, Trust and Estates Solicitor, Contentious Probate Solicitor, Deputyship Solicitor, Court of Protection Case Manager, Personal Injury Trust Solicitor, etc.
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