Senior Associate Solicitor | Court of Protection | Reading
Highly regarded team | Leadership opportunity | Hybrid working

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Associate Solicitor with strong Court of Protection experience to take the next step in their career and join a highly regarded and growing team in Reading.

The team is recognised in both Chambers and The Legal 500 for its Court of Protection work and handles a high quality caseload, including complex matters involving clients who have received substantial compensation awards.
This is a genuine leadership opportunity for someone who wants to have a say in the future direction of the department. Working alongside the existing Partners, you will take a leading role in managing the team, developing junior lawyers and contributing to the continued growth of the practice.

You will also act as a director of the firm's trust corporation, as well as acting as a professional deputy and/or trustee. The role offers plenty of client contact and autonomy, with responsibility for managing relationships, making complex best interests decisions and working closely with a range of professionals involved in each client's care.

There is also an interesting practical element to the role, with attendance at annual review meetings, investment meetings and site and adaptation visits across England and Wales.

The Role
You will take responsibility for a varied and complex Court of Protection caseload, including:

• Managing high value Court of Protection matters during litigation and following settlement
• Acting as a professional deputy and/or trustee
• Making complex best interests decisions relating to property, financial affairs, health and welfare
• Overseeing Statutory Will applications
• Managing client relationships and developing strong relationships with professional referrers
• Working closely with the Clinical Negligence team on substantial compensation cases
• Attending annual review, investment and site meetings across England and Wales
• Supporting business development, marketing and practice development initiatives
• Driving improvements to internal processes and procedures
• Leading team projects designed to improve efficiency and support growth
• Mentoring, coaching and developing junior members of the team
• Supporting the wider management and development of a large and growing department

About You
The ideal candidate will have significant Court of Protection experience, particularly dealing with high value matters and clients who have received substantial compensation awards.
You will be confident dealing with complex best interests decisions and have a strong understanding of deputyship, trusts, safeguarding and budget planning.
You will also be someone who enjoys working collaboratively and developing others, with the confidence to take a senior role within a growing team.
Experience preparing expert reports on costs would be advantageous, although this is not essential.

A proactive approach to business development and relationship building is important, as is the ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams including case managers, care providers and other professional advisers.

Why this opportunity?
This is more than simply another senior Court of Protection role. It offers the opportunity to step into a genuine leadership position within an established and highly regarded team, with the chance to influence its future direction and play a key part in its continued growth.
You will have the support of existing Partners while also having the autonomy to develop your own client relationships, mentor junior lawyers and become an integral part of the department's leadership structure.
The firm operates a flexible hybrid working model, with a minimum of two days per week expected in the Reading office.
Benefits

• 28 days' holiday
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Pension scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance at 5 x final salary
• Flexible hybrid working
• Weekly wellbeing hour
• 8 hours paid charity leave per annum
• Cycle to work scheme
• Bring your dog to work
• Social committee events
• Season ticket travel loan
• Option to purchase an additional 5 days' holiday

The Firm
You will be joining a successful and forward thinking law firm with a strong reputation across both private client and commercial work.
The firm is decorated within Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, with a broad range of specialist teams and a strong focus on providing high quality legal advice alongside excellent client service.
The culture is friendly, collaborative and progressive, with an emphasis on supporting people to develop their careers while maintaining a genuinely flexible approach to working.

Get in touch! For more information, or to discuss this opportunity confidentially, please contact me on 07932465567 or at [email protected].