Court of Protection Solicitor

Role: Court of Protection Deputyship Team - Solicitor

A nationwide leading law firm looking to recruit dedicated Court of Protection Solicitor for highly sought permanent positon.

Gemini Recruitment are currently partnering with a large and established law firm. Our client serves corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 practice areas from offices throughout London and across England and Wales. Our client’s accomplishments are acknowledged and recommended in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, as a top tier firm.

Our client holds the Investors in People Gold Accreditation Quality Standard Mark and is LEXCEL, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001-2013 accredited and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Court of Protection Background:

Our Client's Court of Protection finance team act for the firm’s Trust Corporation as professional deputy and trustee for many vulnerable clients.

You will be responsible for day to day management of clients’ finances including dealing with one off requests for payments, working out budgets for regular payments for care, therapy and household bills, checking eligibility for benefits, setting up savings accounts and investments, and completing OPG reports. Most of the team’s clients have received damages awards and work closely with the in-house litigation teams and with litigation teams in other firms. They advise litigators on acting for clients with capacity issues and we regularly act as expert on likely deputyship costs. They set up Personal Injury and Disabled Person’s Trusts.

They also deal with deputyship applications for lay deputies, and support lay deputies with applications for approval of family care payments, property purchase approval and completing their OPG reports.

The team has been ranked by The Legal 500 and the team director is ranked in Chambers. Client testimonials say that the team is “knowledgeable about all things Court of Protection” and they are “empathetic, approachable and diligent.”

This a relatively new Court of Protection team which is fast growing and very busy. The team works closely together and prioritises providing a high level of client care and a very efficient service.

Main Responsibilities of the Role:

• Report directly to Department Director
• Professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills and a sensitive and sympathetic understanding of clients’ needs;
• Assisting with Court of Protection matters including day to day conduct of deputyship files, deputyship and other Court of Protection applications;
• Updating accounts and completing OPG reports;
• Instructing capacity assessors and financial advisors;
• Drafting trust deeds;
• Dealing with correspondence;
• Maintaining accurate time costing procedures;
• Implementing any recommendations made by your supervisor following monthly file reviews ensuring that these are dealt with promptly;
• Ensuring compliance with file management.
• Responsible for all aspects of Court of Protection work and on occasions, where appropriate providing technical expertise and guidance to other team members.
• Variety of duties including dealing with a range of Court of Protection matters including personal injury trusts; ACC approval and property purchase applications; deputyship applications and on-going deputyship administration.
• You will have a professional pro-active approach in Business Development and Marketing to supplement the substantial work volumes brought in by the company.

Key Skills Required:

• Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying
• Demonstrate experience in professional property and affairs deputyship work
• Clear understanding and knowledge of Court of Protection practice and procedure and the Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Committed team player, self -motivated and professional
• Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with vulnerable client matters in a sensitive manner and resolve issues in a pragmatic way
• Excellent communications skills to work effectively with all types of people
• Excellent networking skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to use own initiative and sound judgment
• Excellent IT Skills -familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills

On offer is an attractive salary package, a supportive team environment and real prospects for promotion. The Company will allow hybrid-working in accordance with the company policy.

The company is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity and inclusivity of its staff and strives to ensure that their workforce reflects the diversity of the communities they serve.

About Gemini Recruitment:

Gemini Recruitment is a leading recruitment agency specialising in legal recruitment. We provide a highly focused service specialising in placements for Solicitors, Legal Executives, Trainee Solicitors, Paralegals and Legal Support Staff. We have intimate knowledge of specific opportunities in the legal market across the UK.

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