Job Description :
Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd)
Regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, Duncan Lewis Solicitors was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in the City of London (Fenchurch Street EC3M), with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK independent legal directories as a top-tier law firm in all of our key practice areas – “a diligent and professional team that is prepared to go the extra mile for its clients”. A paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, we service both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages. We give people a voice - that is our ethos.
Recognised among The Times 200 Best Law Firms, we have been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards, reflecting our dedication to legal expertise and client service. We hold Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation for over 15 years, showcasing our commitment to professional development. Duncan Lewis is also Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 certified, ensuring excellence in practice management and data security.
We are committed to recruiting dedicated and talented professionals and welcome applications from exceptional candidates. At Duncan Lewis, we value training and diversity, and we take pride in our inclusive workforce.
Court of Protection Department Background
Our 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 our 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 they work closely with the firm’s litigation teams and with litigation teams in other firms. They advise litigation teams on acting for clients with capacity issues and 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 statutory wills, 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 provided 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; statutory wills and gift applications; deputyship applications; on‑going deputyship administration; health and social care judicial review and ancillary applications such as trustee orders.
* 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 complicated practicalities.
* 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 organisational skills.
* Ability to use own initiative and sound judgement.
* Excellent IT Skills – familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills
What we offer
* A fantastic supportive team
* Excellent progression opportunities
* Support for appropriate legal awards / recognition
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