Family Associate | 5+ PQE | Bristol
An established national firm is looking to appoint an Associate to its specialist Private Law Children and Domestic Abuse team in Bristol. The team advises across a full range of sensitive and complex family matters, combining legal excellence with a practical, human approach that has earned strong recognition in directories and the wider market.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll manage a varied caseload of privately funded work, including children’s disputes, injunctions, and domestic abuse matters. The role will involve direct client contact and hands-on case management from start to finish, with the opportunity to build lasting relationships based on trust and reassurance.
Much of your work will focus on helping clients through challenging situations with clarity and compassion, balancing the need for firm representation with a calm, solutions-focused mindset. You’ll work closely with experienced colleagues, including specialists in care proceedings, mediation, and financial remedy, giving you the chance to develop a well-rounded practice across the full spectrum of family law.
Alongside your casework, you’ll have scope to contribute to the wider growth of the practice, supporting client development initiatives, attending community or networking events, and helping to build the team’s presence in Bristol at a time of exciting expansion.
About You
* Qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive with at least 5 years’ PQE in family law, ideally including private law children and domestic abuse work.
* Confident managing your own caseload, with experience handling both legal aid and private client files.
* Empathetic yet commercially aware, able to give clear, grounded advice that helps clients understand their options and outcomes.
* A team player who values collaboration, transparency, and supporting junior colleagues.
What’s on Offer
You’ll be joining a family law practice with a sense of purpose. The team combines depth of expertise with a culture that prioritises people, both clients and colleagues. That means regular case discussions, shared learning, and open dialogue between associates, partners, and support staff to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
Development here is clear and structured. The firm’s progression framework shows exactly what’s required at each stage, making career growth transparent and achievable. Associates are supported through mentoring, formal training, and stretch opportunities, from handling more complex cases to contributing to policy discussions or community outreach projects.
You’ll also benefit from a strong infrastructure, well-resourced support teams, modern systems, and genuine flexibility. Hybrid working is embedded, with an emphasis on trust and autonomy, not presenteeism. The benefits package reflects the firm’s people-first ethos, with a focus on wellbeing, inclusion, and long-term career sustainability.
The Firm
This is a full-service national firm with a strong reputation across the South. It’s known for its progressive, people-centred approach, not as a slogan, but in how it operates day to day. Teams are encouraged to work collaboratively rather than competitively, creating a culture where lawyers can deliver their best work without unnecessary barriers or hierarchy.
The firm’s family practice is ranked among the best in its regions, handling complex children’s and domestic abuse matters with sensitivity, discretion, and strategic insight. It has a track record of securing strong outcomes for clients while maintaining the human element that defines truly effective family law.
The Bristol office represents an exciting chapter of growth, with the family team playing a key role in expanding the firm’s presence across the South West. Joining now means becoming part of a forward-looking, well-supported team with the professional freedom to make a real impact.
Apply now or contact Harrison for more information.