Inquests Senior Associate | National Law Firm | Birmingham/Hybrid An excellent opportunity has arisen to join a leading national law firm as a Senior Associate within its top-tier Advisory & Inquests team, based in Birmingham. This is a full or part-time, permanent role with flexible and hybrid working (three days from home), offering high-quality, nationally significant work within a highly regarded health and social care practice. The team undertakes a broad range of advisory work, but the immediate requirement is for a Senior Associate with strong inquests experience, ideally acting regularly for NHS organisations. The Role As a Senior Associate in the Advisory & Inquests team, you will:
* Join one of the largest and most established Advisory & Inquests teams in the country, consistently ranked Tier 1 for this work.
* Manage a complex caseload of inquest matters, including Article 2 and jury inquests, primarily on behalf of NHS clients.
* Take a leading role in pre-inquest advice, hearings, advocacy, and post-inquest follow-up, including PFD-related work.
* Work collaboratively on nationally significant inquest cases, often involving sensitive, high-profile issues.
* In addition to inquests, gain exposure to a broader range of health and social care advisory work, including:
o Court of Protection health and welfare applications o Serious medical treatment cases o Mental health and mental capacity matters o Deprivation of liberty o Safeguarding and welfare planning disputes o Continuing Healthcare, funding and access disputes o Information governance (DPA/FOI) o Judicial review and Human Rights Act claims
* Supervise and mentor junior lawyers within the team.
* Contribute to client training, seminars and business development activity.
About You To be considered for this Senior Associate role, you should have:
* Significant experience in inquest work, ideally including Article 2 and jury inquests, gained within private practice or an in-house/public sector setting.
* Experience advising NHS organisations or other health and social care providers in relation to inquests.
* Strong advocacy and case management skills, with the ability to run matters with minimal supervision.
* Experience of Court of Protection or wider health advisory work is advantageous but not essential, as the current priority is inquests capability.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and pragmatically.
* A strong understanding of the NHS and the wider health and social care landscape.
* A collaborative, organised and commercially aware approach, with the ability to meet fee and time targets.
The Offering The successful Senior Associate will receive:
* A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
* The opportunity to work within a nationally recognised, Tier 1 team.
* High-quality, complex and meaningful work with real impact in the health and social care sector.
* A supportive, inclusive and flexible working environment.
* Genuine scope for career progression and development within a growing national practice.
* Opportunities to engage in client-facing work, training and business development.
Apply Now To apply for this Advisory & Inquests Senior Associate role, or for a confidential discussion, please contact Angharad Warren at BCL Legal, or submit an up-to-date CV. BCL Legal is an equal opportunities employer.