Job: Court of Protection Lawyer

Court of Protection Lawyer;
Head of new Department;
Create and develop the new department from inception;
5PQE+;
Children Law;
Private client Law;
Elderly Law;
Contentious & Uncontentious;
60K – 150K;
Partner potential;
Relocators invited;
STEPS;
Cornwall – Devon.

The Legal Framework:

The Court of Protection helps people who are mentally incapable of making their own decisions. It does this by making decisions for them about their money, property, health or welfare. The Court can also give these powers to someone else if there is a need for decisions to be made on an ongoing basis because the person can no longer make their own decisions. If the Court gives these powers to someone else, they will be known as a Deputy.

• Deciding whether someone has the mental capacity to make a particular decision for themselves.
• Appointing deputies to make ongoing decisions for people who lack mental capacity.
• Giving people permission to make one-off decisions on behalf of someone else who lacks mental capacity.
• Handling urgent or emergency applications where a decision must be made on behalf of someone else without delay.
• Making decisions about a lasting power of attorney (LPA) or enduring power of attorney (EPA) and considering any objections to their registration.
• Considering applications to make statutory wills or gifts.
• Making decisions about when someone can be deprived of their liberty under the Mental Capacity Act.

This court is constituted in England and Wales for matters which in Scotland are dealt with by Guardianship and the Office of the Public Guardian. The Court of Protection’s role is to make decisions on behalf of people who lack capacity to make them for themselves, due to impairment in the functioning of the brain. The decision in question could concern personal welfare or healthcare but it is more likely to involve financial matters.

Children lack legal capacity to make many decisions simply by virtue of their age. If it is likely that a child, on reaching eighteen, will be able to make financial decisions, the Court of Protection will not be involved. Conversely, if the child is likely to lack capacity into adulthood and has assets of his or her own (as a result of a compensation claim, for instance) the Court of Protection may appoint a Deputy for property and affairs. The Deputy is responsible for managing the child’s finances. This includes, dealing with state benefits and tax, taking and acting on investment advice, setting a budget, accounting for all income and expenditure and dealing with the Office of the Public Guardian (the administrative arm of the Court of Protection).

When making any decision, the Deputy must act in the best interests of the child and this requires a working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice. The role can be onerous, time consuming and difficult. The Deputy can be a family member/carer or a professional person (such as a solicitor specialising in this field).

It is often advisable for there to be a professional Deputy, particularly where substantial compensation is likely to be awarded. The cost of a professional Deputy and the Court fees and other expenses that will be incurred can be included as part of the compensation claim.

 
The Job:
To set up a new Court of Protection Department covering all aspects of the legal function, both Children Law and Elderly Law.

We are seeking to find:
A competent ambitious and passionate Court of Protection Lawyer with in excess of 5 year’s specialist PQE+

The Rewards:
To be Head of the Department and all this entails.

The Prospects:
Possible Partnership.

To apply for this career position, please send your CV2 – talentedlawyers@aol.com
Telephone – 01872 274227 – 07724760904 – 07490445449
Speak to Ashley Armstrong or Karen Palmer.
Confidentiality is always assured.