Professional Support Lawyer

Thomson Snell & Passmore is seeking a Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) to join its specialist Court of Protection team in Tunbridge Wells.

The role provides an opportunity for an experienced Court of Protection lawyer to support one of the firm's largest specialist teams through legal know-how, technical guidance, policy and procedure development, training and knowledge management.

The Court of Protection team advises on property and financial affairs, deputyships, statutory wills and gifts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, personal injury trusts and contentious Court of Protection matters. The team also provides expert witness services in relation to Court of Protection costs arising from personal injury and clinical negligence claims.

The Court of Protection Team

Thomson Snell & Passmore has a large dedicated Court of Protection and deputyship team based in Kent. The team includes Partners, Senior Associates, Associates, Legal Executives, trainees, paralegals and support staff.

The team acts for vulnerable and elderly clients and has particular experience involving acquired brain injuries, birth injuries and substantial personal injury or clinical negligence awards. It also manages the affairs of elderly clients, including those affected by dementia.

The team is involved in approximately 240 professional deputyship cases through the firm's Trust Corporation and has been recognised by Chambers and The Legal 500 for its Court of Protection work.

Professional Support Lawyer Responsibilities

The Professional Support Lawyer will provide technical and professional support to the Court of Protection team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing technical legal support to lawyers within the Court of Protection team.

• Monitoring developments in Court of Protection law, procedure and practice.

• Developing and maintaining internal legal know-how.

• Supporting the development and review of policies and procedures.

• Preparing and delivering internal training.

• Keeping colleagues informed of relevant legal and procedural developments.

• Supporting consistency and quality across the team's work.

• Assisting colleagues with complex or developing areas of Court of Protection practice.

• Contributing to the development of precedents, guidance and other technical resources.

• Supporting the continued development of the firm's specialist Court of Protection offering.

The firm's existing Professional Support Lawyer, Charlene Hughes, has more than 12 years' Court of Protection experience and specialises in property and affairs deputyships, statutory wills, welfare benefits, statutory funding and personal injury trusts. Her PSL role includes supporting colleagues through policy, procedure and training.

Court of Protection Work

The team deals with a broad range of matters involving people who lack or may lack capacity to make decisions about their property, finances, health and welfare.

The work includes applications for the appointment of deputies, advice to professional and lay deputies, applications concerning statutory wills and gifts, property transactions and trustee appointments. The team also advises on Lasting Powers of Attorney and acts in contentious Court of Protection proceedings.

The team's specialist work also includes supporting personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers by providing expert evidence concerning the professional costs and Court of Protection costs likely to arise following substantial compensation awards.

Candidate Profile

The role is suited to a lawyer with substantial Court of Protection experience who wishes to move into or develop a professional support and knowledge-focused position.

Candidates should have strong technical knowledge of Court of Protection property and affairs work and an ability to translate complex legal developments into practical guidance for colleagues.

Experience in areas such as deputyships, statutory wills, gifts, welfare benefits, statutory funding and personal injury trusts is particularly relevant.

Strong legal research, drafting, communication and training skills are important for the role, together with the ability to work collaboratively with lawyers at different levels of seniority.

Working at Thomson Snell & Passmore

The Court of Protection team operates within a wider full-service law firm and works closely with other specialist teams, including Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence.

The firm's Court of Protection work involves clients with complex and often substantial financial and personal circumstances, requiring careful legal analysis and a sensitive approach to vulnerable and elderly clients.