Head of Private Family

• Up to £65,000 with a genuine route towards Partnership as the department grows
• Inherit an established caseload rather than having to build one from scratch
• Up to 2 days working from home, flexible hours and a Christmas shutdown on top of annual leave

If you’re an experienced Family Solicitor who wants more influence over where your career and department are heading, this Manchester role offers the opportunity to become a key part of a private family team entering a new phase of growth.

You’ll join a longstanding family law practice and inherit an established caseload as part of planned succession within the team. The work is approximately 60% privately funded and 40% legal aid, with a particular focus on divorce and financial remedy alongside some private children matters.

You’ll be trusted to manage your work with minimal supervision, while also having the opportunity to mentor trainees, contribute ideas and help develop the private family offering. The ambition is for you to become a senior figure within the department, with a genuine route towards Partnership for the right person.

There’s flexibility around how you work too. Alongside hybrid working, the firm is open to adjusted start and finish times for family commitments and will consider four-day working arrangements.

Who we’re looking for

• Experienced Family Solicitor
• Strong divorce and financial remedy experience(Essential)
• Experience handling legal aid matters(Essential)
• Ability to independently manage your own caseload(Essential)
• Excellent client care and communication skills(Essential)
• Confidence supporting or mentoring junior colleagues(Essential)
• Strong organisation and case management skills(Essential)
• Private children experience(Desirable)
• Supervisory or mentoring experience(Desirable)
• Business development or networking experience(Desirable)
• Existing local profile or referral relationships(Desirable)
• Interest in helping grow and shape a developing private family offering(Desirable)

What you’ll be doing

• Taking over an established family caseload
• Advising on divorce and financial remedy matters
• Handling private children matters including child arrangements and disputes
• Managing a mix of privately funded and legal aid work
• Conducting client meetings and progressing matters independently
• Drafting court documents and correspondence
• Attending court where required
• Liaising with barristers, experts and other professionals
• Supporting and mentoring trainees and junior colleagues
• Working alongside the wider family team
• Contributing ideas to the growth and development of the private family department
• Supporting networking and profile-raising activity where appropriate

Salary & Benefits

• Up to £65,000
• Up to 2 days working from home
• Flexible start and finish times, including arrangements such as 8am–4pm
• Four-day working arrangements considered
• Christmas shutdown without using annual leave
• Additional holiday arrangements considered individually
• Clear route towards Partnership
• Opportunity to become a senior figure within a growing private family department
• Strong existing caseload from day one
• No rigid billing target currently in place
• Dedicated secretarial support
• Shared trainee support
• Dedicated costs department
• External dictation support
• Monthly payday socials
• Quarterly team activities
• Regular team lunches and celebrations
• Supportive approach to family commitments and life outside work

Mel specialises in family law recruitment across the North West and can give you a clear picture of how this opportunity compares with other senior Family Solicitor roles currently on the market.

While this advert sets out the criteria applicable to each salary band, the salary guidance given is purely indicative. The precise salary offered within that band will ultimately be determined by the hirer, taking into account the individual candidate’s experience, qualifications and overall suitability for the role.

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