Salary: Circa £40,000+ (dependent on experience)

Benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Company iPhone
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Dedicated parking space 

About the Role

Clough & Willis is seeking a talented and motivated Family Solicitor with at least 2 years' PQE to join our highly regarded Family Department based in Bury. 

Working alongside the Managing Partner and Head of Family, Lee Marston, and supported by an experienced family law paralegal, you will inherit a small but ongoing quality caseload consisting mostly of finances on divorce and separation, together with some private law Children Act work. 

You are preferably working towards, or have an interest in becoming a Resolution Accredited specialist in Finances on Divorce and Private Law Children Act. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a solicitor looking to develop their expertise within a well-established family team that enjoys an outstanding local reputation, generating work through repeat instructions and recommendations. The firm has specialised exclusively in privately funded family law matters for over 25 years. 

About You

The successful candidate will:

• Have a minimum of 2 years' PQE in Family Law
• Be commercially aware, with an understanding of billing, recovery and performance targets
• Be comfortable managing deadlines
• Be experienced in handling privately funded family matters
• Demonstrate strong organisational and client care skills
• Have good IT skills
• Be familiar with the HMCTS Court Portal and legal research platforms such as Practical Law and Westlaw
• Be willing to support and engage in business development and marketing initiatives 

Key Areas of Experience

Finances on Divorce / Separation including

1. Part 25 procedures mostly Pension, Forensic Accountant, surveyor instruction;
2. Pension Advisory Group (PAG) guidance
3. Maintenance Pending Suit and interim maintenance applications
4. Section 31 variation applications;
5. (or knowledge of) Legal Costs Orders under Section 22ZA
6. Disclosure requirements under pre application protocol;
7. Finances on divorce proceedings;
8. Divorce procedure;
9. Advocacy at First Directions Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and interim applications
10. Briefing Counsel, attending conferences;
11. Procedure on interlocutory applications;
12. Preparing court bundles under Part 27A
13. Or knowledge of Section 37 financial injunctions
14. Drafting pleadings including Directions/Final Orders, ES1 and ES2, statements of issues, case summaries/position statements, skeleton arguments, Witness statements of truth/affidavits;
15. Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements 

Schedule 1 Children Act Applications

1. Experience managing Schedule applications, procedures would be advantageous. 

Separation and Cohabitation Matters

1. Disclosure Requirement
2. Separation Agreements
3. Cohabitation (Living Together) Agreements
4. TOLATA experience an advantage 

Private Law Children Act

1. Procedure and pre application requirements/negotiation;
2. Knowledge of welfare checklists and current caselaw;
3. 3 Advocacy at FHDRA, DRA;
4. Making and defending internal and external child relocation applications;
5. Advocacy at more straightforward final hearings an advantage;
6. Drafting interim directions and final Orders;
7. Drafting case summaries, position statements, witness statements
8. Briefing Counsel;
9. Experts directions re. blood, hairstrand testing etc,
10. Familiar with CAFCASS requirements and reporting;
11. Urgent applications including spend time with, live with, specific issue/prohibited steps
12. Preparing court bundles in accordance with Part 27A 

Family Law Act Injunctions (and Domestic Abuse Orders)

1. Making and defending Non-Molestation Orders including assessing when an emergency;
2. Procedures;
3. Drafting applications, orders and undertakings
4. Advocacy on interim applications
5. Advocacy at final hearings would be advantageous
6. Briefing counsel where appropriate 

Working Arrangements

This is primarily an office-based role. While we do not operate a formal hybrid working policy, occasional home working may be considered once the successful candidate is fully established within the team and familiar with our clients and systems. 

Why Join Clough & Willis?

Clough & Willis is a long-established, respected North West law firm with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality family law advice. Our Family Department is recognised for its expertise, professionalism and client-focused approach, providing an excellent platform for career development and progression.

Apply

To apply, please email your CV outlining your experience and suitability for the position to Lee Marston, Managing Partner, at lee.marston@clough-willis.co.uk