Head of Family – Location Flexible Within Longstanding Yorkshire Practice

Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Family Fee Earner/Head of Department to join a well-established and highly regarded legal team.

n This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious family lawyer who is looking to combine a strong fee-earning caseload with departmental leadership, mentoring and management responsibilities, whilst playing an active role in the wider strategic direction of the firm.

n The successful candidate will form part of the Senior Leadership Team and will be responsible for leading and developing a small, multi-site Family team, whilst continuing to manage their own caseload and maintain a strong focus on client service and billing performance.

n The Role You will manage a full caseload of privately funded family matters, alongside taking responsibility for the performance, development and day-to-day management of the department.

n Your fee-earning responsibilities will include:n  

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• Managing a varied caseload of privately funded family matters, including divorce, cohabitation, financial matters and private children work.

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• Progressing matters efficiently and accurately, keeping clients regularly informed of progress and costs.

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• Building and maintaining excellent client relationships and delivering consistently high standards of client care.

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• Working towards and achieving agreed billing, time recording, aged debt and other performance targets.

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• Managing credit control on your own matters and ensuring files are maintained to the required standards.

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• Maintaining professional competence and keeping up to date with developments in family law.

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• Developing relationships with external organisations and generating referrals through networking, marketing and business development activity.

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Alongside your fee-earning responsibilities, you will:n  

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• Lead, manage and develop the Family department, ensuring high standards of performance and service.

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• Set and deliver departmental objectives and contribute to the wider business strategy.

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• Monitor departmental KPIs, including billing, fees received, WIP, profitability, matter openings and business development.

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• Provide effective supervision, coaching and mentoring to colleagues across multiple sites.

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• Conduct regular performance and development meetings, supporting colleagues with their professional development and wellbeing.

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• Assist with recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members.

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• Lead regular departmental meetings, sharing knowledge, best practice and strategic objectives.

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• Identify and appropriately manage departmental risks, compliance issues and areas for improvement.

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• Monitor client feedback, complaints and claims, putting appropriate actions in place where required.

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• Contribute to wider Leadership/Management meetings and provide insight into departmental opportunities, risks and people matters.

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The Team You will work alongside a small, established team consisting of:n  

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• 3 Fee Earners

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• 1 Trainee Solicitor

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• 1 Paralegal

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• 1 Legal Assistant

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The role will involve managing and supporting colleagues across multiple sites, making strong communication, delegation, coaching and emotional intelligence particularly important.

n About You We are looking for an experienced Family Fee Earner who can demonstrate both strong technical family law expertise and proven leadership ability.

n You will ideally have:n  

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• Strong experience handling a privately funded family caseload.

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• A proven track record of achieving billing and performance targets.

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• Previous experience supervising, mentoring or managing colleagues.

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• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

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• Strong organisational and time-management abilities.

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• The confidence to lead a team across multiple locations.

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• The ability to delegate effectively, coach colleagues and manage performance.

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• A commercial and strategic mindset, with an understanding of KPIs, profitability and business development.

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• Strong judgement and decision-making skills.

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• A proactive approach to risk management, compliance and continuous improvement.

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• The ability to build excellent relationships with clients, colleagues and external contacts.

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Location is flexible across any of their North/West Yorkshire offices, salary up to £65,000 DOE and 2 days working from home. 

n For more information, please reach out to me here:

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