Deputy Head of Legal Services

Overview

As a Senior Healthcare Lawyer, you will support the Head of Clinical Legal Services in managing claims and inquest work while deputising when needed. You will provide expert healthcare law guidance to clinical teams and senior stakeholders, handling sensitive matters with professionalism. Your role combines case leadership, court representation, and strategic analysis of trends to inform risk and governance. This is a high-visibility position that shapes legal risk management within a complex healthcare organisation.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of inquests from receipt to conclusion
• Represent the organisation as an Interested Person at Coroner’s Court hearings
• Provide healthcare law advice on consent, capacity, best interests, and patient care issues
• Manage non-clinical claims and support clinical negligence claims
• Prepare witnesses for court and support staff during proceedings
• Draft and review witness statements
• Liaise with instructed solicitors, external legal representatives, claims bodies and other stakeholders
• Support clinical teams through complex legal matters and investigations
• Analyse claims and inquest trends and present findings to senior stakeholders
• Deputise for the Head of Clinical Legal Services, including operational leadership when required

Key requirements

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or equivalent legal qualifications
• Experience in healthcare law
• Proven experience managing claims, inquests, and healthcare law matters
• Experience representing clients in court or contentious proceedings
• Knowledge of consent, capacity, Mental Capacity Act, and best interests issues
• Experience liaising with coroners, external solicitors, and claims organisations
• Ability to handle sensitive, emotionally challenging situations with professionalism and empathy
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to work independently with a complex caseload
• Leadership or supervisory experience would be advantageous
• Exposure to Court of Protection matters and mediation would be beneficial

• Professionalism under pressure
• Empathy and emotional intelligence
• Strong communication and stakeholder management
• Healthcare law expertise
• Court representation
• Drafting and reviewing witness statements

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