56 Best commercial lawyer Jobs in Wakefield (September 2026)

Family Law Solicitor/Head of Location - New Office Opening

2 days ago

Wakefield

Location: Flexible across England (new office location to be agreed) Salary: Open to discussions on salary and bonus Experience: Ideally 8+ years relevant family law experience (other strong candidates considered) If youre an experienced private family lawyer who wants to build something of your own, with the backing of a respected specialist brand and a genuinely supportive culture, this is a rare opportunity. Our client is a family-owned, long-established private family law firm with a strong reputation for practical, commercially aware and client-focused advice. Due to continued success and a growing national profile, they are looking to appoint a Family Solicitor or Legal Executive to establish and lead a new office in an agreed location. This is not a standard fee earner position. You will have real autonomy to shape the local practice, recruit and develop a team, and grow a sustainable pipeline, supported by central operations, compliance, marketing and business development. Despite growth and additional offices, the firm has retained the personal, collaborative feel of a traditional family business. They are looking for a well-rounded family lawyer who combines strong technical ability and sound commercial judgement with leadership skills and a genuine business development focus. • Establishing and leading a new office in a location agreed with the firm, • Managing a varied and complex private family law caseload with minimal supervision, • Advising on private children matters and financial remedy claims, • Advising on divorce, separation and cohabitation disputes, • Advising on pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements, • Advising on protective injunctions where appropriate, • Handling TOLATA matters where experienced (desirable, not essential), • Conducting litigation and the reserved legal activities required for the role, • Conducting negotiations with solicitors, other representatives and litigants in person, • Attending client meetings, conferences and court hearings where appropriate, • Exercising rights of audience where required and within your authorisation, • Instructing and working effectively with counsel and experts, • Maintaining high standards of time recording, billing, costs management and compliance, • Developing a local referral network and professional profile, • Attending networking events and building relationships within the local community, • Supporting marketing and business development initiatives, • Identifying opportunities for sustainable growth, • Contributing to decisions on the location, development and operation of the new office, • Recruiting, supervising and developing colleagues as the office grows, • Collaborating with colleagues across the firms other offices, • Contributing to the firms wider strategy and continued growth, • A Solicitor (England and Wales) with a current practising certificate, or a CILEX Lawyer / Chartered Legal Executive with the practising rights and authorisations required for the role, • Authorised to carry on the reserved legal activities essential to the role, • Substantial practical experience of private family law, • Strong experience of private children and financial remedy matters, • Confidence managing a varied and complex caseload, • Strong technical knowledge and practical judgement, • A strong billing history and clear understanding of the commercial requirements of private family work, • Excellent client-care, communication and interpersonal skills, • Clear, accurate and persuasive drafting, • Confidence negotiating and handling sensitive matters, • Strong file management, time recording and financial discipline, • Confidence using case management systems and Microsoft Office, • Leadership potential and, where applicable, experience supervising and developing colleagues, • A collaborative approach and willingness to share knowledge, • Genuine interest in networking, marketing and business development, • Ambition to build a sustainable local practice and team, • Commitment to the firms values, culture and long-term growth, • The opportunity to establish, develop and lead a new office in an agreed location, • The backing of an established, specialist private family law brand with a strong reputation, • Central administrative, compliance and operational support, • Central marketing and business development support, • Access to colleagues across existing offices with different areas of experience and strengths, • Open to discussions on salary and bonus (depending on experience), • Full-time or part-time considered, • Flexible start and finish times where operationally possible, • Potential for agreed homeworking arrangements (subject to client, team and business requirements), • Regular file reviews and constructive professional support, • Opportunity to recruit, supervise and develop a local team, • Genuine long-term progression opportunities, • Potential eligibility for a discretionary bonus scheme (subject to eligibility), • Paid birthday day off (in addition to annual leave), • Christmas office closure (in addition to annual leave), • Opportunity to accrue additional annual leave with length of service, • Workplace pension, • Death-in-service cover, • Health cash plan, including access to a remote doctor, • Discretionary rewards recognising individual achievements, • Inclusive staff and family social events The location and development plan for the new office will be agreed with the successful candidate, taking account of your existing network and local knowledge, local demand for specialist private family services, and the commercial viability and growth potential of the proposed location. As this is an office establishment and leadership role, you will be expected to maintain an appropriate physical presence in the agreed location, particularly during the offices initial development and when recruiting or supervising colleagues. Home working days can be discussed for work suited to focused remote working, such as drafting and file preparation, subject to client, team and business requirements. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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