Location Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, London, Manchester or Winchester

Hybrid Working

The Division

We are consistently ranked in the top tier in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories for Professional Discipline. Our expertise in both health and regulation sets us apart from the competition. Our purpose is to deliver results that matter. We are proud to be the firm of choice for organisations who work to make a difference. We are committed to putting people first, doing the right thing and forward thinking.

We have handled many thousands of regulatory cases over the last 20 years, covering case investigation, preparation and presentation. We work for seven of the ten health and social care regulators, as well as regulators in legal services and education. We have worked on some of the most complex and high profile cases faced by professional regulators, including for our own regulators, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

Our reputation across the regulatory sectors built on providing proportionate, timely and high quality case preparation and presentation and a service that demonstrates value for money. Our breadth of experience means that we are at the forefront of regulation, legislative and policy changes and best practice. We have the experience, resources and systems in place to deliver the services to a high quality and within agreed time frames.

The Role 

Our professional discipline team is ranked in the top-tier by the legal directories and is one of the largest in the country. We act for a significant number of regulatory bodies, primarily in the health sector but, increasingly, more widely across a number of professional disciplines. We are now seeking an ambitious Senior Associate/Principal Associate to join our Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, London, Manchester or Winchester office to help us build and develop our practice

The work requires managing an investigatory caseload where it is alleged that the registrant's fitness to practise is impaired through misconduct, competence or health issues and preparing those cases for hearings before panels and committees of the relevant regulators. The work is varied, challenging and rewarding and the cases cover everything from large-scale fraud or multi- patient clinical failings through to inappropriate sexualised behaviour.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Our Principal Associates carry out the day-to-day conduct of the regulator’s cases under the supervision of a partner and with the assistance of a paralegal. In summary, Principal Associate caseholders:

• Prepare the case plan at the outset of the case; Prepare advice on procedural or evidential issues; Correspond with the defence;
• Ensure that all factual evidence required to prove the allegations is obtained;
• Are the key point of contact for all witnesses;
• Interview key witnesses in complex cases or if the witness deals with novel or sensitive issues or is a vulnerable witness;
• Supervise witness statements taken by paralegals;
• Instruct experts and identify if any amendments are necessary to the expert report; Prepare instructions to counsel (both our internal advocates and the external bar); Attend conferences with counsel;
• Ensure that all action points following the conference are completed;
• Either draft the charge or review the draft charge against the evidence if drafted by counsel; Carry out disclosure of unused material;
• Liaise with the defence in the run up to the hearing;
• Supervise the preparation of the hearing bundle by the paralegal;
• Attend hearing at outset only, unless there are legal issues or problems with the case; Seek instructions from the client on any issues that arise in the course of the hearing; Prepare final reports at the conclusion of a case; and
• Present cases to Practice Committees/Interim Orders Committees.

This list is not exhaustive and there may be other duties as reasonably required.

Capsticks is an inclusive employer

At Capsticks we value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment where everyone is able to be themselves and reach their full potential. Capsticks is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and therefore we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, background, culture, ethnicity, race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, neurodiversity, religion and beliefs.

We will make reasonable adjustments to our application and interview process to ensure that you have the best chance of success. We understand that there's not a "one size fits all" approach to adjustments so our team will work with you individually to understand more about your requirements.