Sophia Withers
Community Care Law Solicitor
“I spent many years as a legal aid lawyer working with vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals. I believe that service users should be at the centre of decisions about their own care and that the views of their family should be given an appropriate platform. I push for autonomy, choice, respect for human rights and access to justice.”
Intro
I am a solicitor in our Court of Protection and Community Care Law team working from our Brighton office. I provide expert advice and representation to individuals, attorneys, and professional deputies. I have particular experience in Court of Protection litigation and mental capacity law, alongside welfare disputes and disputes around Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship applications.
Expertise
I have a great deal of experience in Court of Protection litigation, including contested welfare and financial proceedings and complex (sometimes acrimonious) family disputes.
I have particular expertise in deprivation of liberty safeguards, capacity and best interest issues. This work can give rise to complex and sensitive matters including questions about residence, care, contact, sexual relations, marriage, medical treatment, finances and safeguarding concerns. I have many years’ experience of representing individuals who lack capacity having been regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor. I also advise on safeguarding vulnerable adults and provide representation at best interest meetings.
Clients
I work with a wide range of clients, including carers, family members and service users. I also represent both Lay and Professional Deputies.
Qualifications
I qualified as a solicitor in 2008. For many years I was an accredited member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel. I also worked with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as a legal aid peer reviewer.
I became a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and initially specialised in family and private client work. From 2001 I decided to specialise in mental health law, which expanded exponentially with the passing of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the creation of the Court of Protection.
Other experience
I started as a paralegal in a high street firm from the age of 18 which gave me a broad range of legal experience. I worked on diverse cases such as the unlawful occupation of a mosque, drafting deeds for the preservation of an historic windmill, advising on contract disputes all the way through to working on large criminal cases and being a representative on the Duty Solicitor Scheme. For some years I volunteered with Age Concern/Age UK taking part in their legal clinics.
I have a life too
When not working I take advantage of living by the sea, swimming, running and spending time with my family.
