Ten Reasons to Use a Solicitors for the Elderly Accredited Lawyer

The decisions and plans you make now will have a huge impact on your later life. Getting them right is essential to protect you, your family and loved ones from potential future legal disputes later on in life.

Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) is a national community of highly qualified and regulated professional advisers that have specialist experience of working with older and vulnerable people.

Jenny Murphy, Private Client Partner at Coole Bevis LLP has specialised in this area of law for most of her career. Jenny’s work in this field was recognised by the SFE earlier this year when she received the Older Client Care in Practice (OCCP) Award.

Here, Jenny outlines ten reasons why seeking the advice of a SFE member to look at your legal affairs will ensure that you get the best possible care and support for you and your family as the years advance.

1. Specialist knowledge
SFE members are qualified solicitors, barristers and legal executives who specialise in advising older and vulnerable people and their families and carers. To achieve the accreditation, all applicants are required to undertake an assessment, to demonstrate good understanding of the specific needs and considerations required when safeguarding and protecting older clients’ interests.

2. Have years of experience
SFE lawyers have substantial experience built up over many years of focussing on this area of law.

3. Are independently accredited
SFE lawyers have all undertaken additional specialist training in older client law to qualify for the Older Client Care in Practice Award, which is independently accredited.

4. Follow a strict code of conduct
SFE lawyers understand the issues affecting older and vulnerable clients and follow a strict code of practice that has respect and dignity at its heart.

5. Speak in a language you understand
There is so much jargon in the legal profession. SFE lawyers communicate in clear straightforward language to make sure you understand everything you’re signing.

6. Part of a community of experts
SFE lawyers have a community of more than 1,500 members to draw on, so no matter how complex or sensitive your case, you will receive the best possible legal advice.

7. Safeguard your interests
An SFE lawyer is committed to providing affordable, high quality legal advice, and will ensure any decisions are your own.

8. Understand the bigger picture
SFE lawyers understand the wider, and often sensitive, issues around health, care and family that might affect your plans for later life.

9. Offer the best possible care and support
SFE lawyers care. They go above and beyond to provide support that is tailored to your needs and individual circumstances.

10. Get you the best possible outcome
Ultimately, choosing an SFE lawyer means you’ll be guided through this complex and sensitive area of law and will enable you to lay solid foundations to protect you and your loved ones in later life.

Court of Protection

Jenny also leads the Court of Protection team at Coole Bevis LLP and has been a Panel Member since its inception.

The Court appoints a Panel Member to act as Deputy to manage the financial affairs of incapacitated persons in cases where there is no other suitable person to act for the incapacitated person. Often these cases will be complicated because there may have been financial impropriety in the past or because a person’s affairs may have been neglected for long periods of time.

Our specialist Court of Protection team which is comprised of experienced Solicitors and Legal Executives act for a variety of vulnerable clients including elderly clients suffering from memory loss, confusion or dementia, clients with a learning disability, clients that have a serious brain injury or illness, clients with mental health problems and clients who are vulnerable to financial abuse.

Further information on this specialist area of law can be found on our website or please contact Jenny Murphy if you would like to make an enquiry.