We have some of the UK’s leading lawyers in our team, and we’re extremely proud so many of our experts have grown with us. We put a lot of effort into supporting and nurturing our talent, and creating an inclusive environment where our colleagues can be their best selves.
Meet Partner Charlotte Fletcher, one of 31 employees promoted in May 2024. Working within the Court of Protection team based in London, Charlotte joined the inaugural Hugh James Pro Bono Scheme in collaboration with Cardiff University when she was a student in 2008/2009. Joining the firm’s Nursing Care department from University as a Paralegal, she soon became a supervisor for the scheme.
She said: “I have always been incredibly proud to have started my career with Hugh James through the Cardiff University Pro Bono scheme, which was invaluable to me. I have now been at Hugh James almost 14 years, during which time I have had two children and, in the last year, was supported to relocate closer to family, and head up the Court of Protection Hugh James offering in London and Southampton.”
Thanks to the Pro Bono Scheme, Charlotte was able to secure a Paralegal position in the Nursing Care Department when she finished university. She worked in the team for three years (to the day!) during which time she was promoted to Senior Case Manager, managed her own team and completed her LPC part time. Charlotte said the skills she acquired in this department led to her securing her training contract with Hugh James which she started immediately on finishing her time in Nursing Care.
After securing her training contract with the firm, she quickly realised that she enjoyed Court of Protection work and progressed to an NQ position at the end of her first seat. When Charlotte first started in the Court of Protection team, she was the first full time solicitor in the team of around ten. The Court of Protection department has grown substantially since then, now with teams based in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Swindon.
Charlotte advanced to Associate after a few years, then to Senior Associate and now a Partner. After relocating with her family from Cardiff, she heads up the Court of Protection offering in London and Southampton which she says is a really exciting opportunity.
Charlotte said: “Hugh James is such a special firm, full of people who will support you and want to see you progress and succeed. I feel very proud to have recently been promoted to partner and will do my best to encourage and support others in the firm in the same way that I have been encouraged and supported.”
Lisa Morgan, Partner, and Head of Nursing Care has been the scheme’s supervising solicitor from the start.
She said: “It brings me such joy that Charlotte Fletcher has been advanced to Partner. The scheme was established to ensure inclusivity for all and provide a foundation for their future careers. To see the first person to excel from student, to paralegal and now to Partner in the firm demonstrates its success.
“I remember interviewing a nervous Charlie all those years ago and she was one of the first cohort of paralegals that joined my team from the scheme. Through her determination and hard work, she has progressed through the firm and maintains that drive to protect clients and achieve the best results for them. She has always been a proud advocate of the Pro Bono Scheme and is an inspiration to the students of what they can achieved.”
Looking back on her involvement on the Pro Bono Scheme all those years ago, one thing Charlotte remembers learning is the importance of client communication, which she says has stayed with her throughout her career.
She added: “Even if you don’t have a significant update, sometimes just telling the client that alone is enough. The Court of Protection and the NHS are very similar in that they work very slowly at times which can be really frustrating for clients. Being able to proactively tell them “Sorry, there isn’t an update” can go a long way to maintaining a good relationship with them.”
We look forward to continuing to watch Charlotte’s career thrive here at Hugh James and anticipate many more from our student schemes to follow in her footsteps by progressing to Partner.
