Michelle qualified as a Solicitor with Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). She worked with OPG for eight years in various departments which enabled her to obtain an in-depth knowledge of:
- The Mental Capacity Act 2005
- The Mental Capacity Code of Practice
- The Court of Protection rules and processes
- (Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017)
- The standards that need to be adhered to when acting as a deputy for an incapacitated person
- The process and various guidance of executing Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney
- The standards that need to be adhered to when acting as an attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney
- The process and various guidance on making an application to be appointed as a Guardian for a missing person
- Advising and litigating on behalf of clients in the Court of Protection
Michelle is an expert in Lasting Power of Attorney matters (Property and Financial Affairs LPAs – and Health and Welfare LPAs) as well as helping clients as their deputy (and therefore authorised by the Court of Protection to make decisions on behalf of a person who lacks mental capacity, that are in their best interests). She can also prepare and submit applications for a grant of probate or letters of administration.
In 2018 she obtained a Higher Rights qualification in Criminal and Civil Proceedings, which enables Michelle to represent our clients in the High Court, as well as the Court of Protection.
Michelle is a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, the Professional Deputies Forum (PDF) and the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA).
In January 2022 Michelle received the SFE Older Client Care in Practice (OCCP) award, which distinguishes lawyers who provide specialist legal care and support to older and vulnerable clients, their families and carers.
Michelle plays a key role in guiding clients who have sustained life-changing injuries and manages such things as:
- Preparing and submitting an application for a person to be appointed as a property and financial affairs deputy
- Preparing and submitting an application for a person to be appointed as a health and welfare deputy
- Assisting with applications for a Guardianship Order (Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017)
- Administrating the property and financial affairs of an incapacitated person
- Administrating the property and financial affairs of a person that retains capacity, under a Lasting Power of Attorney
- Administrating the property and financial affairs of a person that has gone missing
- Bringing claims in the Court of Protection on behalf of an attorney or deputy
- Defending claims brought against an attorney or deputy
- Preparing and submitting applications that need approval of the Court of Protection
- Preparing and submitting a statutory will application
- Preparing and submitting Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare
- Acting as a professional deputy, attorney and trustee
- Working closely with and in the best interests of vulnerable clients
- Working closely with clients that no longer retain capacity to make various decisions
- Working closely with families of clients who are vulnerable
- Working closely with the Serious Injury and Clinical Negligence team to ensure that the client and their families are advised accordingly with the options that are available for their future
- Providing support and advocating for charities for vulnerable people
- Preparing and submitting applications for a grant of probate or letters of administration
