Private client and Court of Protection lawyers in the North West often build careers based on trust, continuity, and long-term relationships. That stability is a real advantage, but it can also mask slow career drift if development becomes repetitive rather than progressive.
Futureproofing your career in 2026 doesn’t mean planning a move. It means making sure your experience continues to compound.
Focus on complexity, not just experience
Years qualified alone don’t protect your career. What matters is whether the complexity of your work is increasing. Handling higher-value estates, nuanced tax issues, vulnerable client matters, or sensitive deputyship work builds judgement that travels with you across firms.
Lawyers who futureproof well tend to ask:
- Am I being trusted with more difficult decisions?
- Am I relied on for judgement, not just execution?
Build visible trust within your firm
In private client and CoP teams, progression is often informal before it’s formal. Responsibility is passed quietly long before titles or pay change. Becoming the person partners trust with sensitive clients or difficult conversations is one of the strongest indicators your career is moving forward.
Stay market-aware, even when you’re settled
Understanding how your role, salary, and responsibilities compare across the North West private client market gives you confidence and leverage, without forcing change. Market awareness is about context, not dissatisfaction.
If you’d like a confidential sense-check on how your private client or Court of Protection role compares across the North West, or want to talk about how to keep your career developing quietly, Kelly is always happy to help.
