Clough & Willis Solicitors
Family Solicitor (2+ Years PQE)

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Salary: Circa £40,000+ (dependent on experience)
Benefits
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Company iPhone
- Auto-enrolment pension scheme
- 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year
- Dedicated parking space
About the Role
Clough & Willis is seeking a talented and motivated Family Solicitor with at least 2 years' PQE to join our highly regarded Family Department based in Bury.
Working alongside the Managing Partner and Head of Family, Lee Marston, and supported by an experienced family law paralegal, you will inherit a small but ongoing quality caseload consisting mostly of finances on divorce and separation, together with some private law Children Act work.
You are preferably working towards, or have an interest in becoming a Resolution Accredited specialist in Finances on Divorce and Private Law Children Act.
This is an excellent opportunity for a solicitor looking to develop their expertise within a well-established family team that enjoys an outstanding local reputation, generating work through repeat instructions and recommendations. The firm has specialised exclusively in privately funded family law matters for over 25 years.
About You
The successful candidate will:
- Have a minimum of 2 years' PQE in Family Law
- Be commercially aware, with an understanding of billing, recovery and performance targets
- Be comfortable managing deadlines
- Be experienced in handling privately funded family matters
- Demonstrate strong organisational and client care skills
- Have good IT skills
- Be familiar with the HMCTS Court Portal and legal research platforms such as Practical Law and Westlaw
- Be willing to support and engage in business development and marketing initiatives
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Areas of Experience
Finances on Divorce / Separation including
- Part 25 procedures mostly Pension, Forensic Accountant, surveyor instruction
- Pension Advisory Group (PAG) guidance
- Maintenance Pending Suit and interim maintenance applications
- Section 31 variation applications
- (or knowledge of) Legal Costs Orders under Section 22ZA
- Disclosure requirements under pre application protocol
- Finances on divorce proceedings
- Divorce procedure
- Advocacy at First Directions Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and interim applications
- Briefing Counsel, attending conferences
- Procedure on interlocutory applications
- Preparing court bundles under Part 27A
- Or knowledge of Section 37 financial injunctions
- Drafting pleadings including Directions/Final Orders, ES1 and ES2, statements of issues, case summaries/position statements, skeleton arguments, Witness statements of truth/affidavits
- Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
Schedule 1 Children Act Applications
Experience managing Schedule applications, procedures would be advantageous.
Separation and Cohabitation Matters
- Disclosure Requirement
- Separation Agreements
- Cohabitation (Living Together) Agreements
- TOLATA experience an advantage
Private Law Children Act
- Procedure and pre application requirements/negotiation
- Knowledge of welfare checklists and current caselaw
- Advocacy at FHDRA, DRA
- Making and defending internal and external child relocation applications
- Advocacy at more straightforward final hearings an advantage
- Drafting interim directions and final Orders
- Drafting case summaries, position statements, witness statements
- Briefing Counsel
- Experts directions re. blood, hairstrand testing etc
- Familiar with CAFCASS requirements and reporting
- Urgent applications including spend time with, live with, specific issue/prohibited steps
- Preparing court bundles in accordance with Part 27A


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Family Law Act Injunctions (and Domestic Abuse Orders)
- Making and defending Non-Molestation Orders including assessing when an emergency
- Procedures
- Drafting applications, orders and undertakings
- Advocacy on interim applications
- Advocacy at final hearings would be advantageous
- Briefing counsel where appropriate
Working Arrangements
This is primarily an office-based role. While we do not operate a formal hybrid working policy, occasional home working may be considered once the successful candidate is fully established within the team and familiar with our clients and systems.
Why Join Clough & Willis?
Clough & Willis is a long-established, respected North West law firm with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality family law advice. Our Family Department is recognised for its expertise, professionalism and client-focused approach, providing an excellent platform for career development and progression.
Apply
To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter outlining your experience and suitability for the position to Lee Marston, Managing Partner, at lee.marston@clough-willis.co.uk
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location