Switalskis is celebrating three new appointments and a qualification achievement in its Court of Protection Health and Welfare (CoP) team.

The growing, 24 strong team provides legal services and support for people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. The team specifically focus on client health and welfare ensuring their clients have appropriate living and support for their assessed needs.

Joel Costa has been admitted as a solicitor after completing his training contract at the firm. Lydia Quartley and Aleksandar Cvetkov have joined as paralegals within the CoP team, and Amandeep Dosanjh has recently qualified as an Accredited Legal Representative (ALR).

Joel joined Switalskis’ CoP team as a paralegal in 2019 with the desire to help people navigate complex legal issues and ensure they get access to the support they need. Now, as a fully qualified solicitor, he’ll take on more responsibilities in client management, case strategy and legal advocacy.

The department is also celebrating solicitor Amandeep Dosanjh’s qualification as an Accredited Legal Representative (ALR). Amandeep joined Switalskis in 2020 as a CoP solicitor. As an ALR, she can now represent the protected party without the need for there to be a litigation friend. This allows her to support and communicate the wishes and feelings together with her view of what is in the best interests of the protected party in court proceedings.

Lydia Quartley joined Switalskis from a niche Leeds law firm. She is keen to further develop and focus her practice in promoting the human rights of people lacking mental capacity. Aleksandar Cvetkov completed his Master’s in Law (LLM) in 2022 and his Legal Practice Course (LPC) in 2023. He says he chose to work at Switalskis based on the firm’s fast growth and reputation for CoP work. Lydia and Aleksander will work closely with the solicitors, supporting clients and preparing documents and key paperwork to ensure the client’s voice is heard.                                                                                             

Switalskis director Alison Kaye , who heads the CoP Health and Welfare department, says: “This is an exciting time for our growing team. Joel and Amandeep’s individual development highlights our dedication to supporting talent within the firm and providing opportunities for professional advancement.

“We’re also very excited to provide mentorship, guidance and resources to our newly appointed paralegals, Lydia and Aleksander. We look forward to seeing each of these talented individuals thrive and grow in their new roles at Switalskis.”