Given the changing dynamics of estate planning and private client law there is an opportunity for lawyers and law firms to reassert the principle of the ‘family lawyer’; someone to whom a family can turn to time and again for legal needs. Not a purely transactional relationship, but one based on trust and mutual respect.
It is one of the topics discussed in a wide-ranging discussion on the latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast as host David Opie is joined by Lakshmi Turner, Chief Executive of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, formerly Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).
There is certainly an opportunity for a more holistic approach to create significant benefits for both clients and firms, helping individuals plan not only for death through wills and estate planning, but also for life, health, finances and future care needs. With the Great Wealth Transfer in full swing, and an increasingly aging population it’s a busy time to be a private client lawyer.
Turner discusses the origins of the membership body, first conceived by Gordon Ashton, then Deputy Master of the Court of Protection, and a group of specialist practitioners who sought to create an organisation dedicated to training, best practice and supporting lawyers advising older people.
One of the organisation’s most enduring strengths is it collaborative community says Turner. From its earliest days, members have shared knowledge and expertise through forums and discussion groups, creating a culture where solicitors support one another with complex client matters. She argues that this collective expertise ultimately benefits clients, who indirectly gain access to the insight and experience of thousands of specialist lawyers.
The organisation has focused not just on legal skill, but also soft skills for lawyers advising older and vulnerable clients who must also understand safeguarding, capacity assessment, communication, advocacy, and the identification of abuse. These are skills rarely taught during formal legal education but are increasingly critical in practice. The organisation’s Lifetime Care in Practice Award was developed to address this gap, providing externally accredited training designed to improve the quality of client care.
The Association of Lifetime Lawyers celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 with the newly launched Twilight Awards the highlight of a year of celebration.
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