Ashleigh joined Southerns in 2016 and qualified as a Solicitor with the firm after completing her training contract. She has since developed specialist expertise in Mental Health and Court of Protection work. As an Accredited Legal Representative, Ashleigh works closely with vulnerable individuals and their families to safeguard their rights and ensure their voices are heard.
Read MoreThe majority of Ashleigh’s caseload is made up of Court of Protection Health and Welfare matters. These cases involve representing individuals who lack capacity in relation to issues such as their residence, care and treatment and contact with others. She is also able to act for family members where they are joined as a party to such proceedings. In addition, she is regularly instructed in community care matters concerning the statutory duties and obligations of social services and NHS bodies.
Ashleigh is a Law Society Mental Health Accredited Practitioner and an Accredited Legal Representative, allowing clients to confidently choose a solicitor with specialist expertise. She represents individuals detained under the Mental Health Act at Tribunal Hearings and works closely with vulnerable clients and their families to protect their rights. A career highlight was securing three Mental Health Tribunal discharges in a row – the first being her very first discharged client.
In her free time, she loves to spend time with her daughter, her boisterous dog (a cavapoo named Copper) and very patient husband. Their home is named Pendleview, sharing its name with the mental health unit at Blackburn where she has represented many patients. Bizarrely, despite the name, the house does not have a view of Pendle at all.
Her favourite was not a written review but was from a longstanding client detained under the Mental Health Act…
“I had arranged to see him on the ward and as I walked on, he ran off to his bedroom before reappearing a moment later with Tina Turner ‘The Best’ blasting out of his stereo and a big smile aimed at me.”
