Widening of Entitlement to Bereavement Awards – to include Cohabitees of over two years:
05-12-2017Delayed Fact-Findings, the Enemy of Justice
16-02-2018
Madeleine Steele
A Court of Protection and Public Law specialist, acting for local authorities, health boards, family members and individuals.
2017 Inner Temple
"Thank you, I felt confident with Madeleine's meticulous attention to every detail"
- 2016-2017: Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding)
- 2013-2014: Graduate Diploma in Law (Commendation)
- 2010-2013: History of Art (BA Hons.) University of York
- 2017: Albion Family Advocacy Competition Winner
- 2017: Academic Achievement Award, Highest mark for Drafting
- 2023: Amicus Champions of Justice: The Andrew Lee Jones Award
- Court of Protection Bar Association
- Amicus ALJ
- BarNone Mentor
- R v X: representation of a youth client, charged with 2x robbery, successfully persuaded the judge to pass sentence by way of a referral order.
- R v BB: representation of a client charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, successfully persuaded the judge to pass sentence by way of a suspended custodial sentence.
- Re ZU: represented the local authority in an application to authorise a deprivation of liberty. The case involved consideration of the procedure when a matter is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court and instead transfers to the Court of Protection.
- Re AE: represented the health board in an application to authorise the deprivation of liberty of a child. The case involved consideration of what amounts to a regulated, and unregulated, placement.
- Re MC: representation of a parent at an urgent hearing, successfully opposed the local authority’s application for immediate removal of the child.
Details
Court of Protection
Maddie has a busy Court of Protection practice, regularly acting for local authorities, health boards, family members and individuals, through the Official Solicitor or Accredited Legal Representative.
She has experience dealing with a wide range of cases involving both deprivation of liberty and health and welfare considerations and is regularly instructed in urgent and complex matters, where decisions must be made swiftly, often in sensitive and emotionally charged circumstances.
Maddie is frequently instructed in cases with complex capacity issues, particularly those involving cross over with the Mental Health Act 1983, as well as matters regarding residence, care, contact, medical treatment and interpersonal relationships.
Working closely with instructing solicitors, family members and other professional clients to present cases clearly and effectively, Maddie prides herself on maintaining a sensitivity to the human realities underpinning Court of Protection work.
She provides pragmatic advice at an early stage of a case, with a focus on narrowing the issues and working collaboratively to reduce unnecessary conflict. Where disputes must be resolved by the Court, Maddie is a thorough and persuasive advocate, presenting cases with confidence and meticulous attention to detail.
Family - Public Children
Maddie’s practice encompasses the full range of public children work. Regularly instructed to represent local authorities, parents, interveners and children, she has developed both a practical and compassionate approach and is able to quickly adapt in response to different client needs.
She also deals with matters involving the deprivation of liberty of children, particularly cases moving from the jurisdiction of the High Court to the Court of Protection.
Maddie has extensive experience working with vulnerable people, which has informed her empathetic approach when representing clients in both Court of Protection and Public Children Law.
Prior to joining the Bar, Maddie worked as a paralegal at a specialist Mental Health and Mental Capacity law firm, representing clients before the First-Tier Mental Health Tribunal and instructing counsel on various Court of Protection matters.
Maddie is actively involved with the charity Amicus, delivering training to students and prospective interns on Capital Trial Procedure at the charity’s training weekends. Having spent four months at the Oklahoma County Public Defenders’ Office in 2016, Maddie regularly returns to America to work with the attorneys on ongoing death penalty cases.
