English
Paralegal, Court of Protection
Manchester
Dylan Panesar is a Paralegal within our Court of Protection, Health & Welfare team, based in Manchester.
Professional Biography
Dylan graduated from the University of Manchester in July 2025 with First Class Honours in Law (LLB). During his studies, he developed a strong interest in how the law can be used to protect vulnerable people, particularly through the Court of Protection and mental capacity legislation.
He gained practical and leadership experience as both President and Vice President of the University’s Bar Society, where he organised events, coached students in advocacy, and led the Society’s participation in national mooting (mock court proceedings where students argue legal cases) and trial competitions. He was a regional winner in the BPP Advocate of the Year and twice represented the University at the ESU–Essex Court Chambers National Moot. Dylan also co-presented a student radio show, “Verdicts and Voices,” which aimed to make complex legal and political topics more accessible to the public. He previously supported Wes Streeting MP, now the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, by managing sensitive casework and correspondence on behalf of constituents.
Before joining Simpson Millar, Dylan built a well-rounded foundation in several areas of law, including mental capacity, family, criminal, and commercial law. His early experience included shadowing criminal Barristers at Nine St John Street Chambers, attending live jury trials and client conferences, followed by a mini pupillage at Lincoln House Chambers where he observed a high-profile murder trial in the High Court, led by a King’s Counsel. He later gained commercial legal insight during a work experience scheme at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman), where he took part in a simulated project based on a real-life merger involving GlaxoSmithKline. As part of the exercise, he conducted legal research, reviewed complex documents, and presented his findings to solicitors, gaining a deeper understanding of commercial law and the demands of high-level transactional work.
Dylan’s interest in the Court of Protection developed whilst shadowing a Barrister and academic from 39 Essex Chambers. During this experience, he observed live court hearings about people who lacked capacity to make certain decisions about their health or welfare. These included cases involving best interests decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and highlighted how the law is used to balance protection, autonomy, and mental health needs. One case in particular involved a person with hoarding behaviours and fluctuating capacity, which helped Dylan understand the complex role both legal and clinical professionals play in safeguarding vulnerable adults.
He first completed a Family and Court of Protection mock trial programme, and later undertook a judicial marshalling placement with Her Honour Judge Davies in the Family Court. During this placement, Dylan observed a range of sensitive hearings, including pre-trial reviews in abuse cases, proceedings about kinship care, and an appeal concerning shared custody. These experiences strengthened his understanding of how the courts make decisions in the best interests of those who are most at risk, including children and adults lacking capacity.
Dylan joined Simpson Millar in July 2025 as a Paralegal in our Court of Protection, Health and Welfare team. He plays an active role in progressing cases that involve individuals who may lack capacity to make decisions about their care, health, or living arrangements. Working closely with Solicitors and Barristers, Dylan helps ensure each matter is handled with professionalism, sensitivity and clear communication.
His day-to-day work includes preparing detailed court bundles, assisting with instructions to counsel, attending hearings, and helping to coordinate client visits and roundtable meetings. He is also responsible for managing important processes such as Legal Aid applications and liaising with medical experts to support the evidence in each case.
Dylan supports on a broad range of issues within the Court of Protection, including best interests decisions, adult safeguarding concerns, and applications brought under Sections 16 and 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These cases often require careful analysis of whether someone has the capacity to make specific decisions and whether their current care arrangements are appropriate. His role ensures that all relevant documentation and evidence is properly prepared and that clients receive clear, practical support throughout the legal process.
Growing up in a working-class family where English was not the first language, Dylan often translated for relatives and helped them understand complex systems and processes. These early responsibilities made him aware of how inaccessible the legal world can feel, and they sparked his ambition to pursue a career focused on support, advocacy, and fairness.
That commitment led him to the Court of Protection, an area of law where legal precision must go hand in hand with empathy. The work often involves decisions about the lives of people who are not able to make choices for themselves, and Dylan approaches it with a strong sense of purpose, recognising recognising both the sensitivity and the responsibility involved. Dylan strives to ensure that every individual and family he supports is treated with care and clarity. For him, a legal career is not just about the law but about fairness, compassion, and making sure that everyone has the chance to be heard and understood.
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