Priyanka Kumar

Priyanka Kumar is a Solicitor within our Court of Protection, Health and Welfare department. She is based in Leeds. 

Professional biography 

In her day-to-day role, Priyanka represents individuals and family members in complex Court of Protection Health and Welfare matters.  

Priyanka graduated from the University of Warwick in June 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons) 2:1 in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. 

She later completed a Master of Arts (MA) in Law at the University of Law in London, graduating with Distinction in July 2021. During her Master's degree, Priyanka developed a particular interest in human rights law and researched the Immigration Act 2014 and its compatibility with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects the right to respect for private and family life. 

Priyanka then completed the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) Preparation Course with the College of Legal Practice between 2023 and 2025. She completed SQE1 in September 2024 and SQE2 in August 2025, before qualifying as a Solicitor in September 2025. 

From January 2022 to December 2024, Priyanka worked within the Public Law and Human Rights department of a national law firm, where she gained qualifying legal experience across Court of Protection, Education Law, and Community Care matters. During this time, she worked on a broad range of cases involving deprivation of liberty challenges, best interests disputes, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) appeals, serious medical treatment decisions, and Judicial Review claims. 

Priyanka has chosen to specialise in mental capacity law and represents individuals in proceedings before the Court of Protection. She has particular experience in cases brought under Sections 21A and 16 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which can involve important decisions about a person's care, residence, contact with others, and whether restrictions on their freedom are lawful. 

She regularly represents the person at the centre of Court of Protection proceedings, who is commonly referred to as "P", in cases concerning their mental capacity and best interests. An important part of her role is ensuring that the individual's wishes, feelings, beliefs, and values are accurately presented and properly considered throughout proceedings. Priyanka also regularly receives instructions from the Official Solicitor, family members, and advocates representing or supporting P. 

Alongside managing her own cases, Priyanka supervises junior colleagues and has experience in delivering Public Law and Court of Protection training to clients and colleagues. She also keeps up to date with new case law and legal developments to ensure her advice reflects current Court of Protection law and practice. Priyanka is committed to safeguarding individuals' rights and upholding the principles of equality and justice. Throughout her legal career, she has represented vulnerable individuals facing complex and deeply personal legal challenges, working to ensure that their voices are heard and their rights are protected. 

She is motivated by the opportunity to achieve fair outcomes through the effective use of the law and approaches her work with compassion, integrity, and respect for each individual's circumstances.