2DRJ

Sophia Stapleton

• Called to the Bar in 2015 (Lincoln’s Inn)
• Sophia is a barrister in chambers, predominately specialising in cases concerning children.
• Sophia has been ranked in Legal 500 2026, London Bar, Family as a tier 4 Leading Junior (Include here the logo for 2026, and link:
• Sophia was also ranked in the Legal 500 guide for 2025.
• “Sophia is a very talented barrister and is very approachable and helpful. She gets involved in the case management to ensure that a case remains on track and is always on hand to provide advice on a case she is instructed on. She is passionate about the cases she is instructed on and is a solid pair of hands, which is essential in the difficult area of child protection work.”
• To instruct Sophia Stapleton, contact her clerks at [email protected]  or call 0207 936 2613.

Sophia is a barrister specialising in cases involving children.

Sophia accepts instructions within private and public children’s cases, as well as in other related family, regulatory, criminal and education matters.

Sophia’s practice as a pupil was predominately crime based and she regularly appeared as a trial advocate for the defence and prosecution in the magistrates, youth and crown courts. Sophia has dealt with a wide range of criminal offences from GBH, attempted murder, serious violence and conspiracies to drugs, trafficking and domestic abuse.

In 2018, Sophia undertook a three-month secondment within a local authority working within the education and child protection legal teams. During this time, her work focused on children with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs).

Sophia’s family practice now largely overlaps with her experience as a junior barrister in crime. She has a varied practice focusing on cases concerning children and represents local authorities, parents, grandparents and children, as well as other intervenors in proceedings.  Sophia has experience in cases involving serious, complex fact-finding hearings including the death of a child, multiple fractures, brain injuries, shaking, and unexplained bruising, as well as sexual abuse. Sophia’s work often includes cases involving domestic abuse, substance misuse, neglect, and where children are beyond parental control. Sophia is regularly instructed to appear in the High Court in cases concerning deprivation of liberty.

Sophia’s cases frequently involve the most vulnerable, whether that be children or their parents, and she has experience representing parents with learning difficulties, mental health difficulties, care leavers, and those that are victims of abuse, as well as those that lack capacity.  Sophia also has experience in the Court of Protection.