Sophia Stapleton

Sophia Stapleton

Author picture
UK Leading junior 2026

Sophia has been ranked in Legal 500 2026, London Bar, Family as a tier 4 Leading Junior

To instruct Sophia Stapleton, contact her clerks at clerks@2drj.com or call 020 7936 2613

Profile

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 focussed 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 focussing 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.