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- Tasks: Join our Child Care team to provide expert legal support and guidance.
- Company: Duncan Lewis Solicitors, a top-tier law firm with a commitment to client service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and support for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your legal career.
- Qualifications: NQ - 3 years PQE as a Solicitor with child care law experience.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with strong support for training and diversity.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 55000 £ per year.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd) is regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority and was founded in 1998, headquartered in the City of London with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK independent legal directories as a top-tier law firm in all key practice areas. We are a paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, servicing both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages.
Our Child Care Department is highly specialised and ranked by The Legal 500 UK and Chambers & Partners UK for its expertise in all aspects of child care law. We assist guardians to represent children and represent parents, providing expert advice to adopted parents and birth parents considering adoption. The department also advises same-sex couples on child care matters, including arrangements following divorce, separation or dissolution of a civil partnership, adoption, co-parenting, and surrogacy.
The Child Care Law department consists of members of the Law Society Children and Family Panel Members, with many also being members of the Association for the Lawyers for Children and Resolution. Duncan Lewis is one of few firms in the UK on the Lord Chancellor’s International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) referral list.
Main Responsibilities of the Role:
- Responsible for all aspects of Child Care work including providing technical expertise and guidance to other team members.
- Ability to manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors and Caseworkers to manage appropriate caseload types and complexities.
- Assisting with delivery of appropriate training and development in the department.
- Variety of duties including dealing with a range of public and private children cases including child abduction, child protection issues, special guardianship and adoption matters as well as undertaking your own advocacy.
- Professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills and interest in Business Development and Marketing.
Key Skills Required:
- NQ - 3 years PQE as Solicitor.
- Extensive experience in dealing with all Child Care related work.
- Must have a clean, valid Practising Certificate at the time of applying.
- Strong management skills.
- Committed team player with ability to approach team concerns fairly and encourage cross referrals.
- Previous proven supervisory experience and working to key performance indicators.
- Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business.
- Working knowledge of publicly funded Child Care work and ability to service privately funded cases.
- Experience in own advocacy is an advantage.
- Excellent IT Skills - familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills.
What we offer:
- A fantastic supportive team.
- Strong career progression with support for legal awards and professional recognition.
SALARY STRUCTURE (Non-Accredited) - CHILDREN LAW SOLICITOR SALARY:
- NQ: £42,500 (London), £40,000 (Outside London).
- 1 Year PQE: £44,000 (London), £42,000 (Outside London).
- 2 Years PQE: £45,500 (London), £43,500 (Outside London).
- 3 Years Plus PQE: £47,000 (London), £45,000 (Outside London).
Law Society Children Accreditation/Resolution:
The Company will support your career progression if you decide to pursue Children, Family or Family Advanced Panel accreditation with the Law Society or Resolution. We will cover the cost of attending the mandatory training course, application fees, annual membership fee, and reaccreditation costs.
Children Law Panel Member / Accreditation Salary + Supervision Bonus:
Base salary of £55,000 in London and within the M25, £52,000 outside London, applicable from the date you are registered as a panel member/accredited with the Law Society.
SUPERVISION BONUS STRUCTURE - CHILDREN LAW:
- Supervise 1 Paralegal: £1,250 (London), £1,150 (Outside London).
- Supervise 2 Paralegals: £1,750 (London), £1,600 (Outside London).
- Supervise 3 Paralegals: £2,250 (London), £2,100 (Outside London).
- Supervise 4 Paralegals: £2,750 (London), £2,550 (Outside London).
Total (per annum): £8,000 (London), £7,400 (Outside London).
Children Law Solicitors (x4) – Nationwide in London employer: Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Contact Detail:
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Children Law Solicitors (x4) – Nationwide in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Duncan Lewis. A friendly chat can open doors!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in child care law. When you get that interview, having real examples to discuss will set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Before your interview, do some mock interviews with friends or mentors. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when discussing your passion for child care law.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Duncan Lewis team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Children Law Solicitors (x4) – Nationwide in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Children Law Solicitor role. Highlight your relevant experience in child care law and any specific cases you've worked on that align with our ethos of giving people a voice.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your strong management skills and client care abilities shine through. Use examples from your past work to demonstrate how you've successfully managed caseloads and supported team members.
Be Professional Yet Personable: While we appreciate professionalism, don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. We value a pro-active approach and want to know how you connect with clients, especially those who are vulnerable.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will go straight to us, and we can get to know you better right from the start!
How to prepare for a job interview at Duncan Lewis Solicitors
✨Know Your Child Care Law
Make sure you brush up on the latest developments in child care law. Familiarise yourself with key cases and legislation that are relevant to the role. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the field.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
Since the role involves supervising other solicitors and caseworkers, be prepared to discuss your management experience. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led a team or handled complex cases, and how you fostered a positive working environment.
✨Demonstrate Client Care Skills
Highlight your ability to deal with vulnerable clients and complex situations. Prepare scenarios where you've effectively communicated with clients, resolved issues, or provided exceptional support. This is crucial for a role that requires strong client care skills.
✨Be Ready for Advocacy Questions
If you have experience in advocacy, be ready to discuss it! Prepare to talk about your approach to representing clients in court and any notable cases you've worked on. If you haven't done much advocacy, think about how you would handle it and express your willingness to learn.