Family Solicitor & Accredited Mediator – Luton

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is seeking a motivated and talented Family Solicitor Accredited Mediator (or a Solicitor with a strong interest in qualifying as a Family Mediator) to join our highly regarded Family Department in Luton. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career with one of the UK's leading law firms, recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers Partners as a top-tier practice and awarded Law Firm of the Year at both the 2024 LexisNexis Awards and the 2023 Modern Law Awards.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in the City of London, Duncan Lewis Solicitors is a national, award-winning, paperless law firm with over 500 professionals nationwide. Our ethos is simple: "We give people a voice." Our Family Department is ranked and recommended by The Legal 500 UK and Chambers Partners UK for its expertise in family and children law. The team advises on a wide range of complex and sensitive matters, including divorce, child arrangements, domestic abuse, adoption, child abduction, special guardianship, and financial disputes. Recognised for delivering exceptional client care and achieving positive outcomes, the department combines technical excellence with a compassionate approach.

Joining Duncan Lewis offers the opportunity to work alongside highly respected family law specialists, contribute to the continued growth of our family mediation services, and make a genuine difference to the lives of children and families.

Duties and responsibilities

• Report directly to the Department Director.
• Manage a varied caseload of family and child care matters, including both publicly and privately funded cases.
• Handle complex family law matters, including:
• Child abduction cases;
• Child protection issues;
• Special guardianship orders;
• Adoption matters;
• Domestic abuse cases;
• Divorce and financial remedy proceedings.
• Provide expert legal advice and guidance to clients throughout their cases.
• Undertake advocacy where appropriate.
• Support and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors, and Caseworkers.
• Deliver training and development support within the department.
• Contribute to the expansion and development of the firm's family mediation services.
• Build and maintain professional relationships through networking and business development activities.
• Assist in marketing initiatives and generating new business opportunities.
• Promote excellent client care, particularly when supporting vulnerable clients and families.

Experience and qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will have:

Essential Requirements:

• A valid and current Practising Certificate.
• A minimum of 2 years' Post-Qualified Experience (PQE) in Family Law.
• Registration with the Law Society.
• Strong experience handling Family and Child Care matters.
• Excellent client care and communication skills.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management systems.
• Proven ability to work effectively within a team and contribute positively to a collaborative culture.
• Strong organisational and case management skills.

Desirable Requirements:

• Family Mediation Council Accredited (FMCA) status.
• Alternatively, a genuine and demonstrable commitment to training and qualifying as a Family Mediator.
• Previous supervisory or management experience.
• Experience working towards key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Experience conducting your own advocacy.
• Knowledge of both publicly funded and privately funded family law work.
• Expertise in adoption and complex child care matters.
• Strong networking, business development, and marketing capabilities.

Benefits

At Duncan Lewis Solicitors, we are committed to supporting our employees through a range of professional, financial, and wellbeing benefits, including:

• Competitive remuneration package.
• Clear salary review and career progression opportunities.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• 22 days' annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus birthday leave.
• Company pension scheme.
• Ongoing training, professional development, and access to e-learning resources.
• Payment of practising certificate renewal fees and support for relevant professional accreditations (subject to eligibility).
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and wellbeing support, including Mental Health First Aiders.
• Company Medical Cash Plan (subject to eligibility).
• Employee referral scheme and eyesight test vouchers.
• Full payment of employment-related DBS checks.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment with opportunities to help shape and grow our family mediation services.

Some benefits are subject to eligibility criteria and company terms and conditions.

Company culture

At Duncan Lewis Solicitors, we are passionate about creating an environment where talented professionals can thrive. We are proud of our diverse and inclusive workforce and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees. Our long-standing Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation reflects our commitment to employee development, while our Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications demonstrate our dedication to excellence, innovation and security. We invest heavily in the growth of our people through ongoing training, mentoring, clear progression pathways and opportunities to gain industry recognition. Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise, develop leadership skills or advance your career within a nationally recognised law firm, Duncan Lewis provides the platform to help you succeed. Join Duncan Lewis Solicitors and help shape the future of family law and mediation while making a genuine difference to the lives of families and children.