Children Law Director

Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd) is regulated by the Solicitor's Regulation Authority and was founded in 1998, headquartered in the City of London. 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 the few firms in the UK on the Lord Chancellor's International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) referral list.

Main Responsibilities of the Role:

• Report directly to and collaborate with the Board to ensure performance targets are met.
• Responsible for all aspects of Child Care work, providing technical expertise and guidance to other team members.
• Manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors, and Caseworkers to manage appropriate caseload types and complexities.
• Assist with delivery of appropriate training and development in the department.
• Handle a variety of duties including public and private children cases such as child abduction, child protection issues, special guardianship, and adoption matters, as well as undertaking your own advocacy.
• Maintain a professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills, and interest in Business Development and Marketing.

Key Skills Required:

• 3 Years+ PQE; registered with the Law Society and Children Panel Membership is desirable.
• Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying.
• Strong management skills and previous proven supervisory experience.
• 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.
• Extensive experience in dealing with all Child Care work and some expertise in adoption matters.
• Experience in own advocacy is an advantage.
• Excellent IT Skills - familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skills.

The recruitment process will fully comply with GDPR and other applicable laws. Background checks including CRB / DBS checks will establish your eligibility to work in the UK and suitability to the role.

Duncan Lewis is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity within its staff. The Company strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We guarantee an interview for candidates that disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the post.