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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex family law cases, focusing on child abduction and providing expert guidance.
- Company: Join a top-tier law firm recognised for its commitment to client service and professional development.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive team, strong career progression, and opportunities for legal awards.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while advancing your legal career.
- Qualifications: 3+ years PQE with relevant accreditations in family law and child abduction.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to equal opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Overview
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
Family Law Solicitor Director – Child Abduction Specialist | ICACU/Resolution Accredited | Leeds
Job Description:
Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd):
Regulated by the Solicitor\’s Regulation Authority, Duncan Lewis Solicitors was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in the City of London (Fenchurch Street EC3M), 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 of our key practice areas – a diligent and professional team that is prepared to go the extra mile for its clients. A paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, we service both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages. We give people a voice – that is our ethos.
Recognised among The Times 200 Best Law Firms, we have been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards, reflecting our dedication to legal expertise and client service. We hold Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation for over 15 years, showcasing our commitment to professional development. Duncan Lewis is also Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 certified, ensuring excellence in practice management and data security.
We are committed to recruiting dedicated and talented professionals and welcome applications from exceptional candidates. At Duncan Lewis, we value training and diversity, and we take pride in our inclusive workforce.
Department Background:
The Legal 500 independent legal directory applauds our Family legal team as \”superbly reliable\”, \”professional, personable, and very efficient\”. The department is ranked and recommended by The Legal 500 UK and Chambers & Partners UK for family and matrimonial work, providing confidential advice with effective representation. Our family team includes solicitors who have achieved the Law Society\’s Children Law and Family Law Advanced accreditations, providing advocacy in all court proceedings, ensuring our clients receive a consistent and professional service as well as a high degree of continuity.
The Family department is experienced in assisting high net worth individuals in divorce matters with specialist divorce solicitors with expertise in domestic abuse, adoption, child abduction, prohibitive steps orders, specific issues orders, injunctions, spousal and child maintenance, properties, pensions and freezing injunctions.
Main Responsibilities
- Report directly to and collaborating with the Board to ensure performance targets are met
- Managing and overseeing complex family matters
- Responsible for all aspects of Family work including divorce, financial disputes and remedies; international elements of child abduction/ adoption; injunctions/ non molestation orders and 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 Family law matters as well as undertaking your own advocacy
- You will have a professional pro-active approach, strong client care skills and be interested in Business Development and Marketing to supplement the substantial work volumes brought in by the company
Key Skills & Qualifications
- 3 Years+ PQE
- Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying
- Must hold one of the following accreditations:
- Law Society Family Law Panel (Advanced), with Child Abduction and Wardship component
- Resolution Accredited Specialist – Child Abduction Specialist Portfolio completed
- Listed on the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) accredited panel
- Experienced Family Law Solicitor with a proven track record in managing complex and sensitive child abduction cases.
- Strong management skills
- Committed team player with ability to approach team concerns fairly, foster culture of positive change and encourage cross referrals
- Previous proven supervisory experience and working to key performance indicators
- Professional with a pro-active approach; excellent client care skills and ability to deal with vulnerable client matters in a sensitive manner and resolve complicated practicalities involved in Family Law issues
- Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business
- Comprehensive knowledge of publicly funded family law, with the capability to effectively manage privately funded cases.
- Excellent client care and advocacy skills
- 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
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.
Equal Opportunities
Duncan Lewis is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity of its staff. The Company strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, which is reflective at all levels within our workforce. We guarantee an interview for candidates that disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the post. Please provide additional details in your covering letter if this applies.
Applications submitted by agencies will not be accepted for the above vacancy
Ethics/GDPR compliance, equal opportunity, and suitability statements are maintained in line with applicable laws.
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Family Law Solicitor Director - Child Abduction Specialist | ICACU/Resolution Accredited | Leeds employer: Duncan Lewis
Contact Detail:
Duncan Lewis Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Law Solicitor Director - Child Abduction Specialist | ICACU/Resolution Accredited | Leeds
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the family law sector! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience with child abduction cases and any relevant accreditations. We want to see your passion for family law shine through, so don’t hold back on sharing your success stories!
✨Prepare for the Interview
Do your homework on Duncan Lewis Solicitors and their family law team. Familiarise yourself with their values and recent achievements. We love candidates who show they’re genuinely interested in our firm and can articulate how they can contribute to our success.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our fantastic team at Duncan Lewis.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Law Solicitor Director - Child Abduction Specialist | ICACU/Resolution Accredited | Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Family Law Solicitor Director role. Highlight your experience with child abduction cases and any relevant accreditations, as this will show us you’re the right fit for our team.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your strong management skills and client care abilities shine through. Use specific examples from your past work to demonstrate how you've successfully handled complex family law matters.
Be Professional Yet Personable: While we appreciate professionalism, don’t forget to let your personality come through in your application. We value a friendly approach, so feel free to express your passion for family law and helping clients.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets to us directly, apply through our website. It’s the best way to ensure we see your application promptly and can consider you for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Duncan Lewis
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest developments in family law, especially around child abduction. Familiarise yourself with relevant cases and legislation, as well as Duncan Lewis Solicitors' ethos and values. This will show your genuine interest and expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
Since this role involves managing a team, be prepared to discuss your previous supervisory experiences. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led a team or handled complex cases. Highlight how you foster a positive team culture and encourage professional development.
✨Client Care is Key
Demonstrate your strong client care skills by sharing examples of how you've dealt with vulnerable clients in sensitive situations. Discuss your approach to ensuring clients feel heard and supported, which is crucial in family law.
✨Be Ready for Business Development Talk
Duncan Lewis values business development, so come prepared with ideas on how you can contribute to marketing and generating new business. Think about your networking strategies and how you can leverage your connections to benefit the firm.
