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 has “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 of the Role
Report directly to Department Director
Responsible for all aspects of Family law 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 Family / children cases including child abduction, child protection issues, special guardianship and adoption 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 Required:
Must have a clean, valid Practising Certificate at the time of applying
Registered with the Law Society
Accredited Family Solicitor on the Family Law Panel (preferred) with Abduction Panel accreditation (desirable)
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 clients and resolve complicated practicalities involved in child care issues
Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business
Working knowledge of the publicly funded Family / Child Care work and have the ability to service privately funded cases
Have extensive experience in dealing with all Family / Child-Care work-related work and some expertise on adoption matters
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) - FAMILY LAW
SOLICITOR SALARY
(London)
(Outside London)
NQ
£42,500
£40,000
1 Year PQE
£44,000
£42,000
2 Years PQE
£45,500
£43,500
3 Years Plus PQE
£47,000
£45,000
Law Society 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 £1100 (Family / Children Law Accreditation)
Application fees (approx. £294)
Annual membership fee (approx. £324)
Children Law Reaccreditation every 3 years (approx. £618)
Family Law Reaccreditation every 5 years (approx. £556)
The total cost of progressing onto the Family panel is approximately £1700.
Family Law Panel Member / Accreditation Salary +Supervision Bonus:-
Moving forward we are looking to offer all new Family and Resolution Panel members a base salary of:
£52,000 in London and within the M25.
£50,000 outside London.
This salary will apply from the date you are registered as a panel member/accredited with the Law Society. Advancement of the above fees will be subject to our terms and conditions in the contract of employment/accreditation agreement.
Supervision Bonus:-
Supervision bonus is payable after panel membership has been attained.
SUPERVISION BONUS STRUCTURE - FAMILY LAW
Supervision Bonus per Paralegal
(London)
(Outside London)
Supervise 1 Paralegal
£1,250
£1,150
Supervise 2 Paralegals
£1,750
£1,600
Supervise 3 Paralegals
£2,250
£2,100
Supervise 4 Paralegals
£2,750
£2,550
Total (per annum)
£8,000
£7,400
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