Public Law Solicitor Director - Leeds

Duncan Lewis; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking law firm recognized for its commitment to justice and diversity. As a Public Law Solicitor Director, you'll lead a dynamic team, ensuring high-quality legal services while managing complex cases. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in public law, working with vulnerable clients and contributing to groundbreaking legal precedents. With a strong focus on training and development, you'll thrive in an inclusive environment that values your expertise and fosters professional growth. Embrace the chance to be part of an award-winning firm that champions equality and excellence.

Qualifications

• Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying.
• 5+ years of experience in Public Law work.
• Strong management and client care skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise Solicitors and Trainee Solicitors.
• Prepare and manage funding applications to the Legal Aid Agency.
• Assist with delivery of training and development in the department.

Skills

Public Law Expertise

Management Skills

Client Care Skills

Analytical Skills

Networking Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Business Development

Education

Qualified Solicitor

5+ Years PQE

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Public Law Solicitor Director - 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.

Choosing a career with Duncan Lewis is choosing a law firm that is the largest provider of publicly funded (legal aid) legal services in the country and has a growing private client practice. We have been Investors in People Gold Standard accredited for over 15 years and are continuously applauded nationally for the work that we do.

Having demonstrated unparalleled legal expertise and a commitment to justice, we were awarded Law Firm of the Year at both the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards. We are named as one of the Times 200 Best Law Firms. In 2021 we were celebrated by the Chambers Europe Award as an 'outstanding firm' for diversity and inclusion. In previous years we have been awarded a number of awards, including the Law Society Excellence Award for Large Law Firm of the Year in 2020, Access to Justice at the UK Legal Diversity Awards in 2019 and the Family Law Firm of the Year at the 2015 Family Law Awards, to name just a few. Duncan Lewis is Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 Information Management accredited.

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.

Public Law Department Background:

Our Public Law team is applauded by the Legal 500 UK directory has a "dynamic team", who are "exceptional in ability and reach". Ranked and recommended for its excellence in Public Law UK-wide, the department undertakes both publicly (legal aid) and privately funded work and has experience in all aspects of civil liberties and judicial review claimant matters against the Home Office, HMRC, local authority, NHS including obtaining emergency orders and other interim relief to prevent human rights violations. The department regularly follow up judicial reviews with actions for damages in both the County and High Courts and successfully pursue matters to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The firm's flagship judicial review claimant practice sees it represent clients including the vulnerable and marginalized, and its immigration offering is strengthened by collaboration with its expanding international presence challenging UK government practices abroad.

As a large and well-established firm, we are well known to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), the Courts, and the Government Legal Department (GLD). The quality of our work is repeatedly demonstrated by our high success rates. Our lawyers are award winning and many of our cases, which are recorded in the reported case journals, raise new and important issues, and create legal precedents for the future. We also collaborate with other firms on funding and case management issues, and have a close working relationship with a number of barristers' chambers with relevant expertise in public law.

The quality of our work is repeatedly demonstrated by our high success rates. Our lawyers are award winning and many of our cases, which are recorded in the reported case journals, raise new and important issues, and create legal precedents for the future. We also collaborate with other firms on funding and case management issues, and have a close working relationship with a number of barristers' chambers with relevant expertise in public law.

Main Responsibilities of the Role:

• Report directly to and collaborating with the Board to ensure performance targets are met
• Responsible for all aspects of Public 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 Law work including: Unlawful detention; False imprisonment; Abuse by detention staff and removal escorts; Conditions in detention; Age assessments; Asylum support; Challenging non-appealable decisions; Challenging removal notices; NHS & Local Authority challenges; Policies, practices and decisions made by the Immigration and Asylum Tribunals (First-tier Tribunal / Upper Tribunal) ; Bail decisions
• Preparing and managing funding applications to the Legal Aid Agency
• Preparing draft documents including witness statements and processing evidence
• Preparing applications (incl drafting application forms, index of documents and letters of representations)
• Attending conferences and court
• 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:

• 5 Years+ PQE
• Must have a clean, valid Practicing Certificate at the time of applying
• 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 client matters in a sensitive manner to deal with vulnerable clients and resolve complicated practicalities involved in Public Law issues
• Excellent networking and communication skills with the ability to successfully market the Company and generate new business
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to use own initiative and sound judgment
• Working knowledge of the Legal Aid Guidance for Public Law matters and have the ability to service privately funded cases
• Have extensive experience in dealing with all Public Law related work
• 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. For information on employee benefits and reward, please refer to careers page on our website.

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. If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please visit our website and apply using our online process for your application to be considered.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THE ABOVE VACANCY