Claire Ryan

I am a Solicitor and Supervisor in the Immigration and Public Law department at Duncan Lewis. I have a diverse caseload, which includes asylum, deportation, leave to remain applications and appeals.

I have significant experience representing vulnerable clients including unaccompanied asylum seeking children, victims of torture, domestic violence and trafficking. I frequently conduct advocacy and represent clients in the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration Asylum Chamber. I have successfully represented clients in a variety of asylum applications and appeals, with particular experience in asylum claims based on sexuality and gender based violence.

I represent individuals in detention and have been successful in securing release for many clients through temporary admission and bail. I also undertake judicial review and civil claims against the Home Office. I am particularly interested in claims for unlawful detention and have successfully negotiated awards of damages for clients detained under immigration powers.

I am accredited as a Supervisor and Level 2 Senior Caseworker under the Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme which means that I have demonstrated the required level of competency and knowledge in this area of law as defined by the Law Society. I also hold an enhanced DBS check.

University of London: MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration- due to complete in 2021
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) - Distinction
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) - Commendation
• University of Sussex: English Literature BA Hons: 2:1

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Supervisor) 2016-present
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors 2012-2016
• Admitted as a Solicitor in 2015

• "My experience with Duncan Lewis Solicitors has been great, I would like to thank Claire Ryan especially for all the good work she done and achieves on my behalf, I would recommend Duncan Lewis Solicitors to any person." - Client, 2019


• "You have been an amazing person who supported [client] throughout all this battle. It has been difficult for all of us but you remained calm and professional, always very positive though his case." - Friend of client, 2019

High Court

• LC, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWHC 1925 (Admin- Solicitor with conduct) - The case concerned the detention and deportation of an EEA national. The High Court held the Claimant had been unlawfully detained since April 2018.

Civil Court

• FS V London Borough of Croydon JR040272019 [2019] UKAITUR JR040272019 (22 November 2019) - Challenge to a Local Authority age assessment of an unaccompanied asylum seeking child. The Upper Tribunal found the Applicant was his claimed age.

• Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme: Level 2 (Senior) Caseworker
• Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme: Supervisor

• Gymnastics
• Rock climbing
• Running
• Cycling

• FS v London Borough of Croydon - Success in age-assessment judicial review (13 March 2020)
• Exclusive: first glimpse inside the First-tier Tribunal’s digital pilot appeals (Law Mostly) (28 October 2019)
• High Court grants permission in complex EEA unlawful detention claim (16 March 2018)