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“I have been really enjoying my experience as part of the Public Law team within Duncan Lewis Solicitors. Thanks to Duncan Lewis and the Kickstart Scheme I have been working under solicitors doing very valuable work, helping vulnerable clients in dire circumstances and I find that to be very fulfilling. This being my first job after finishing university the hands on experience in dealing with clients matters have given me the opportunity to grow and learn in a way pure academic study could not.”

- Kickstart Scheme Candidate with Duncan Lewis Solicitors (June 2021)


At Duncan Lewis Solicitors, we know how difficult it can be for school leavers and recent graduates to gain exposure and experience within a leading Legal 500 ranked City law firm, this is why we have wholeheartedly embraced the Government Kickstart Scheme since signing up in January 2021. The scheme sees us offer six month job opportunities to 16-24 year olds (on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term employment) to assist our lawyers and support staff across all of our offices nationwide. We have been delighted with the successes that we have witnessed from the early cohorts of Kickstart participants; and as a result a number of these Kickstart participants have now been offered both legal / non-legal full-time positions and a pathway to a new and exciting career.

We have always been committed to create opportunities today for tomorrow’s lawyers. We take pride in the fact that we heavily invest in the training, learning and development of our employees to ensure that all personnel are competent to perform all tasks for which they are responsible and are developed in a manner that is appropriate for a forward thinking professional practice. Our development is evidenced by the fact that we are authorised by our regulator to register up to 180 trainee solicitors within any one training period and that many of our newly qualified solicitors are recognised industry-wide for their specialism– through awards, commendations and being ranked and recognised in legal directories. We are very proud that we have now been able to extend this support and nurture through to the Kickstart Scheme.


How did we begin?

Our application was approved in January 2021 and we began working with local Job Centre offices to recruit through the Kickstart Scheme from February 2021 in a number of key support roles across our offices, such as Legal Casework Assistant, Legal Content Writer and Cost Drafting Assistant. These roles would see the candidates working closely with their respective departmental directors and solicitor teams on a day to day basis. Each candidate is assigned with a supervisor, all of the candidates undergo a full induction programme before beginning their role and receive an extensive six month tailored training plan.

The aim of taking on the Kickstart Scheme has been to help individuals become more employable by developing and refining their key research, drafting, and communication skills. As part of the scheme, we offer each candidate guidance on (i) looking for long-term work, including career advice and setting goals; (ii) drafting/reviewing their CV and assisting with interview preparations; and (iii) developing their skills in the workplace. Also, by working with Duncan Lewis they learn how to operate in a paperless office and working within an environment that champions excellent client care, diversity and inclusion. At the end of the six months, the opportunity for a full time role at Duncan Lewis is available for the right candidates.

By April 2021, following feedback from our department directors on the calibre of the candidates taken on, as well as their willingness to get involved with the scheme and provide those candidates with work experience and support; Duncan Lewis was approved for an extension on the number of roles available with the company for Government Kickstart participants.


Success so far

Our embracement of the Kickstart Scheme has been a huge success and we are delighted to reveal that we have now begun to retain a number of the Kickstart participants with full time employment.

As a company that is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, we recognise that in order to best serve the clients and communities that we assist, a diverse workforce and a commitment to equal opportunities is paramount. In 2021 alone, our commitment to diversity and inclusion has been recognised and rewarded by the industry through a number of awards and accolades, including winning the award for Outstanding Firm for Diversity and Inclusion at the 2021 Chambers Europe Awards, and being ranked as the best firm for diversity & gender in The Lawyer’s UK Top 200.

The Kickstart Scheme offers Duncan Lewis Solicitors another excellent means to enable us to hire some of the best talent regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality, or background, and promote diversity and inclusion within the company and our wider communities.


Get involved

To get involved in the Kickstart Scheme please visit The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website or visit your local Job Centre.

Candidates can apply via their coach at the job centre to be considered for a position at Duncan Lewis Solicitors under the Kickstart Scheme.