Job title: Duty Solicitor
Job type: Permanent
Industry: Legal
Sub-Functional Expertise: Duty Solicitor
Salary type: Annual
Salary: GBP £55,000.00
Location: London, UK
Job published: 2026-10-01
Job ID: 69953
Contact name: David Hawthorne-Finch
Phone number: +443339962882
Contact email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com

Job Description

Qualified Duty Solicitor

Location: London

Salary: c.£45,000 – £60,000+ DOE/PQE

Lucrative Out-of-Hours Rates & Hybrid Flexibility

 

Are you an accredited Duty Solicitor looking to elevate your advocacy career within a top-tier, Legal 500-ranked criminal defence practice across London? Our client is a premier, well-established law firm with an outstanding reputation for handling complex, high-profile criminal matters across multiple Central London locations. Experiencing sustained expansion, they are seeking a driven Duty Solicitor (1+ PQE) to manage a diverse criminal caseload, deliver robust representation, and step into a transparent progression pathway with exceptional financial rewards.

 

The Opportunity

In this key fee-earning position, you will join an elite, highly collaborative criminal defence department representing clients across the full spectrum of criminal offences. Managing matters from initial police station detention through to Magistrates' Court trial representation and Crown Court preparation, you will deliver strategic legal advice to individuals facing serious allegations. Designed for a practitioner committed to justice and legal aid advocacy, this role offers direct exposure to high-value instructions, generous rota enhancements, modern hybrid flexibility, and structured support to obtain Higher Rights of Audience (HRA).

 

Key Responsibilities & Requirements

  • Qualifications & Accreditation: Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) holding active Law Society Criminal Litigation Accreditation / Duty Solicitor Status (essential).

  • Experience Level: Minimum 1+ years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) managing a busy criminal defence caseload within a reputable UK private practice.

  • Police Station & Rota Work: Extensive experience conducting police station attendances under PACE procedures, advising clients during interviews under caution, and actively participating in local police station and court duty rotas.

  • Court Advocacy & Litigation: Confident advocacy skills in Magistrates' Courts, combined with meticulous case preparation, witness drafting, and brief preparation for Counsel in complex Crown Court trials (Higher Rights of Audience is highly desirable).

  • Client Care & Resilience: Outstanding interpersonal skills with the resilience to provide empathetic, clear, and decisive legal representation to vulnerable clients under high-pressure conditions.

 

Package & Working Structure

  • Competitive Remuneration: £45,000 – £60,000 base salary per annum (commensurate with PQE, court experience, and HRA status).

  • Enhanced Financial Rewards: Highly lucrative performance bonus scheme alongside enhanced out-of-hours rates for police station duty rotas.

  • Agile Working: Flexible working arrangements supported by modern, well-connected office locations across Central London with hybrid options.

  • Comprehensive Benefits: Workplace pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance plus bank holidays, payment of professional membership fees (SRA, Law Society Panel renewals), and full CPD funding.

  • Career Trajectory: Meritocratic progression pathways to Senior Associate and Partner roles, alongside fully funded training for Higher Rights of Audience.

  • Culture & Wellbeing: Supportive, inclusive working environment with regular team-building events, firmwide socials, and dedicated peer support.

 

How to Apply

To discuss this position in complete confidence or request a full position profile, please contact David Hawthorne-Finch directly:

  • Email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com

 

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy. All applications and enquiries are treated with the strictest confidence, and candidate details are never shared without prior express consent.