DACB Reconnect (Career Returners)
Department: Business Services - People
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Location: Leeds
Description
Are you a qualified lawyer looking to return to practice after time away from the legal profession?
Whether your career break was to care for a loved one, pursue another career path, or simply take time away from law, returning can feel like a big step. Through our Reconnect Programme, DAC Beachcroft offers a structured, supportive route back into legal work.
Reconnect is our award-winning in-house returnship programme for lawyers who have taken a career break and are ready to rebuild their legal career in a commercial law firm environment.
About Reconnect
Reconnect is designed for qualified lawyers who have been away from legal practice for more than two years and are looking for a supported route back into the profession.
Successful candidates join DAC Beachcroft on a six-month paid returnship, with the opportunity to contribute to live client work while receiving structured support as they transition back into practice.
As part of the Reconnect Programme, you'll receive:
- A six-month paid placement within one of our legal teams
- Support from your supervisor and wider team
- A buddy for day-to-day questions and guidance
- Access to mentoring
- Specialist coaching through our partnership with Career Returners
- An environment to help you rebuild confidence, refresh your skills and re-establish your legal career
You will not be expected to return at full pace on day one. We know that coming back into practice can feel daunting, and we work with our teams to make sure expectations, support and development are clear from the outset.
At the end of your six-month placement, we'll review your experience, development and future career goals together, and where there is a mutual fit, explore opportunities for the next stage of your career with DAC Beachcroft.
Who we're looking for
Reconnect is aimed at qualified lawyers who:
- Have previously qualified and practised as a lawyer
- Have taken a break from legal practice of more than two years
- Are interested in returning to legal work within a commercial law firm environment
- Can bring relevant prior experience in one of our current practice areas, transferable skills and a willingness to learn
- Have good IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook
There is no upper limit on how long you may have been away from law. You may also have worked on a small-scale or self-employed basis to fit around your other commitments, or not have done any paid work for a number of years.
We are interested in understanding your previous experience, your reasons for returning, and the kind of work you are looking to do next.
How the process works
When you apply, our recruitment team will review your experience, career break and areas of interest. We will consider whether your background aligns with any current opportunities across DAC Beachcroft, or whether you may be suitable for future roles through our Reconnect talent pool.
If your application progresses, we may invite you to an initial conversation by video or telephone. This is an opportunity for us to learn more about your experience and career goals, and for you to ask questions about the programme.
Where there is a suitable opportunity, we will then explore potential matches further with our legal teams.
At DAC Beachcroft, we don't just accept your differences – we celebrate them. We are committed to attracting, retaining and developing people from diverse backgrounds, with a range of life experiences and perspectives. Your career break is part of that experience, not a gap to explain away. So if you're good at what you do, come as you are.
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need adjustments at any stage, please contact recruitment@dacbeachcroft.com in confidence. All applications are handled in the strictest confidence.
