Claire Ryan

I am a Director in the Immigration department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I have a diverse caseload of immigration and public law cases. I supervise a team of caseworkers and trainee solicitors who are dedicated to providing quality representation to the most vulnerable in society.

I have significant experience representing 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.

Alongside my work at Duncan Lewis I completed a Masters in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration, focusing my dissertation on the United Kingdom's application of Article 1F of the Refugee Convention.

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 - Distinction
• 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 - Director: January 2022 - present
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Supervisor: 2016 - present
• Admitted as a Solicitor in 2015
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2012 - present

• "Claire has substantial ability and competence" - Legal 500 UK 2023


• ”Thank you, thank you so very much. I'm so very happy - I haven't been this happy in such a long time. Words can't quite express how grateful I am to you and your support all the way. I've been so lucky indeed to have a wonderful and brilliant solicitor like you” - Client, 2022


• "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

• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500 UK, (2024 - 2023)

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 [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

• Rock climbing
• Running
• Cycling
• Gymnastics

• Congratulations to Newly Promoted Immigration Director Claire Ryan (11 January 2022)
• 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)