A solicitor who started her legal career as a 16-year-old trainee and studied for her qualifications while raising two daughters as a single mum has achieved a lifelong ambition by moving her own law firm into its first permanent home.
Kerry Dundas, founder of Newcastle-under-Lyme-based Dundas Law, relocated the residential conveyancing practice into its own premises in Hanover Street on 2 November, exactly six years after launching the business.
The milestone marks the latest chapter in a legal career spanning almost four decades and one which began at Grindeys Solicitors in 1988 through a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) straight from school.
After more than a decade working in conveyancing, Kerry was given the opportunity to train as a solicitor while continuing to work full-time.
The six-year journey involved attending Staffordshire University two evenings a week for four years before completing her solicitors’ examinations through day release, all while balancing the demands of family life.
Kerry said: “My youngest daughter Emily was just nine months old when I started my law degree. Looking back, juggling full-time work, university and being a mum was certainly challenging, but I was determined to succeed.
“Having our own building has always been something I wanted to achieve.
“It was important to me that Dundas Law had its own identity and permanent presence within the town. I have invested a considerable amount into our new offices and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.”
Kerry’s determination paid off when she qualified as a solicitor in May 2006, a milestone she describes as one of her proudest achievements.
Following the financial crisis in 2008 and the resulting downturn in the property market, Kerry temporarily stepped away from conveyancing and joined bet365 before returning to the profession with BE Legal in Burton upon Trent.
She later joined Myers & Co in Burslem, where she became a director and spent several successful years helping to grow the firm.
However, during the Covid pandemic, Kerry began thinking seriously about establishing her own practice.
She launched Dundas Law in November 2020 and initially operated the business from home before relocating to offices at The Old Police Station on Water Street.
Today, the firm employs a close-knit team of four, including conveyancer Emma Gibson, conveyancing assistants Jessica Urwin and Eloise Laidlaw, and Kerry herself.
The business also has a unique family connection. Jessica is Kerry’s daughter, while Eloise is the daughter of Emma, who Kerry first met while working at Grindeys more than 30 years ago.
Despite the firm’s success, Kerry says she has no ambitions to build a large practice.
She added: “For me, this move is not about becoming a bigger firm. It is about building on what we have already achieved and ensuring Dundas Law remains a friendly, approachable and trusted local conveyancing practice for many years to come.”
Well done Kerry, really pleased to read of your continued success. Your commitment to your clients through thick and thin is a shining example of what can be achieved from a humble background with hard work and dedication, aided of course by your fantastic team.