Legal Jobs

Housing Solicitor

Closing date for applications 23:59 hours on 9th June 2024

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum (depending on experience)

To apply visit our website

• Be a qualified as a Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales)
• Have a current practising certificate and at least 2 years’ post qualification experience in housing law
• Be qualified as a Housing Legal Aid Supervisor or able to meet the Supervisor Standard within a period acceptable to the Legal Aid Agency and Cambridge House

Please go to our website and download a recruitment pack for full instructions of how to apply 

Crisis Navigator

Closing date for applications 23:59 hours on 9th June 2024

Salary: Up to £37,300 per annum (depending on experience)

To apply visit our wesbite for application instructions

The successful candidate must:

• Be a qualified as a Solicitor (England & Wales)
• Have at least 3 years’ experience and expert knowledge of specialist welfare benefits casework
• Be able to:

- support complex cases requiring representation at Appeals Court or Tribunals

- develop and deliver outreach activities to increase the reach of the service

Key Details

Salary: £49,500 per annum with generous benefits including 25 days annual holiday plus public holidays, enhanced pension contribution, private medical health insurance, life assurance and flexible/hybrid working.

Hours: 35 per week over 5 days. 

Contract type: This is a full time, permanent role. 

Location: Hybrid working with options for flexibility to work from home - the postholder will be expected to work from our central London office regularly, 2-3 days per week. 

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Campaigns, and working closely with your fellow Campaigns Managers and the wider campaigns team and legal teams, we are looking for someone to design, develop and run impactful and engaging legal campaigns at Good Law Project. 

This is an ideal opportunity for an individual with a passion for the work of Good Law Project who wants to use their campaigning background to help increase our impact, our income and our supporter growth and engagement throughout our legal campaigns. We have ambitious goals and are looking for somebody who brings determination, and the ability to design and deliver legal campaigns in a dynamic and fast paced environment. The role will require enthusiasm, flexibility and the ability to think creatively and strategically. 

We recognise that experience and skills can be gained in a variety of ways including through your lived experience, personal life and interests as well as professional career experience. We welcome applications which meet the person specification through any of these - including from candidates who have experience campaign marketing or communications, and across private and not-for-profit sectors.

What we’re looking for

• Experience of managing campaigns and contributing to the development of campaign strategies.
• The ability to apply political knowledge to develop effective campaign approaches and tactics.
• Experience of developing and implementing digital campaign strategies that have helped secure change and/or raised income.
• Experience of evaluating campaign performance and impact.
• The ability to work positively and collaboratively in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Proven ability to lead project teams.

What We Do

• Good Law Project is a not-for-profit campaign organisation which uses the law to hold power to account, protect the environment and ensure no one is left behind.

• We had a primary role in overturning the prorogation of Parliament in 2019. We successfully challenged the Government’s operation of a fast track ‘VIP lane’ for awarding lucrative PPE contracts to those with political connections and our campaigning played a key role in the Met Police opening an investigation into Boris  Johnson over the Partygate scandal. In July 2023, we forced the Government to accept that its flagship Net Zero strategy is unlawful and to develop a better plan.

• Our close-knit team of staff work across three core areas: campaigning, legal and operations. We are nimble and reactive to external events which means Good Law Project suits people who thrive in a fast-paced, at times quite pressured environment. You must share our passion for upholding democracy, protecting the environment and ensuring no one is left behind. Our culture is one of openness and innovation which encourages all staff to pitch ideas and influence the organisation’s direction. We are brave, honest and decisive – those are Good Law Project’s values. We recognise the value of our employees, individually and collectively, and are committed to investing in their welfare and development.

• In August 2022 we established an independent SRA-regulated law firm in London, Good Law Practice, to support and develop our work. 

• See our website for more information. 

Further Information / How to Apply

To view the full job description, personal specification, interview stages, Good Law Project values, our structure chart and to apply for this role - click on "Apply via Website".

Contact

If you have any questions about this role, please click "Apply via Website" to view our contact details.

We are looking for an energetic Immigration Adviser (OISC L1 essential, L2 desirable) for an exciting position providing immigration advice to individuals in Asylum Support hotels in Islington.

The project is delivered through funding from Islington Local Authority and will will include advice and casework for residents of two Asylum Support hotels in the borough. The project was initially funded to respond to an urgent need for specialist legal advice to assist with asylum questionnaires and has since expanded to support with a range of different advice issues including reinstatement of asylum claims, Asylum Support challenges and appeals work. 

The ideal candidate will have an in-depth knowledge of the issues faced by migrants at risk and refugees/asylum seekers. They will have a good understanding of the challenges faced by those navigating the UK asylum system. They will have experience and a commitment to supporting migrants at risk in need of immigration advice. They will be able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a range of stakeholders. 

Praxis is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity supporting migrants in crisis or at-risk, ensuring that their essential human needs are met and that they are able to overcome the barriers they face. We work to build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy and improve services. We played a leading role in exposing the Windrush scandal and advocate and campaign for lasting changes to policy and practice to address the root causes of the issues faced by at-risk migrants.

We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status. 

Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes  

• Opportunities for flexible working arrangements 

• A hybrid work model  

• 25 days annual leave (pro rata), increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays)  

• You can buy up to 3 days annual leave each year  

• A defined contribution pension scheme  

• Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7.  

• A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute  

If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Recruitment team who will contact you to discuss how we can help. 

For further details, please contact Daniel Ashwell.

Please see our website to find out more about our work. 

To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the job description marked ‘A’. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted. Applications will only be accepted with a cover letter. 

Please note that this advert is being posted at the same time as another part time Immigration Advisor role (Immigration Advisor – Asylum Support hotels), if you would like to apply for both roles as a full-time post then this will be considered and we would welcome you doing so. If you do wish to do so, please submit one application as detailed above and state clearly that you are applying for both posts, explaining how you meet each person specification. You do not need to submit two separate applications.

Deadline: 16/05/2024

As Prince’s Trust International transitions to The King’s Trust International and expands its reach, we have an exciting opportunity that will be pivotal in strengthening the legal, governance and assurance function for the charity.

You will be working closely with our Head of Legal & Company Secretary and lead on complex, challenging and meaningful projects worldwide. You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or paralegal with post qualification legal experience gained in house or in a proactive private practice environment that you will utilise to help the charity to boost its income, including through a newly established trading subsidiary, and to support young people through programmes delivered in over 18 countries.

Proactive and solutions-focused, your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will enable you to build effective trusted relationships and influence at all levels. You will need to be well-versed in most areas of charity and commercial law, adept at providing legal advice and assistance and able to undertake company secretarial and legal compliance matters. Flexible, you will be able quickly to expand your knowledge and experience in new areas as part of an ambitious and agile team. In addition, your excellent planning and organisation skills will enable you to prioritise and multitask as you work at the heart of the organisation’s governance, improving processes and achieving positive change.

Springfield Advice & Law Centre is a community based legal practice and a registered charity. We were formed in 1982 when we were set up to serve the mental health community.  We are based mainly on the site of Springfield University Hospital Mental Health NHS Trust.  Springfield Law Centre is unique as a working model of a health justice partnership.

We are seeking a for a new Director & Head of Legal Practice to take forward this unique, niche Law Centre.  There is an opportunity for expanding the work of the Law Centre and showcasing the worth of health justice partnerships.We are looking for an energetic and compassionate lawyer with a broad experience of either housing or community care casework and representation, who is capable of being a legal aid category supervisor in either area, who has the confidence to lead the team and to develop it so that we can continue to make a real difference within the community.

Qualifications and experience

1. 5 years’ PQE qualified lawyer, with demonstrable experience of management at a senior level.
2. Ability to meet the supervisor for the Legal Aid Agency contract in either housing or community care.
3. A track record of implementing and managing change. 
4. A track record of leading and motivating others demonstrating strong people skills.
5. A track record of innovation and problem solving.
6. Appropriate skills and experience that demonstrate an ability and commitment to manage staff effectively. This should include support, supervision, and appraisal and performance management.
7. Appropriate skills and experience to effectively handle and manage complaints.
8. Experience of managing a Legal Aid Agency Contract and Legal Help matters, with billing targets.
9. Ability to bill all types of legally-aided work and to report to the Legal Aid Agency.
10. Ability to manage a varied caseload of sufficient, appropriate matters to meet the billing target in place.
11. Ability to draft appropriate documentation in your specialist area of law.
12. Experience of giving successful training or talks, for example giving presentations, or
13. representing clients before Courts or Tribunals.
14. Skills
15. Ability to take an active role in, leading the direction of the Law Centre, developing new strategies and raising profile.
16. Ability to manage the Lexcel Quality Mark and ensure that systems and standards are maintained across the organisation so that audits are passed.
17. Ability to understand the financial viability of the Law Centre.
18. Ability to report effectively to funders and to monitor progress against grant funded projects.
19. Commitment to equality and diversity as set out in the principles and policies of the Law Centre.
20. Ability to be self-servicing: you will be expected to manage most of your own typing, filing and billing of Legal Help/Aid cases to comply with LAA requirements.
21. Ability to prioritise your workload with minimum supervision.
22. Excellent communication skills: you must be able to relate well to colleagues, clients and third parties, in person, in writing and on the telephone, despite the pressures of the role.
23. You must be very well organised, with excellent ICT skills, in order to work well under pressure without compromising standards.
24. Ability to work flexibly and outside regular office hours including attending and reporting to the trustees on the progress of the Law Centre.

Consideration will be given to requests for flexible or family friendly hours of work to include job share, part time working or specific proposals. The Management Committee consider the range and number of duties to be a full-time role and that any reduction from a full-time role will result in a division of duties to accommodate all aspects of the Law Centre’s needs and aspirations.

Could you be our new Duty Scheme Legal Advisor? You will play a pivotal role in supporting ASAP’s duty scheme at the First Tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) which offers vital, free legal representation for people seeking asylum who need access to justice after being wrongly refused Home Office housing or financial support. 

The Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) is a small national charity which was set up in 2003 to reduce the destitution of people seeking asylum by protecting their legal rights to food and shelter. ASAP delivers three strands of work:

• We offer free, high-quality legal representation at the Asylum Support Tribunal (AST) to people appealing against Home Office decisions to refuse or discontinue their support

• We provide asylum support advice and training to hundreds of frontline organisations, advice agencies and legal practitioners working with people seeking asylum each year. We operate an advice line and online forum (Asylum Support Advice Network -ASAN) for over 1000 members

• We use our strong evidence base to improve policies and procedures on asylum support through closely linked policy work and strategic litigation

Alongside this, we run a women’s project, to ensure we offer a gender sensitive service to destitute women seeking asylum, to train women’s organisations in asylum support law, and to progress policy work for women seeking asylum, currently focused on access to support for those experiencing domestic abuse

We are looking for someone who is committed to access to justice for people refused housing and financial support from the Home Office. You will assist with the day to day running of the duty scheme, ensuring it offers a quality service to appellants and referrers. You will support our volunteer advocates (volunteer solicitors and barristers) to provide high quality legal representation and advice. You will be legally-minded with a strong interest in asylum support and have the ability, after induction and with ongoing supervision from our Head of Legal, to provide advice and legal representation to appellants at the asylum support Tribunal (AST) and answer calls on our advice line. You will feed in to our wider work on asylum support policy and strategic litigation, working collaboratively with colleagues in the policy team to ensure they are kept up to date with issues arising out of appeals.

This is a new, full-time position. Our offices are in East London, near the AST. Under our hybrid working policy, full-time staff work from our offices for a minimum of 2 days per week.

Job Title: Finance and Operations Manager

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week (however, we will consider part-time 28 hours per week)

Salary: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum 

Location: The successful candidate will either be posted at our office in London or Colchester: Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ or Colchester Wellington House, 4th Floor, 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA

About Coram

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

One of the nine members of the Coram group, Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) is the UK’s specialist centre for children’s rights in education, immigration, community care and family law, and provides significant international legal systems consultancy. The centre is located on the Coram Campus in central London with bases in Colchester and Leeds. We champion access to justice through information and advice, legal practice and representation, policy and strategic litigation. Our Legal Practice Unit provides advice and representation primarily under legal aid contract. Our Migrant Children’s Project promotes the rights of refugee and migrant children, young people and families through the delivery of advice, practice change through training and capacity building to professionals and systems change through research, policy and advocacy.

About the role

This role will provide financial and operational leadership and management for CCLC particularly focussed on the Legal Practice Unit and the Migrant Children’s Project but with support for the Child Law Advice Service and Coram International where required. Managing a small finance team, the role will hold primary responsibility for core financial functions within CCLC including legal aid billing and management and tracking of grant and other charitable funding. Through systematic and efficient financial management, the post holder will play a pivotal role in CCLC’s financial sustainability. The role will act as a key point of contact with Coram’s central finance team and a range of internal and external stakeholders on financial matters.

The role will also oversee the smooth running of the London and Colchester offices through line management of operations and administrative staff.

The role would suit a high organised and efficient business support professional with experience of financial management within the legal or charity sector. In particular, candidates with experience of legal billing and more specifically, civil legal aid billing, would be welcomed.

This is a largely office-based role in order to fully provide support to the finance and operations team. However, some remote / hybrid working may be possible depending the experience of the candidate after the initial settling in period (to be negotiated with the successful candidate).The finance team are split between the London and Colchester offices and the post holder should expect some travel to both locations. The large majority of the legal and policy team are based in London and as such regular (at least twice weekly) presence in our London office will be expected. However, on other days the candidate could be based in the London or Colchester office.

Whilst this is a full-time position, we will consider requests for part-time working (28 hours per week minimum) and we will endeavour to offer some flexibility with days and hours to be agreed.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing date: Monday 13th May 2024 at 23:59

Test and Interview date: Week commencing 20th May 2024

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

About RLS 

RLS is a UK charity and a non-profit company in Greece (AMKE). 

Refugee Legal Support works in solidarity with people who migrate. We operate in the UK, France and Greece, promoting and protecting rights through legal support, casework, litigation, engagement, training and partnerships. We advocate for safe migration and oppose discriminatory immigration systems and policies.

RLS has held a legal aid contract in the UK since 2023. 

About the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI)

The Afghan Pro Bono Initiative is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 14 leading commercial law firms. It is a project delivered in partnership with SPI. 

Firm pro bono lawyers are trained and supervised by the project’s two full-time supervising lawyers so that they can then assist with legal casework.

APBI has two core components. The team delivers legal information and support to and within the Afghan community, working together with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to ensure wide access. While the project also provides high quality legal representation in a range of cases for this community. This includes family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others. 

APBI then aims to respond to the increased need for legal information, advice and representation of Afghan nationals and their family members forced to seek protection and reunion with family in the United Kingdom following the Taliban takeover. The project is now going into its 3rd year, and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023. 

The casework of this project feeds into strategic research, policy and advocacy efforts to make existing ‘safe’ routes to protection (in particular refugee family reunion and resettlement schemes) more accessible and effective, advocate for their expansion and defend the fundamental rights of people on the move by influencing policy and decision making. 

Litigation arising out of the project is actively pursued (where eligible) under RLS’s legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices. 

RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services. 

Key responsibilities and objectives

The post holder will be a staff member of Refugee Legal Support. They will be a participant within the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative project team, which comprises two lawyers (the other being at SPI), a coordinator and a Community Engagement and Research Lead in addition to the volunteer lawyers from the individual commercial firm partners. 
 

Key responsibilities

• Manage a small caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients;

• Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases;

• Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers;

• Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording; 

• Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners;

• Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes;

• Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director, Programmes Manager and Coordinator to ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s;

• Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator and Programmes Manager to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs;

• Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework;

• Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation; 

• Be an active and collaborative member of the APBI Project team together with the other Lawyer/s, Coordinator and Community Engagement and Research Lead;

• Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies;

• Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR;

• Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. 

Person Specification

Essential

• Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3;

• Experience of asylum casework;

• Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions;

• Experience of online immigration applications; 

• Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications; 

• Demonstrable supervision experience; 

• Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases;

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English;

• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines;

• Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability;

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders;

• Computer literacy;

• Right to reside and work in the UK;

• Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy;

• Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees; 

• Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS.

• The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role. 

Desirable

• Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourable considered;

• Experience of legal aid casework; 

• Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation; 

• Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting;

• Experience of preparing and delivering training;

• Interest in collaborating with non-legal colleagues to bring about systemic change;

• Working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto.

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN LEGAL SUPPORT CENTRE 

ELSC is an initiative of the Palestinian NGO Network, comprising 200 Palestinian civil society organisations, developed in response to the widespread repression in Europe of advocacy for Palestinian rights. Founded in January 2019, we provide free legal advice and assistance to individuals who face unjust smears, disciplinary investigations, criminal sanctions and other repressive measures aimed at shrinking the space for Palestinian rights advocacy in mainland Europe and Britain. Some of our public legal wins in Britain of the past four years can be read here: https://elsc.support/our-work-in-the-uk. 

We are “movement lawyers”. In every case we take on, we are accountable not only to the individual client but also to our civil society partners in Britain; and we work hand in hand with local stakeholders in the movement, from trade unions to civil liberties groups.  We aim to defend and empower the movement to organise for justice without fear of repression.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The Associate Solicitor will lead our legal team in Britain and oversee our cases in England and Wales. 

The role requires a qualified solicitor with experience of running litigious cases. Our main practice areas in Britain are: (i) public law and human rights; (ii) employment and discrimination and (iii) defamation law. The post-holder will have particular expertise in one of these areas. Our cases also involve data rights, freedom of information, criminal law, actions against the police, charity law, education law, international humanitarian law, and immigration issues. 

The post holder will manage a growing team that consists of a Legal Officer and a Junior Legal Officer. In addition, our country teams have advocacy and communication officers and researchers who monitor anti-Palestinian racism.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee all litigious and advisory casework in Britain alongside our junior legal staff and legal network. Provide expert legal advice and representation, to individual clients and movement partners.

• Manage our legal officers, providing training and feedback to them as appropriate. Collaborate closely with our legal network of solicitors and counsel with the goal of strengthening the wider movement. 

• ​​Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal network, national partners and experts. 

• Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.

• Support ELSC’s outreach and public engagement initiatives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Required experience, knowledge and skills

• 3 years + post-qualified experience (PQE) and admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales.

• Experience leading on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in public, employment and/or defamation law. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format. 

• An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives. Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics and civil society organisations.

• Excellent client care skills, particularly in relation to vulnerable or marginalised clients.

• Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationship with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.

• High level of English-language proficiency.

• Commitment to the Palestinian liberation and solidarity movement.

Desirable experience, skills and knowledge

• Dual-qualified in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland.

• Ideal candidate will already have LAA Supervisor status or meet the requirements to do so

• Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.

• Experience with management and organisational development. 

• Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

• Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC aims and objectives 

• Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. 

• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required. 

• Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements.

• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff, and projects.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, or social class. We particularly welcome applications from Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora. 

ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.

About us: 

The Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL) is one of the largest immigration and asylum advice charities in the UK, supporting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to access justice. An OISC level 3 accredited organisation, we represent clients at all stages of the immigration and asylum process, up to and including the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

We also actively campaign for a fairer and more humane immigration system. RAMFEL caseworkers therefore have the opportunity to work on systemic and strategic challenges and support broader advocacy work.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the impact of UK immigration policy and/or of rough sleeping.

Purpose of the role: 

The purpose of the role is to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The focus of the legal work is on non-legal aid funded matters, supporting people who otherwise have no access to legal advice and support. There will be particular focus on working with people who are facing a crisis, providing legal representation and support that will take them out of destitution.

This is a vacant position being filled as a replacement. The role gives an opportunity to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The focus of the role is on supporting people who otherwise have no access to legal advice and support. 

We will primarily consider applications with relevant legal experience. Qualifications needed are OISC level 2/3 or Solicitor with IAAS accreditation.

Relationships: This post will report to the Rough Sleeping Casework Manager

Contract duration: Fixed term until 31 March 2025

Hours of work: The role is primarily a full-time position, requiring 37.5 hours per week. However, for the right candidate, we may consider accommodating part-time working hours. Given the nature of RAMFEL’s work, there may be instances where the Supervisor will need to exceed the standard hours. In such cases, compensatory time off can be arranged with the line manager

Specific Responsibilities

Case management 

1. Manage own caseload, working to advance the best interests of the client
2. Adhere to standards set out by OISC/SRA and AQS to deliver high-quality advice
3. Provide representation and advice up to OISC level 2/3.
4. Engage with the Line Manager to create and follow a training plan to ensure compliance with OISC CPD, keeping up to date with changes in law, policy and guidance to ensure clients receive accurate and high-quality advice
5. Liaise directly with the UKVI and related governmental agencies
6. Complete forms, letters and immigration applications
7. Liaise with and refer clients to Legal Aid Solicitors or other advisers, as appropriate
8. Manage clients’ expectations by discussing deadlines, outcomes and timing 
9. Deliver legal advice outreach surgeries/drop in as and when required 
10. Progress cases in a timely manner in line with regulatory requirements.
11. Implement organisational priorities into day-to-day casework.

Person Specification 

Education/qualifications

• Ideally candidates must be Solicitors with IAAS Level 2 with at least 1-year immigration experience or OISC level 2/3 qualified
• If OISC level 1, the candidate will be expected to initially work under supervision completing level 2 work and qualifying at level 2 within 6 months. (Training is provided and study leave is accommodated.) Upon obtaining a higher level of accreditation, the candidate’s salary will increase in line with RAMFEL pay scales.
• IAAS level 2 caseworkers (non-solicitor) will be considered but if appointed must be prepared to work under supervision and qualify at level 1 within 6 months. (Training is provided and study leave is accommodated) Upon obtaining a higher level of accreditation, the candidate’s salary will increase in line with RAMFEL pay scales.

Experience/knowledge

•  Experience in providing high-quality advice and representation to clients
•  A good understanding of law and policy as it relates to immigration and asylum 
• Experience in professional, independent, and impartial service delivery to the public 
• Experience in maintaining a caseload of cases in line with OISC requirements in relation to the conduct of cases, file management and supervision
• Knowledge of and empathy with the backgrounds and experiences of asylum seekers, rough sleepers and vulnerable migrants
• Experience in using client databases
• Experience working with interpreters supporting clients with complex matters

• Salary: £34,650 - £42,500 gross per annum at 1.0 FTE

• Working pattern: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs per week), or 0.9 or 0.8 FTE. Flexible working requests will be considered.

• Contract: 1 x permanent with a 6 months probationary period and 2 x fixed-term for 12 months

• Team: UK Legal Team

• Location: This role can be hybrid, or office based. At a minimum, candidates will be required to work from the London office at least 2 days a week, as well as be able to attend ad hoc events and away days in person.

• Reporting to: Head of UK Legal

Safe Passage International (SPI) is recruiting three Immigration Lawyers and/or Immigration Caseworker Supervisors (one permanent, two fixed-term) to join our UK Legal Team. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced and motivated individuals to join the UK Legal and Arrivals Team in its invaluable and ground-breaking work to ensure that safe routes to sanctuary exist and are accessible for all people seeking asylum.

As an Immigration Lawyer/ Immigration Caseworker Supervisor in the UK Legal Team, you will run a caseload of complex family reunion entry clearance applications and appeals, you will also supervise cases of colleagues and pro bono solicitors and volunteers, if appropriate. You will be supported by colleagues in the UK Legal team and work in close collaboration with colleagues in SPI France and Greece as well as with professionals in relevant external organisations.

You will be determined and committed to delivery high quality legal casework supporting asylum seeking children to reunite with family members in the UK. You will be attentive to detail, flexible, efficient and able to work independently and under supervision as part of a small and dynamic team. You will be eager to contribute to the overall missions and values of Safe Passage International and to work collaboratively with other teams in this international and multi-disciplinary organisation.

We value equity and diversity in our organisation, and are striving to build a workforce reflective of the communities we work with. We encourage applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, faiths, disabilities, and marital or pregnancy status. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for good immigration casework experience, as detailed in the Person Specification. Experience in a similar role is welcome, but this could also be your first paid position in the charity sector, or you could be returning to work after time out. This position will have a dedicated training budget and you will be supported to grow and develop within your role.

As a refugee charity, we offer a guaranteed interview for people with direct lived experience of seeking asylum who meet most of the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. If you have first-hand experience of applying for asylum in any country, please let us know in your application.

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to.

If you are excited by this role and working at Safe Passage but do not have all the experience you think is needed, please visit the job advert on our wesbite for contact details. 

How do I apply?

For more information on how to apply, please visit our website to reqad the Job Description & Person Specification alongside the How to Apply Guide.

Closing date: Sunday 26th May at 11.59 pm.

The post holder will be flexible and skilled, with an essential interest in and experience of working with migrant and refugee clients, many of whom have additional complex needs. You will work closely with our immigration caseworker manager to provide one-to-one specialist immigration advice and casework to migrant and refugee clients in Brighton & Hove and across East and West Sussex in the areas of immigration & asylum up to OISC L2. We actively welcome applications from those with lived and relevant experience – please see the job description and person specification.

We are currently the only free, Level 2-accredited, year-round provider of out-of-scope immigration advice on the South Coast, and increasing local immigration capacity is critical to address growing demand and changing demographics in the region. Our current core caseload is largely non-EEA nationals whose immigration cases are out of scope of legal aid. However we are also seeing and will continue to see new arrivals and emerging needs in the region including Afghans resettled under the ARAP and ACRS schemes, Sudanese evacuees, EEA nationals who still have not registered for pre-settled or settled status, and an increasing number of both newly arrived and established asylum seekers placed in emergency (‘contingency’) and dispersal Home Office accommodation.

The balance of time spent between different client groups and cases will therefore need to be responsive to the changes we see in the city and region. Many of our clients also have complex additional needs including health and homelessness and the post holder will be expected to liaise closely with our generalist caseworkers and external providers to ensure that people’s holistic needs are met.

You will work as part of a small, supportive advice and casework team that also includes two generalist advice caseworkers, an employability caseworker, a groupwork facilitator and four dedicated resettlement caseworkers who are supporting newly resettled refugee families mainly from Syria and Afghanistan.

Regular supervision and support and in-house and on-the-job training will be provided, as well as external training on specific issues where needed. However you will need to be ready to step immediately into a busy advice environment with the necessary confidence, skills and knowledge to begin to deliver advice and casework and pick up an existing caseload.

Ideally you will already be OISC L2-accredited, but if only L1-accredited you must be willing to work towards accreditation within the 6-month probationary period.

Postholders will need to have the right to work in the UK.

JUSTICE is looking for an outstanding criminal lawyer, for a full-time fixed term 12-month contract, with the possibility of renewal, subject to funding. This provides an exciting opportunity for a practising lawyer with a strong research background or academic lawyers keen to engage in high-level policy and law reform work.

We are looking for a lawyer mainly interested in criminal justice, as well as in cross-cutting issues affecting the functioning of the justice system (current cross-cutting projects include work on the state of the rule of law in the UK and AI, human rights, and the law).

JUSTICE is at the forefront of work promoting access to a fair criminal justice system for all. The successful candidate will be building on our recent work on racial injustice in the youth criminal justice system and post-conviction decision making, including the parole system and administrative decision-making in prisons, as well as our cross-cutting workstream on the state of the rule of law in the UK. They will also be scoping and setting up a new criminal justice project relating to fraud.

We would like to recruit a bright, motivated person who is passionate about criminal justice system reform, and the promotion of access to justice and fair trial. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team. With excellent interpersonal skills, they will be able to work closely with JUSTICE members, who include senior figures in the legal profession. The post holder will work with our Interim Legal Director to further develop our criminal justice work stream and assist on system-wide proposals for change. This role is focused primarily on England and Wales, though it will touch on UK wide issues and the Scottish criminal justice system from time-to-time.

The JUSTICE team are currently working in a hybrid manner. Staff members have access to office space in London, however, attendance is currently optional. Our staff enjoy flexible working conditions, 27 days annual leave, plus the week between Christmas and the New Year, 8% employer pension contribution and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

The application form and candidate pack are below. The candidate pack includes more information about this role including the person specification, the organisation and more details on how to apply. 

The deadline for applications is 11pm Sunday 12 May 2024. Please mark your email with ‘CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWYER’ in the subject line.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21 May 2024. Candidates may be required to complete a test as part of the interview process.

JUSTICE is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, but particularly welcome applications from individuals from marginalised groups, those with lived experience of the justice system, as well as those underrepresented in the legal professional including women, people of colour, trans and non-binary people, and disabled people.

Please note that we will not respond to any enquiries from recruitment agencies.