Legal Jobs

Role and Responsibilities

We are looking to recruit a law graduate (1-3 years post-graduation) with experience in environmental law, economic justice and/or international development to join our small but dynamic team. Depending on experience, the role will support our programmes challenging economic injustice caused by environmental damage, biodiversity loss, deforestation, illegal resource trafficking, climate change and conflicts over natural resources; promoting transparency and accountability in public and private institutions to encourage responsibility and minimise the impacts of corruption; and promoting fairer and more effective economic and fiscal policy tools to help states meet development goals and enhance the rule of law. A more detailed explanation of our work is set out in our 2024-2026 Strategy.

Working as part of a small, busy team, you will have the opportunity to learn at very close hand what it means to work for an international NGO focusing on achieving environmental and economic justice. You will develop projects with a range of partners, including international agencies, NGOs and CSOs, and governments and government bodies. You will collaborate with a range of volunteer lawyers (law firms and barristers chambers) who are leading experts in their field. The role will also involve project management, assistance with fundraising, fulfilling compliance obligations, and evaluating and learning from projects.

Key Competencies:
• Relevant experience and knowledge (either from previous work experience or study) relating to environmental law and policy and/or economic justice in an international development context;
• A law graduate with a good understanding of how law is useful to achieving reform on the above;
• Demonstrable understanding (either from previous work experience or study) of key issues in sustainable international development, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
• Experience in developing countries and transitional economies;
• Ability to develop and manage relationships with a range of stakeholders, including donors, NGOs, civil society organisations and government representatives, on an international basis;
• Familiarity with, or understanding and enthusiasm for the concept and practice of, pro bono legal assistance;
• Demonstrable project management skills and experience, including administration and coordination;
• Ability to work on a wide range of tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent research skills to effectively convey research findings;
• Comfortable working independently and proactively and as part of a small team with a busy caseload;
• Strong interpersonal and team working skills;
• Some experience or demonstrable ability in donor management, including managing existing relationships, meeting donor reporting requirements and in raising funds for future projects and activities (desirable);
• Working knowledge of another language used in Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America such as French, Portuguese, Kiswahili or Spanish (desirable).

Key Responsibilities:
1. Work closely with the Senior Legal Managers and/or Legal Manager to deliver and implement the programme strategy, in conjunction with the Executive Director, partners, staff and Board;
2. Assist in developing an understanding of the most effective policy tools and legal interventions to deliver the programme objectives, through engagement with volunteer lawyers, ILP partners, staff, Board and others;
3. Support the building and maintenance of ILP’s programme(s). This includes:
• Liaising with partners to identify legal/policy needs and offer potential legal and/or policy reform solutions, including through conducting legal analysis;
• Assisting the programme lead(s) to build a pipeline of relevant projects and cases, including through engaging in outreach to potential pro bono partners;
• Supporting programme staff to network and build relationships with volunteer lawyers who have relevant technical expertise;
• Mapping and developing relationships with regional and international development entities and other technical assistance providers to identify potential partners, needs and focus countries;
• Representing the programme(s) in external fora and events;
4. Assist with ensuring effective project delivery and evaluation of impact including:
• Coordinating project implementation through the full project cycle;
• Supporting the preparation of financial and narrative reports for donors;
• Maintaining strong programme management and knowledge management systems and processes;
5. Support fundraising activities to support both the programme(s) and organisational overheads, including exploring opportunities for potential funding and assisting with funding applications;
6. Share in the necessary operational activities of the organisation. This includes some administration and contributions to website and social media communications.

Key details about the position:
• Location:Flexible for the right candidate including those outside the UK. Office premises are located in central London, with hybrid working (approx. 2 days per week in the office) if London-based.
• Visa sponsorship: we are open to sponsoring a UK visa application for an exceptional candidate.
• Travel: candidates must be willing and able to travel internationally, including fulfilling vaccination and other requirements.
• Our genuine support for diversity and disabilities is illustrated by our current team.

Join the highly successful and award winning Independent Society of Musicians

Central London – Legal Officer

Permanent and Full Time – between £31k and £33k depending on experience

The award-winning ISM is the UK’s professional membership body for musicians. We are now looking for a highly effective Legal Officer to provide a wide range of advice to ISM members on matters such as unpaid fees, employment, freelance issues and basic contractual matters. Our new Legal Officer will also prepare advice materials for members and keep the legal sections of the ISM website up to date.

The ISM has seen considerable growth in recent years, with a current membership of over 11,000 professional musicians. The ISM is known for its excellent services such as legal advice as well as campaigning and professional development.

This job is for someone who can demonstrate knowledge of the law and/or experience of providing legal advice. You will be a committed and proactive individual who has good interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. We are looking for a good team player with excellent written skills and great attention to detail as well as wanting to solve problems for members. An interest in the arts and music in particular would be advantageous.

You will be joining a professional staff team who are based in Bayswater, London. The role is permanent with at least three days a week in the office.

For a full job description for this role please visit the ISM website. 

To apply please send a full CV and covering letter saying why you are right the person for the job.

Closing date is Sunday 21 July at 9.00am. Interviews will take place face-to-face and applications generated by AI will not be considered.

Youth Futures Foundation is the What Works Centre for youth employment. We exist to address the significant disparities in youth employment for marginalised groups. We want to ensure that all young people can access and keep good quality jobs.

The role of Legal Assistant reports to the Director of Legal & Governance and you will assist them in ensuring the legal function of the organisation runs efficiently and smoothly by providing a range of support, including preparing various legal documents such as grants and service agreements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal and legal requirements and working closely with colleagues across the organisation.

You will contribute to the smooth functioning of legal processes and ensure that colleagues and external stakeholders receive an efficient service.

This role is fixed term for 12 months, part time at 22.5 hours per week and can be based at any of our hubs in Leeds, London or Birmingham. We offer flexible working and consider alternative patterns of work.

The young people we aim to serve – and the challenges they face - are all unique. We are looking to build a team that reflects this diversity. Our commitment to inclusion across race, gender, age, class, religion, identity, and experience forms the cornerstone of our work. We are an equal opportunities, Living Wage and Disability Confident employer and encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds representative of our communities.  We offer a welcoming and inclusive workplace, where employees are encouraged to have a voice.

Legal Officer

Full time and permanent from London office

Salary: £39,520 full time and permanent from London office

Benefits: 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), generous workplace pension, wellbeing support, resources for learning & development, and we can offer a modest relocation fund.

Join us: You’re curious about how technologies affect power and shape the future. You’re an advocate who wants to speak out for change with a voice that is both nuanced and engaging. You want to help build an organisation that is always learning. You want to cooperate closely with colleagues and partners across the world on a tapestry of topics, developing and sharing diverse skillsets along the way. You’re keen to explore new multidisciplinary and resourceful methods to achieve meaningful change.

Working together: You’ll join an organisation of 25+ people in our Central London office from diverse backgrounds, collaborating, building and learning together. We are delivering our multi-year strategic plan to protect democracy and civic spaces from authoritarian technologies, defend people’s dignity as they seek access and protection, challenge companies who profit from exploitation, and hold governments accountable for the extraordinary powers they amass. We engage stakeholders, institutions, and adversaries with tact and persistence. We target systems-level change and establish safeguards for people across the world so that freedom and privacy will be the foundations of tomorrow’s societies.

ABOUT THIS ROLE
What you’ll be doing
The Legal Officer will conduct advocacy to achieve PI’s goals. This will include legal, policy, research, outreach and public engagement initiatives as PI formulates new and creative ways to demand change globally, including working with our partners across the world.

Essential Requirements:
Experiences
•  Experience working with international human rights standards and/or national rights frameworks.
•  Law degree or equivalent postgraduate diploma in any jurisdiction.
•  Admitted/qualified to practice in any jurisdiction.
•  Experience in a legal role post admission/qualification.
•  Understanding of and experience working within a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
•  Experience taking creative approaches to novel legal challenges.
•  Experience in NGOs/human rights organisations or working with national and/or international human rights bodies and mechanisms.
•  Knowledge of legal issues related to data and privacy, including data protection, or the legal concerns raised by techniques such as the use of artificial intelligence, automated decision-making and profiling.
•  Experience mitigating legal risks faced by organisations.
•  Passion for technology and its interaction with human rights.
•  Proven track record of communicating complex issues to diverse audiences.
•  Experience in engaging in strategic advocacy regarding conduct of state or non-state actors.
•  Experience in designing and delivering learning and education activities and content, i.e. trainings, workshops, etc.
Skills
•  Ability to work with and manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.
•  Proactive and self-motivated, capable of working unsupervised and taking responsibility for managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders, and adversaries.
•  Capable to deliver projects, working collaboratively through delegation and coordination, and incorporate critical reflections into future planning.
•  Thoughtful interpersonal skills for engaging with colleagues and stakeholders from experientially, demographically, cognitively, and culturally diverse backgrounds.
•  Demonstrable excellent written and oral communication skills, with attention to detail and audiences.
Desirable experience and skills
•  Knowledge of and experience advocating for the protection of social, economic and cultural rights.
•  Record of stakeholder engagement, promoting or enabling meaningful participation of communities and civil society in advocacy.
•  Deft at speaking publicly, including with the media and at conferences and high-level stakeholder meetings.
•  Experience in identifying, researching, monitoring and documenting technologies and technology-related policies and practices of state actors, companies, and other third-parties.
•  Willing and able to travel internationally.
•  Fluency in a language other than English, with one of the other 5 UN languages (Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic and Chinese) an asset.

HOW TO APPLY
We want to encourage applicants with diverse experiences, backgrounds and talents. And you might be reading this page and thinking ‘they won’t want someone with my unusual background’. Well, you’d be wrong. Each of us here have followed our unique paths. PI is built on genuine diversity, and we would encourage you to apply if you think you can meet the criteria of the role based on your life experiences
To apply please send:
•  a CV (not more than two pages)
•  a covering letter (not more than two pages)

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 14 July 2024 at 11:59pm GMT.

Please send the requested material in one email. Only complete applications will be considered.
The candidates who we choose to interview will be contacted by the end of the day on Wednesday, 17 July 2024.
Interviews will take place between 22 and 29 July – please reserve these days for a possible interview, which can be arranged in person or as a video conference.
We may conduct a second round of interviews, which will be decided only after the first round of interviews takes place.
For information about how Privacy International will use your data during recruitment please see our policy on our website.

About Us

London Legal Support Trust’s mission is to help free legal advice providers in London and the South East be more resilient and sustainable. Through grants, advice and infrastructure development, we help to ensure they can continue providing vital and life-changing legal advice to people who otherwise could not afford to defend their rights.

Access to justice is a fundamental right; without it people are at risk in almost every aspect of their lives, from employment to housing and everything in between. We exist to ensure that everyone has access to appropriate legal support when they most need it – and that lack of financial means is not a barrier. 

Our partners, the legal advice centres, help thousands of people every year to access justice and to have their voices heard.

• We support law centres and other legal advice agencies in London and the South East by providing them with grant funding alongside other forms of support.
• We offer our knowledge and experience of the sector to help legal advice agencies become more sustainable.
• We work in partnership with other grant-making bodies to get vital funds out to charities and civil society organisations, to help people that face challenges such as lack of food, isolation, debt, homelessness, domestic violence and mental ill-health. 

We raise funds for this work, predominantly through mass-participation fundraising events. Our biggest event, The London Legal Walk, is the biggest event fundraiser in the legal calendar. In 2023, over 16,000 people took part from across London’s legal sector – from judges and barristers to law firms, law students, legal advice providers and other supporters – to raise over £900,000 for free advice services in London.

About the role

We are recruiting a Programmes Manager to work across projects in our Sector Support programme. Working closely with the Head of Sector Support and Grants, they will manage relationships with beneficiaries and partners, coordinating monitoring and evaluation, and ongoing development of grants programmes. We strive to operate in alignment with IVAR Open and Trusting Grantmaking commitments.

This is an opportunity for you to use your excellent project management skills to build relationships with delivery partners; organisations who work on the frontline of social welfare legal advice.

Working in an energetic, friendly and busy team, you will be able to make a significant and positive contribution from the start. We are a small organisation making huge strides in our mission for making access to justice available to more people in need.

About you

We are looking for a proactive and motivated person – an enthusiastic Programmes Manager who can help deliver an ambitious sector support and grants programme in support of a vital cause. 

A clear communicator, you will have a passion for social justice and enjoy engaging and working constructively with a wide range of external agencies, partners, and community groups to achieve positive outcomes.

Utilising your strong organisational skills to develop and manage projects, you will relish the opportunity to work within the small LLST team to help develop practical and strategic support offers for free legal advice agencies.

Benefits

• 25 day of annual leave (pro-rata for part time) plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time). Allowance increases due to years of service to 27 days for 2+ years, 29 days for 4+ years and 31 for 6+ years.
• 5% Employer pension contribution
• Hybrid working
• Flexible working options
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Continuing professional development opportunities

We are open to flexible working and part-time options for the right candidates, including job shares if the right mix of experience can be found.

How to apply:

To apply for this role, click the ‘quick apply’ button and submit a copy of your CV with a covering letter of no more than two pages of A4, describing how you meet the requirements of the role and the criteria outlined in the person specification. Please read the Recruitment Pack for full details before applying.

Recruitment timeline:

Closing date: 9am, Monday 15 July 2024

Interviews: Week commencing 22nd July

The successful appointment is subject to satisfactory written references.

We seek candidates to join our expanding Law Centre team which is dedicated to providing access to justice for people affected by poverty and social inequity in South London.

Our team is very diverse in terms of cultural diversity and lived experience, the roles combine office-based (Elephant and Castle, Southwark, London) and remote working, and we offer staff a range of competitive benefits.

We value diversity and warmly encourage applications from disabled and LGBTQIA+ people, candidates who share lived experiences with our service users, and people from Black, Asian and ethnically minoritised communities.

Housing Solicitor

Closing date for applications 23:59 hours on 10th July 2024

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

To apply visit our website to download a recruitment pack 

The successful candidate must:

• 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

Are you considering entering a career in law, having a strong passion for social justice? We are recruiting a Legal Assistant to provide administrative and legal support to PILC’s Gypsy and Traveller Legal Advice project which aims to defend and promote the rights of gypsies and travellers to pursue a nomadic way of life. You will assist our Supervising Solicitor, an expert in gypsy and traveller law, who has represented this underprivileged community over the last 15 years. As well as working on client files, you will liaise with the Legal Aid Agency to ensure their cases receive public funding, making sure documentation is prepared for court hearings, and arranging for experts and other participants to take part in proceedings.  

Ideally you will be available to join us from the beginning of September to benefit from a full introduction by the incumbent.

Since becoming independent in 2019, PILC has gone from strength to strength by carefully expanding our strategic priorities and project areas. Our team is growing and currently made up of 17 staff working from our modern offices in Cambridge Heath, E2.

Legal Support Coordinator

Our client seeks to recruit a Legal Support Coordinator to support clients facing complex additional vulnerabilities and communication problems. This role is a great opportunity to learn from accomplished professionals and legal practitioners: and is open to a wide variety of candidates who have the core skills required, from those looking for a career change to law graduates seeking experience.

Their vision:

Our client was founded in partnership with, and for the benefit of, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. They believe in a world where everyone is included and afforded respect, dignity and justice. There must be no exceptions on account of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexuality, social background – or indeed anything else. They believe that this full inclusion is possible for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and they look forward to being part of a society where this is realised.

Summary of role – purpose and duties:

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have some of the poorest outcomes out of any ethnic groups in the UK (House of Commons, 2019). Their communities face multi-faceted barriers to accessing services, advice and legal representation. To that end, they are recruiting an Advocacy and Legal Referrals Coordinator to:

- Work within a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team to empower and meet the needs of clients.
- Referring vulnerable clients to trusted law firms where needed and supporting them through their legal case.
- Undertaking direct advocacy on behalf of vulnerable clients, on issues such as housing,debt, ombudsman appeals, DVLA and benefits appeals.
- Empower clients to engage with other third sector advice organisations, such as their local law centre and Citizens Advice Bureaux.
- Work with our Service Manager to develop bespoke advocacy pathways for victims of Domestic Abuse.

Person specification:

The successful candidate will be committed to achieving excellent outcomes for clients and be aligned with the vision and values of the charity. They will be warm and compassionate, yet also able to demonstrate healthy boundaries and professionalism. Crucially, they will be able to demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication, in addition to sound critical thinking and IT skills. They will have resilience – and a sense of humour is also a must!
Please note that we celebrate potential as much as experience.

Working with them:

They believe their team are their greatest asset, placing a premium on staff welfare and providing staff excellent professional development opportunities for people to take forward in their careers. Everyone demonstrates a personal commitment to serving others and working towards their vision. They are a relaxed and collaborative team, with a big sense of humour.

Start date: ASAP

Location: Hybrid with some home working. Office at Badgemore Park, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. Some visits to clients throughout parts of Southern England.
Job type: Part time, 0.4fte, 16 hours p.w.
Accountable to: Head of Advocacy and Legal Affairs
Salary: £11,456 p.a. (£28,643 fte.)
Benefits: pension scheme; personal training budget; generous paid holiday equivalent to 7 weeks plus p.a. bank holidays.

Please note they will be interviewing on a rolling basis, so it is advisable to submit your application as soon as you are able.

Applicants must have use of own car and a valid UK driving license.

They recognise it has no greater responsibility than to safeguard the children and vulnerable adults that it works with. Recruitment processes will include a DBS check.

You may have experience of the following: Paralegal, Advocate, CAB Advisor, Housing Officer, PALS, Benefits Advisor, Advice, ISVA, IDVA, Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, Third Sector, Public Sector, Homelessness, Safeguarding, Healthcare, Education, Not for Profit, Care Coordinator, Charities, Volunteer Officer, Education Officer, Support Worker, Legal Assistant, Legal Executive, Law Graduate, Law Student, Ombudsman, Complaints.

REF-214 685

Are you an experienced administrator with a knowledge of wills and legacy gifts, who is passionate about animal welfare?
We’re looking for a Legacy Administrator to join our Legal team, to ensure that Dogs Trust is processing gifts efficiently, playing a crucial role in the administration of this important income.

About this job:
As Legacy Administrator, you’ll:

• be the first point of contact for the Legal team, representing the charity in communications with legal professionals and the public,
• manage your own caseload of legacies, maintaining relationships with legal professionals, members of the public, and other beneficiaries to ensure income is processed swiftly,
• support with the administration of legacy data, from handling post to ensuring information is recorded accurately in the database.

About you:
To be successful in this role, you’ll need strong administration skills, with the ability to manage a varied and busy workload effectively. You’ll also need excellent communication skills, from drafting written correspondence to interacting with the public on the phone, ideally you'll have experience of having sensitive conversations as you’ll be in regular contact with bereaved family members. Attention to detail is also an essential part of this role, as well as a knowledge of Wills, Probate and Trust law. A commitment to the aims and objectives of Dogs Trust is essential.

About Dogs Trust:
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you complete an application form and a covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role. Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable interest, so to avoid disappointment early application is encouraged.

Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust.  We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Civitas Recruitment are excited to be partnering with a great legal charity dedicated to the promotion of access to justice, upholding the rule of law and ensuring fair systems. The charity exists to ensure that state decision-making is fair and lawful, and that each person has the power to hold public bodies to account. The charity represents, and supports people marginalised through poverty, discrimination, or disadvantage when they have been affected by unlawful state decision-making.An exciting opportunity exists for a Casework Paralegal to join the team. As a Casework Paralegal, you will be playing a key role in the team that is currently running the main challenge to the Rwanda policy. You will be supervised by on one of the charities Lead Lawyers and have the opportunity to develop your skills as a public law caseworker. This is a full-time, permanent role, working in Central London with flexible working options available.

Who are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will have either an undergraduate law degree or substantial and relevant sector experience. Experience of working in a legal practice including experience in billing, completing legal aid forms and using the LAA CCMS is essential for this role. You will have excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing priorities effectively. Good oral and written communication skills with attention to detail is also essential for the role and your approach to work will be collegiate. You will take an interest in public law and be able to follow complex discussion around policy and be able to gather and summarise information.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged.

Prospectus is delighted to be working with Cochrane who use research to enhance healthcare knowledge and influence better medical decisions. Whether you are a clinician, patient or carer, researcher, or policymaker, for the last 30 years, their evidence has provided a powerful tool to enhance your healthcare knowledge and decision-making. They are now currently looking to recruit for a new Junior Legal Officer.
 
In this position, you will support the Legal Counsel in providing legal advice to colleagues across the organisation, to enable them to manage risk and meet their legal and regulatory obligations. Duties will include reviewing and improving the Legal Team’s processes and ways of working, creating and maintaining legal policies and ensuring processes and guidance are fit for purpose. You will also be tasked with drafting, reviewing and negotiating a range of contracts and providing in-house training to colleagues across the wider organisation.
 
To be considered for this role you will be a qualified solicitor with some post qualification experience or be a paralegal/legal assistant with experience in a comparable role. You will have expertise in contracts law in one or more of the following areas: intellectual property, data protection, publishing, technology and ideally have worked within the charity/not-for-profit sector. Finally, the right candidate will have strong communication and organisational skills and a keen attention to detail.
 
Please note, this is a part-time role, 30 hours per week (can be spread over 4 or 5 days). This role is fully remote, with occasional travel to their London based office.
 
As a specialist Recruitment Practice, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Are you a Solicitor with experience of housing and homelessness law? If so then consider a move to Shelter you could soon be making a real difference to people affected by the housing emergency.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

About The Team

The Advice team at our Plymouth Hub delivers legal aid funded and non-legal aid funded work throughout Devon and Cornwall. Also based at the Hub are members of our Lived Experience team, who deliver a range of activities with the aim of ensuring the views and experiences of individuals with lived experience of bad housing or homelessness informs all of Shelter’s work and a Community Organiser who works with the local community to fight the housing emergency. People are at the heart of the services we offer and, in order to keep growing and evolving to suit the communities we work with and bring about real change, we need to understand what really matters for people.

Our Legal Service provides specialist legal knowledge across Shelter through four teams covering Community Legal advice, Strategic Litigation, the National Legal Team and Legal Support Team. You will be part of our Community Legal Team, who are based across our 11 hub locations and work alongside hub colleagues every day to fight housing injustice and deliver systemic change relating to housing practice in our local communities.

About the role

Using your legal expertise, you will play a key role in tackling housing in justice and unfair housing practices. You will be working under our Legal Aid contract, delivering legal advice and representing tenants at court where needed. Delivering systemic change through legal challenge to prevent homeless will also be a considerable part of the role.

About You

Qualified as a Solicitor, you will have a strong knowledge of housing law and be used to managing your own caseload. You have strong skills in advocacy, litigation, and file reviews. If you meet the Supervisor status for legal aid purposes that would be preferable but isn’t essential, as is experience of working under a legal aid contract.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Home is everything. We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Join us in ending the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and our communities.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Recruitment Agencies

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Dear Candidate, 
Thank you for your interest in the solicitor role at the Black Equity Organisation. 
The role will be a stimulating and inspiring opportunity for an experienced equality and discrimination lawyer to work pro actively and strategically to use the law as a tool for change. 

BEO is a civil rights charity that was set up to challenge and dismantle systemic racism. We work with Black communities by using campaigning, policy and research in conjunction with the law to effect meaningful change. 
Legal services are central to BEO. We are therefore looking for someone of 4yrs PQE who has experience in social welfare, human rights, public and administration law and who seeks an opportunity to use those skills specifically in the area of challenging systemic racism. 

In the last year we have been developing our relationships with partner organisations, ranging from community groups, our stakeholder law firms, NGOs and law firms experienced in equality and discrimination law, to deliver legal services. The role holder will be required to build on and expand these relationships so that BEO can offer quality legal advice to Back communities in the nations and regions across the United Kingdom. 
We are building our internal legal team so that we can provide targeted legal support to Black communities. We are looking for someone to work with the Director of Legal Services and Policy to ensure that high quality legal advice, support and representation are the hallmark of BEO. 

Apart from delivering targeted legal advice and representation and identifying and running strategic litigation cases, the role holder will be required to think creatively to assist in fundraising and campaigning to develop a sustainable legal service. BEO does not have a Legal Aid Agency contract so self funds all legal work. BEO is a small team, so the role holder must have the skills and confidence to work on their own initiative as well as with members of other teams in BEO. 

About You-
We are looking for someone who is excited about being part of a team that will build a legal service and who can work with Black communities and be guided by them. 
You will also be able to demonstrate that you are aware that Black communities are not homogeneous and you will bring this understanding to the way that you approach your work and interact with clients, our partners and community organisations. 

Your qualities will include an understanding that intersectionality is relevant in all that we do at BEO and that your assessment of how we use the law will be seen through that lens. 

You will be someone who has lived experience of or insight and comprehension of the impact of racism on all aspects of the lives of members of Black communities. 

In return we offer flexible, hybrid working from day one, a 5% employer pension contribution, a generous leave, maternity and parental leave package together with a strong focus on wellbeing and the chance to be part of the task of dismantling structural racism

If this sounds like you, please do click apply!. 

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.