England and Wales Completed and passed (or expect to pass by 14 March 2024) the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or have an UG degree and completed and passed SQE Part 1.
Areas of Law
Public Law, Welfare Benefits, Human Rights
Location
30 Micawber Street, London, N1 7TB
Starting Salary and Hours
£32,264-£35,848 p.a. and 35 hours per week
Organisational Benefits
- 30 days a year annual leave (as well as 4 days during the Christmas/New Year period when the office closes down) - automatic enrolment into CPAG’s nominated Group Personal Pension Scheme - a range of leave entitlements for family and other reasons and other wellbeing benefits (full details are on the Job Pack on the CPAG website).
Interview Dates
Interview Date 1: Tuesday 23 January 2024 Interview Date 2: Wednesday 24 January 2024
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Organisation Detail
Child Poverty Action Group works on behalf of the more than one in four children in the UK growing up in poverty. It doesn’t have to be like this. We use our understanding of what causes poverty and the impact it has on children’s lives to campaign for policies that will prevent and solve poverty – for good. We provide training, advice and information to make sure hard-up families get the financial support they need. We also carry out high profile legal work to establish and protect families’ rights.
Any questions regarding this organisation or the position should be directed to recruitment@cpag.org.uk
Job Description
The Justice First Fellow (Trainee Solicitor) works under the supervision of CPAG’s Head of Strategic Litigation in our London office, with support from our Lawyer and our Welfare Rights team, to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to qualify as a social welfare solicitor.
The role provides a bespoke training opportunity to qualify as a specialist in the field of public and social security law, while working on complex and high-profile cases and developing skills in tribunal advocacy, training, direct and second-tier advice and writing for publication.
As a Justice First Fellow at CPAG, you will use litigation to challenge central government and other public bodies on social security and related income maintenance issues, by supporting CPAG’s test cases in the tribunals and courts.
What can a trainee expect by training at CPAG?
You will develop your legal skills in the areas of public law, discrimination, and human rights to support and promote our aims to end and eradicate child poverty, in addition to building an expert understanding of social security law.
You will gain experience of working on publicly funded judicial review litigation under CPAG’s public law legal aid contract as well as advising your own clients at pre-action stages. There is also an opportunity to work on CPAG’s Upper Tribunal project, run by an experienced welfare rights adviser, providing advice/assistance and potentially representation on social security cases in the Upper Tribunal.
The case load, in terms of number of cases and the complexity of the issues they raise, is a heavy one given the small size of the legal team. You will also undertake non-contentious work by responding to requests for legal advice from our advice line, analysing legislative changes and proposals and contributing to publications and training on social security issues. You will develop an access to justice project that fits with CPAG’s strategic objectives, to help low-income families.
You will be supported throughout the duration of your Fellowship to ensure breadth and quality in your training, whilst helping you build your own networks across the sector, with a view to ensuring you are well placed to advance your career in social welfare law by the end of the two years.
Main Responsibilities & Duties
Job purpose:
To successfully complete a training contract with CPAG in order to qualify as a solicitor, and in doing so enhance our capacity to bring test cases that promote the rights of families with children in poverty.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
To assist in the conduct of CPAG’s social security and public law test cases under the supervision of CPAG’s Head of Strategic Litigation and Lawyer.
To maintain cases to standards required by CPAG, the Legal Aid Agency and the Specialist Quality Mark (the assurance standard held by CPAG).
To undertake all necessary training to meet the requirements of the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority.
To keep up to date with current legislation, case law and policy in relation to public law, social security law and human rights/discrimination law.
To contribute to CPAG’s welfare rights, social policy and campaign work.
To assist with the provision of training to advisers (eg judicial review training).
To contribute towards CPAG’s welfare rights publications and website, as required.
To be self-servicing, including maintaining accurate and up to date case records and time-recording.
To develop an access to justice project that will be determined and developed jointly with CPAG during the period of the two-year contract, and which will advance access to justice and improve the lives of families with children in poverty.
To ensure compliance with all CPAG’s policies and code of conduct, with specific attention to Diversity and Equality.
To take on any other reasonable tasks which contribute to achievement of the job purpose and the aims of CPAG.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest or social welfare law.
Completed and passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or a degree-level in any subject and successful completion of Part 1 of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:
Ability to develop legal research skills to a high standard.
Willingness to think in strategic and creative ways.
Ability to communicate complex legal issues in a clear and professional way and desire to further develop skills in this area.
Good organisational skills, including the ability to manage time efficiently, to prioritise effectively, and to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
Ability to pay close attention to detail.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, as well as independently.
Computer literate and a willingness to use and to develop skills in the use of technology.
Personal qualities:
Commitment to CPAG’s aims and objectives
Commitment to CPAG’s Diversity & Equalities policy
Other Contractual Requirements:
Ability to spend occasional nights away from home on business
Desirable
Experience:
Experience of giving advice or working in an advice provision setting.
Experience working with low-income or less privileged communities and/or an understanding of issues affecting the lives of people in poverty, including understanding obtained through lived experience.
Experience of writing for publication or blogging.
Experience of delivering training.
Experience of setting up or running a project.
Skills/ Abilities/ Knowledge:
Knowledge or experience of social security law and policy.
Knowledge of and interest in public law and human rights.
