Clan Childlaw

Organisation Detail

Representation

We deliver free, confidential legal advice and representation in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Glasgow. Our Care Leavers Law Service helps young people throughout Scotland. We help children and young people up to the age of 18, or 21 if they have been Looked After. Our Care Leavers Law Service and Street Legal projects assist young people up to the age of 25 who need help with housing and support after leaving care

Our lawyers are experienced child lawyers who only represent young people. We can meet you at a time and place that is good for you, where you feel comfortable.

Information

We provide free information and guidance about children’s rights and the law to family members, carers and adults who work with children or young people in Scotland.

Training

We provide training about children’s rights and the law which affects children and young people across Scotland.

Policy

We use what we learn from our legal work to identify how the law could work better for children and young people and we work to make changes to the law.

For further information, visit our website.

Any questions regarding this organisation or the position should be directed to mike.heffron@clanchildlaw.org

Job Description

You will be based in Edinburgh but travel is an essential part of the job and the applicant should be able to attend our Glasgow office and other locations throughout Scotland, and regularly work outwith contractual office hours to deliver outreach services, or as other business needs require. Flexible working and TOIL are available.

Membership of the PVG Scheme is essential for this role and the successful candidate will be required to apply for the scheme and produce an acceptable PVG Scheme Record.

Purpose of Job

• To work as part of the Legal Team to deliver legal information, outreach, advice and representation services within Clan Childlaw.
• To fulfil the obligations under your training contract and achieve competency in the Professional Education and Training Stage 2 outcomes.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver child-centred legal representation outreach services in Edinburgh, the Lothians, and Glasgow and surrounding areas and other locations throughout Scotland as required and provide a high standard of all legal services to clients of Clan Childlaw, including representation at Court (when appropriately qualified) and Children’s Hearings.
• Provide free legal information and guidance on the law affecting children and young people and on children’s rights (“Enquiries”).
• Work as part of the Legal Team, providing support and cover to others on the Legal Team as required.
• Responsible for your own client caseload including all administration, legal aid and feeing, carrying out and recording monthly file reviews and estimating value of Work In Progress.
• Perform all administrative tasks and functions in relation to your own client casework, as well as legal aid and assisting with all administration work of the representation team.
• Maintain awareness of developments in all relevant areas of law and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development. Plan arrange and record CPD in line with LSS requirements.
• Advance all the aims and objectives of Clan Childlaw.
• Represent Clan Childlaw at public forums and assist with the publicity and promotion of Clan Childlaw.
• Participate in and contribute a practice-based view in relation to learning and development and policy activities.
• Assist with delivery of learning and development events and activities as required.

Person Specification

You must be:

• a graduate in Scots Law who has or will have a Diploma in Legal Practice from a Scottish University before the start of the traineeship, obtained within the last 12 months.
• someone who finds it easy to make connections with and communicate with people, and has a real ability to communicate warmly, patiently, sensitively and in a child-friendly way, even when explaining complex legal facts and discussing difficult situations.
• someone adaptable who can improvise, think on their feet, and adjust to work in a way which accommodates those we represent and business needs.
• someone who will turn their hand to any jobs and types of work as required for services to run and is motivated by resolving problems and helping others achieve outcomes and goals.
• someone who can work independently, using their own initiative and judgement to make decisions about workload and priorities, and meet deadlines while under pressure. You must be comfortable doing urgent and ‘last minute’ work as this is often required.
• someone who is excited by and committed to the work of Clan Childlaw.
• someone with knowledge and understanding of the current issues involving children’s rights in Scotland.
• someone with experience of interacting successfully with children and young people, or with people experiencing social exclusion and presenting with multiple / complex needs.
• someone with understanding of the client group, local community and/or sector.