All, with an emphasis on Housing, Debt and Employment in rotation
Reports to
Senior Solicitor
Location
Chesterfield
Grade/Salary
£19,992
Hours
35 hours per week
We are a registered charity and company limited by guarantee and are run as a not-for-profit agency. Our purpose is to provide access to justice for disadvantaged communities through the provision of specialist, accessible free and low cost legal advice and representation to individuals and groups in Derbyshire. The Law Centre specialises in Housing, Debt, Employment, Immigration and Discrimination law. We do not represent landlords, employers or creditors. We are the only Legal Aid Contract holders in Derbyshire for Housing and Debt, and Discrimination. We also have a number of funded projects at any one time, covering such areas as homeless prevention, employment rights, women and families with precarious immigration status, rights of EU citizens, for example. Our main office is in Chesterfield, but we offer appointments in several locations around the county. Our communities can be isolated and rural as well as ex-mining villages and industrial towns. Parts of Derbyshire are recorded as being of high economic deprivation.
Organisation Detail
We seek to work collaboratively with partners, rather than in competition and concentrate on those areas of work and communities where social exclusion is likely and access to justice difficult to obtain. We currently employ 28 members of staff, made up of 4 solicitors, a CILEX member, experienced caseworkers, paralegals, co-ordinators, admin support and a volunteer telephone assessment team. We operate a flat management structure, where team work, enthusiasm and consensus are critical to ensure our success. The Law Centre is overseen by a Management Committee, elected by the membership from the community, partner organisations and local authority funders.
The post holder will be provided with training, guidance and experience necessary to enable development of key skills to become a solicitor.
The post holder will provide legal advice, information and representation to individuals and groups across the catchment area of the Law Centre. The work will be at a level suited to the post holder's particular abilities, experience and knowledge.
The post holder will specialise in agreed areas of law to include Housing, Debt and Employment Law as required.
However, in line with the other team members, the post holder will be flexible and prepared to take on work in other areas of law should the need and opportunity arise.
Hours and Place of Work
The post holder will be based at the main premises in Chesterfield or at any other Law Centre premises within the catchment area.
The post is full time (35 hours pw).
Responsible to
The post holder will be responsible to the Law Centre's Workers’ Group, working as a collective with responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Law Centre. The Workers’ Group is responsible to the management committee of the Law Centre. The post holder will work under the supervision of the senior solicitor and training principal, with day to day supervision by an Area of Law Supervisor for the unit in which the post holder is working.
Main Duties of the Post
To provide initial legal advice by telephone, in writing and in person on a wide range of legal issues as required.
To provide specialist legal services in agreed areas of law including interviewing and advising clients, researching the law, drafting, advocacy and negotiation, and representation in specified areas of law.
To participate in specialist area of law units including planning work around that area of law, accepting supervision of casework and undertaking training including completion of Law Society’s Professional Skills course.
To undertake post holder's own administration including maintaining adequate case records, maintaining a training record, dealing with legal aid issues and word processing.
To supervise, train and support volunteers as appropriate.
To provide talks and training to groups as appropriate.
To attend and participate in meetings as required, including Unit meetings, Workers’ Group, management committee and other relevant internal and external events.
To comply with DLC approved policies and procedures.
To undertake any other duties as agreed between the post holder and Workers’ Group or management committee.
Person Specification
Essential
Law Degree or equivalent
Successful completion of Law Society Legal Practice Course
Good academic knowledge of the law
Commitment to undertake further training to qualify as a solicitor
Be prepared to be flexible about work areas
Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice.
Self-motivated
Commitment to and understanding of Law Centre's aims
Honest and reliable
Able to maintain confidentiality
Demonstrable interest in social justice and social welfare law
Good communication skills
Ability to work with and advise the public by phone, in person and in writing
Ability to analyse problems and advise on a range of solutions in specialist areas of law.
Ability to present legal issues in a clear and easily understandable way
Ability to organise and undertake own administration
Ability to work as part of team
Computer literacy
Desirable
Recent work experience of advising on issues relating to social welfare law
Knowledge of legal aid system
Understanding of issues affecting not for profit agencies
Ability to organise a caseload
Prepared to work some unsocial hours
Able to drive or organise own transport around the catchment area
