Did you know that over half the people living in poverty in the UK are either a disabled person or living with a disabled person? […]
Organisation Detail
Did you know that over half the people living in poverty in the UK are either a disabled person or living with a disabled person? It’s a shocking figure. Even worse, with the high costs of legal advice and the curtailment of legal aid, these people, who most need the ability to access justice, often find it hardest to achieve.
We are a unique national deaf and disabled people’s organisation that has been offering free legal advice and representation for disabled people and their carers since 1975. Providing advice in community care, employment, housing and welfare benefits, our purpose is to challenge the poverty and inequality disabled people face by securing access to legal rights and entitlement.
Our advice service is why we are here and is at the heart of what we do. But it is not all that we do. Our practical experience with our clients together with our legal expertise means that we are well placed to be involved in advocating for changes in laws and policies, whether at our own initiative or in support of other disability charities. A notable recent success saw over 40 local authorities changing their policies in relation to children with autism as a result of our challenge
We actively seek to increase the supply of lawyers working in our field and our staff team of 15 includes three solicitors who have trained and qualified with us. We are looking forward to adding to that number with a new Justice First Fellow. As a Disabled People’s Organisation, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled people.
For further information, visit our website.
Any questions regarding this organisation or the position should be directed to david@dls.org.uk
Job Description
Objectives of the position
To provide the Justice First Fellow (JFF) with the opportunity to develop, practise and gain experience in:
- communication skills
- practice support skills
- legal research
- drafting
- interviewing and advising
- negotiating
- advocacy and oral presentation skills
- dispute resolution
- case & transaction management
To gain training and experience in housing, community care and employment law, covering both contentious and non-contentious work.
For the Trainee Solicitor to work efficiently and effectively in the conduct of their responsibilities and duties.
Main Responsibilities and Duties
General
Report to the Head of the Legal Aid Practice (a senior solicitor).
To develop and maintain good client relation skills, gaining clients’ confidence and that of other professionals.
To work and behave in a professional manner and within the highest standards of the profession.
Comply with procedures set out in the office manual and all professional standards.
Carry out duties faithfully and diligently and follow all reasonable instructions.
Treat all information about DLS and its client as wholly confidential.
To anticipate and where appropriate respond to clients’ needs and demands.
To participate in the growth and development of DLS.
To keep up to date with developments in law and practice so that standards of work are not compromised.
Keep a proper record of all work done and training received.
Comply with all SRA requirements for trainee solicitors.
Contribute to DLS delivery of training to other service providers and agencies and assist in preparing training materials.
Represent DLS at relevant external forums. Contribute to DLS responses to public policy consultations as required.
Work within the provisions of DLS policies, including abiding by and implementing DLS’ equal opportunities, file management, Data Protection and health & safety policies.
Ensure effective management of allocated casework.
Ensure that all client contacts are recorded on the DLS AdvicePro client database.
Produce reports, as required to show the level, nature and volume of client contacts
Develop and maintain professional and supportive relationships with all DLS colleagues and any external stakeholders as required.
Carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the post as required from time.
Legal Aid Agency:
Ensure that the requirements of the Legal Aid Agency Specialist Quality Mark, the requirements of contractual arrangements with the Legal Aid Agency and DLS internal policy are followed in all work conducted.
Maintain up to date time recording at all times, using the agreed systems.
Assist with Legal Aid billing.
Special Duties:
To attend events organised by the Justice First Fellowship.
In consultation with us, and with our support, to devise and execute a project aimed at increasing access to justice in order to gain programme development experience and potentially to provide a future income stream for us.
We do have an idea for a possible project – although it is not a requirement that this be taken on by the JFF. The idea relates to our proprietary software for an online automated legal advice service. With funding from the Legal Education Foundation, we are working on using this software to produce a platform for advice on reasonable adjustments in the workplace under the Equality Act.
We wish to use the software to cover other areas of law. The JFF project could be to work with the software to produce a platform for another area of law. The software is easy to use and does not require specialist computing knowledge. If you would like to find out more you are encouraged to contact Eric Appleby at eric@dls.org.uk in order to set up a call to discuss.
This job description does not contain an exhaustive list of all job functions and tasks may change from time to time as requested by the Chief Executive, Head of Legal Aid Practice and/or Board of Trustees.
Person Specification
Required
We are seeking a talented Graduate with a Qualifying Law Degree or GDL who has already completed their LPC or is due to complete the course by the end of 2020.
You should have: a passion for the law and be motivated by success; a high intellectual ability and a willingness to learn new areas of law.
The ability to give clear, accurate and jargon-free legal advice.
Able to communicate effectively with others, face to face, on the telephone and able to produce high quality, accurate written notes and letters.
The ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure and able to prioritise workloads.
The ability to provide an efficient, professional and friendly service to clients and colleagues.
The ability to show initiative – proactively searching for solutions or presenting proposals / ideas for the benefit of the client.
You should be approachable with good listening and people skills, and an ability to demonstrate empathy. You need to be able to deal with a wide range of people including distressed people, people of all ages, people for whom English is not their first language and people with varied spoken language skills.
You need to be able to work consistently to a high standard, ensuring that all risk and compliance procedures are followed.
You will need to be able to work as part of a team in a friendly but efficient atmosphere.
You will need to be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel (or have a willingness to learn).
Desirable:
Being a disabled person or a person with experience of caring for or working with disabled people.
Experience of computerised case management systems.
Experience working in the third sector.
Experience working in a legal environment.
An understanding of the social model of disability and why this model compared with others (such as the medical model) is the correct approach.
