Norfolk Community Law Service 2022

Organisation Detail

OUR VISION

Satisfy unmet legal need contributing to a just and fair society

OUR MISSION

To empower the people of Norfolk to assert their legal rights, using education, advice and representation

We are an independent Community Law Service that has been in existence for more than forty years. We work across the county of Norfolk and provide a range of free accredited, independent specialist legal services to meet local need. This includes:

• weekly free legal advice ‘clinics’ covering discrimination, domestic abuse, employment, family & general advice
• mobile legal advisor service
• social welfare solicitor
• debt and money advice including Debt Relief Orders and Insolvency Proceedings
• welfare benefits advice and representation at appeals tribunals
• legal advice for victims of domestic abuse
• immigration advice up to Level 3
• rent arrears mediation for Norwich City Council housing tenants
• family court support service for cases concerning child contact

Our work enables people to challenge decisions that affect them.  We help keep people in jobs; safe; in their homes; in this country; out of poverty and destitution. We had over 9,000 enquiries in 2021/22 and helped over 3,200 people with almost 4,000 legal issues.

The successful holder of the post at Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS) will be sponsored by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP through Skadden’s Justice First Skadden Trainee (JUST) Programme and will take up the position as a JUST Programme Trainee. Through the JUST Programme, which is administered by The Legal Education Foundation and hosted by NCLS, the trainee will be given the opportunity to make connections with Skadden attorneys and professional staff, train alongside Skadden attorneys on relevant areas including family law and welfare benefits and receive funding for ancillary training support costs. The aim of the JUST Programme is to support the training of the next generation of social welfare lawyers who will become leaders in their field and important advocates for access to justice, and it was inspired by the U.S. Skadden Fellowship Program, which has provided two year fellowships to over 800 talented lawyers to pursue social welfare law. The successful holder of the post at NCLS will also benefit from training and networking opportunities with the other JUST Programme Trainees (former and current) and the wider U.S. Skadden Fellowship network. More information on the JUST Programme is available here.

Twitter: @NCLawService | Facebook: Norfolk Community Law Service

For further information, visit our website.

Any questions regarding this organisation or the position should be directed to info@ncls.co.uk

Job Description

• Under supervision, provide initial legal advice and information to individuals and organisations, through legal outreach work across Norfolk, including through legal surgeries and telephone advice lines.
• Under supervision, provide direct legal advice and representation to clients, including advocacy at relevant tribunals and courts.
• Under supervision, develop a legal project for NCLS.
• Contribute to the implementation of plans for the service in which they work, including meeting key outcomes regarding casework, client impact and policy activities.
• Maintain timely and accurate records of work undertaken using our casework system and other procedures designed to manage and track our work in a safe, efficient and effective manner as set down in NCLS policies and procedures
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of areas of law relevant to the focus of project work, as well as knowledge of key developments in human rights and equalities law, and public law.
• Contribute to the identification of key policy issues and to policy and influencing work in areas of importance to our client groups.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of internal and external professional training.
• Fulfil the obligations of the training contract and achieve competency in the Professional Education and Training Stage 2 outcomes to satisfy the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Contribute to reports to funders and ensure that work undertaken within a funded project adheres to any requirements set out by funders of that project.
• Travel, when required, to conduct work across Norfolk the, UK and abroad. This includes representation at courts, attendance at other Legal Advice organisations, and attendance at outreach surgeries and training venues.

• To work independently but also collaboratively with other members of the NCLS team, including volunteers and our partners.
• To complete other tasks necessary to contribute to the operational management, sustainability and development of NCLS.
• To prioritise work effectively and ensure that work is completed professionally and to high standards.
• To conduct all work in line with NCLS policies and procedures, including our Equalities and Diversity Policy.
• To represent the organisation publicly in the spirit of NCLS values

Person Specification

• Law Degree or General Diploma in Law
• Successful completion of Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• Ability to listen and communicate complex information effectively, both orally and in writing to a diverse client group
• Proficient in the use of Information, Communication and Technology systems
• Ability to be self-motivating and self-managing
• Ability to plan and prioritise work
• Ability to contribute to effective team working and mutually supportive staff working relationships
• Ability to develop successful collaborative working relationships externally
• Ability to complete tasks to a high standard without significant supervision Understanding of, and commitment to, the principles and practice of human rights, equal opportunities and diversity
• A commitment to working to increase access to justice

• Ability to attend occasional out of hours meetings and events as required
• Ability to drive or a willingness to travel by public transport within and outside Norfolk