Commercial lawyer jobs
RLS Caseworker / Solicitor
As a RLS Caseworker / Solicitor you will conduct a small strategic caseload of asylum and refugee family reunion cases and assist on litigation (where eligible) under our legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices.
You will also act as the supervising caseworker/lawyer for the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), which is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 11 leading commercial law firms. As part of this role, you will supervise pro bono lawyers to provide high quality legal representation for Afghans on matters including family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others. The project is now in its 3rd year and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023. Please note that RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services.
Key responsibilities
- Have conduct of a small strategic caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients
- Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases
- Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers
- Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording
- Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners
- Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes
- Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director and Casework Supervisorto ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s
- Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs
- Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework
- Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation
- Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies
- Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR
- Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
Person specification:
Essential
- Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3
- Experience of asylum casework
- Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions
- Experience of online immigration applications
- Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications
- Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
- Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders
- Computer literacy
- Right to reside and work in the UK
- Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy
- Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees
- Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS
- The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role.
Desirable
- Demonstrable supervision experience strongly preferred
- Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourably considered
- Experience of legal aid casework
- Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation
- Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting
- Experience of preparing and delivering training
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Purpose
-
Good Law Project is taking on increasing amounts of pro bono equalities law work including the representation of the trans community. The postholder will be responsible for sourcing, advising and acting in equalities law cases that speak to Good Law Project’s values
What we're looking for
- Excellent lawyer
- Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales
- Five years post qualification experience as a solicitor or barrister with a specialism in equalities law
- Experience of working with internal stakeholders and external partners, including instructing Counsel or external Solicitors where necessary
- A good understanding of legal risk and how to manage it
- Interest in social change and how the law can be used to deliver it
- Committed to GLP’s vision of what a better world looks like
What we do
- Good Law Project is a not-for-profit campaign organisation which uses the law to hold power to account and fight for a fairer, greener future. We take on the cases and campaigns where we’ll have the biggest impact, even when the odds are stacked against us
- We had a primary role in overturning the prorogation of Parliament in 2019. We successfully challenged the Government’s operation of a fast track ‘VIP lane’ for awarding lucrative PPE contracts to those with political connections and our campaigning played a key role in the Met Police opening an investigation into Boris Johnson over the Partygate scandal. In July 2023, we forced the Government to accept that its flagship Net Zero strategy is unlawful and to develop a better plan
- We get a positive outcome in more than two thirds of our cases – either a straightforward or a partial legal win. But whether we win or lose in court, we always fight to make positive change
- See our website for more about what we do
Key Details
Salary: £68,000 per annum with generous benefits including 25 days annual holiday plus public holidays, enhanced pension contribution, private medical health insurance, life assurance, and flexible/hybrid working
Hours: 35 per week over 5 days
Contract type: Full-time role with a Fixed Term 12-month contract
Location: Hybrid working with office in central London and options for flexibility to work from home. The postholder will be expected to attend our central London office regularly - minimum of 2/3 days per week
Our attached job pack includes the full job description, personal specification, interview dates and Good Law Project's values. Alternatively, click "Redirect to recruiter" to view the job pack on our website.
How to Apply
To apply for this role, click on "Redirect to recruiter" to be redirected to our website where you will be asked to complete an online application form and upload your CV
Contact
If you have any questions about this role, please email the contact details in the job pack below. Or click "Redirect to recruiter" to view our contact details on our website
Non Charity Employer
11 - 20
We hold power to account and fight for a fairer, greener future
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.