Legal jobs

Could you be our new Philanthropy Manager and support our work improving access to justice for all?

At Public Law Project (PLP), we work to defend fundamental rights and hold power to account. Our legal challenges have played a pivotal role in successful cases including in just the last year:

• The fight against the Rwanda deportation policy
• The Government’s attempts to renege on Windrush commitments
• Attempts to radically cut disability benefits to 100,000 people without lawful consultation
• Preventing the implementation of draconian and unconstitutional anti protest laws.

Our work is respected, high-impact, and deeply valued across the legal and social justice sectors. To continue tackling the most pressing legal injustices of our time, we need you to engage and inspire those who believe in our mission and have the means to support it.

The Role

This is a unique and career-defining opportunity to shape and lead Public Law Project’s first-ever mid-value fundraising programme, securing donations between £500-£5000 per year. As the driving force behind this new initiative you will create meaningful donor relationships, craft compelling fundraising journeys, and directly contribute to ensuring that justice is accessible to all—especially the most marginalised in society. We’re looking for someone who is:

• A relationship builder – You know how to connect with people and communicate impact in a way that resonates.
• A strategic thinker – You can develop and execute fundraising plans that grow support and maximise income.
• Highly organised – You can manage multiple priorities and data with precision and develop systems from the ground up.
• A natural communicator – You’re confident crafting compelling messaging and inspiring donors to give.
• Self-motivated and collaborative – You enjoy taking ownership but also thrive as part of a team.
• Committed to Equity – You resonate with PLP’s commitment to understand and address the effects of discrimination in all our work, both external and internal.

If you’re ready to play a transformational role in the future of PLP’s work, we’d love to hear from you!

PLP is an equal opportunity and Disability Confident Employer. As part of our commitment to recruit fairly we use anonymised-selection processes until interview, offer additional interview opportunities to the highest-scoring candidates from under-represented communities, and use ‘tie-breaker’ provisions at all stages of our selection process.

Civitas Recruitment are excited to be partnering with a great legal charity dedicated to the promotion of access to justice, upholding the rule of law and ensuring fair systems. The charity exists to ensure that state decision-making is fair and lawful, and that each person has the power to hold public bodies to account. The charity represents, and supports people marginalised through poverty, discrimination, or disadvantage when they have been affected by unlawful state decision-making. 

An exciting opportunity exists for a Philanthropy Manager to join the team. This is a great opportunity to shape and lead the charity’s first ever mid-value fundraising programme. As the Philanthropy Manager, you will create meaningful donor relationships, craft compelling fundraising journeys and directly contribute to ensuring that justice is accessible to all.

Who are we looking for?

Ideally, candidates will possess detailed knowledge of successful membership fundraising schemes and/or donor development, including design and implementation of fundraising systems and targets. Candidates will have knowledge and understanding of ethical practises, the Code of Fundraising Practice, including GDPR and the regulation and environment in which charities operate. Candidates will possess skills required to identify, research and qualify potential donors, including donor behaviour, needs and motivations for giving. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to consistently craft compelling propositions and communications is essential for the role. You will have good knowledge of how to audit and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising and communications.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing on a rolling basis.

We are looking for a passionate and empathetic individual who has the skills, knowledge and experience in coordinating casework and undertaking reporting of data to stakeholders. The IPO will undertake and be responsible for a range of administrative functions to advance and simply casework flow under the Sub-Regional Immigration Advice Service (SIAS) project. The IPO must have the ability to communicate effectively with referring agencies and stakeholders on a regular basis. The IPO will organise and present data to funders and others on behalf of NKLC. The IPO would have a good general understanding of Legal Aid casework, and the regulatory obligations set by the SRA and IAA.

You will provide advice and representation to rough sleepers within northwest London to end homelessness. By resolving immigration status of service users, you will help eliminate destitution and allow them to access support for a better future - an initiative funded under the London Councils Homelessness Project. 

You will work closely with supporting organisations including local authorities and homelessness organisations to break down barriers caused by immigration status and support migrant communities to thrive and become independent. 

Established in 1970, NKLC is the first community-based legal service centre that fights for equality and justice for the disadvantaged residents our locality.  We are proud that we have ended homelessness for many within our community who now have access to employment and study for a better future ahead. Sadly, due to In the height of the cost of living crisis, homlessness persists in the capital. As a result, the Mayors project has now been extended to end of March 2026 so we can continue supporting those facing destitution.

Salary range £27,000 – £30,000 per annum | 35 hours per week (Full-time) | Fixed term contract to March 2026 with possibility of extension

Hybrid work model involving home and weekly office-based working in Bethnal Green

Do you want to be at the forefront of national reforms improving access to justice for sexual violence survivors?  

 Women and Girls Network (WGN) and Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) are seeking a committed paralegal with feminist values to join its Legal team and play a part in this ground-breaking new work.    

 The successful applicant will work as part of WGN, supporting survivors of sexual violence to access high quality legal advice relating to their rights as survivors of sexual violence within the criminal justice system.  

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and empathetic Sexual Violence Paralegal to join our Sexual Violence Legal team and support the delivery of our pioneering Sexual Violence Legal Pilot. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, survivor-centred legal service committed to improving access to justice for those affected by sexual violence.

As a key member of the legal team, you will assist lawyers with casework, support client care, and ensure the smooth operation of our legal advice service. Your role will be integral to ensuring survivors receive high-quality, compassionate, and informed legal support.

About you

You are highly organised, detail-oriented, and committed to working in a trauma-informed, survivor-focused manner. You bring a strong interest in legal issues affecting survivors of sexual violence and are eager to learn and contribute meaningfully to the work of the team. Experience working in a legal or support services setting is desirable.

About us

Women and Girls Network (WGN) was established in 1987 and has spent over 30 years supporting women and girls across London affected by gendered violence. This includes childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, prostitution (including trafficking and sexual exploitation), female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called ‘honour’ based crimes such as forced marriage. Our goal is to promote, preserve, and restore the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls, to empower them to make a total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence. 

The Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) aims to help women and girls who are subject to male violence get better access to legal remedies to defend and enhance their rights; CWJ’s mission is to hold the state to account and challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls. 

How to apply

Please visit our website for more information and to download an application form. Completed application forms and equal opportunities monitoring forms should be submitted by 9am on Tuesday 27th May 2025.

Interview details

Interviews are expected to take place on 17th June 2025, however, please note that dates may be subject to change.

Further information

We welcome and encourage applications from women of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Ethnic communities.

WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, enhanced leave entitlement and an Employee Assistance Programme, as well as the opportunity to work with a leading multi-cultural, women-led feminist charity. 

This post is subject to satisfactory references, DBS check, and social media check. 

WGN is an equal opportunities employer. 

The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1 

Are you an experienced domestic abuse professional — or ready to take the next step into a leadership role?

Join our small, dynamic team at FLAG DV as Service Manager, and help empower survivors navigating the family court system with specialist legal and emotional support.

This is an opportunity to blend frontline delivery with strategic leadership. You’ll oversee our Legal Advice Clinic and Court Support Services, hold a small caseload, manage a committed team, and act as our Designated Safeguarding Lead — with support from our Director of Service Development & Engagement and a Deputy DSL.

You’ll be at the heart of a trauma-informed, passionate organisation, playing a pivotal role in shaping our services and ensuring survivors receive the support they need. Whether you already have leadership experience or are ready to step up, we’re looking for someone who’s confident, compassionate, and committed to survivor empowerment.

Law Centres tell us that their biggest concern right now is staff recruitment and retention. Supported by the Advice Workforce Development Fund, Law Centres Network has undertaken a programme of work to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Law Centre workforce. Although initially focused on London, this work will benefit our network across the UK as we gain deeper insights, develop best practice, and co-produce new approaches.

We are looking for someone to work with Law Centres across London and co-ordinate a joint effort between Law Centres, LCN and other partners to improve recruitment, career progression, and staff retention in Law Centres and the wider social welfare legal advice sector.

We are the Law Centres Network (LCN). We make the UK a fairer place by helping people get justice, even if they cannot afford a lawyer. For nearly fifty years, we have been at the centre of a movement for social justice and we believe that people in greater need should get more help. Together with local Law Centres, we deliver faster, more accessible and more joined-up help. We do this by supporting Law Centres to get more help to people in need, bringing Law Centres together to solve systemic problems, and speaking out for change.

Many problems that people face involve the law – being treated unfairly at work, issues with their landlord, problems with welfare benefits, or being discriminated against. Law Centres employ lawyers and other professionals, who are experts in this kind of everyday problem. They give people legal advice and can represent them if they need it. They use the law to solve problems that hold people back, so they can get on with their lives. There are over 40 Law Centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Location: Bristol and one other location TBC

Depending on the needs of the service, there is potential for limited flexible/hybrid working within this role. Arrangements will be discussed with the successful candidate

Salary: Grade 7 - £48,757 per annum

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Contract- Permanent 

Closing date: Monday 12th May 2025 at 11.30 pm

About the role 

You will ensure we deliver high quality legal services and manage our Legal Aid Contract, with your main focus being to manage and supervise the legal teams who are advocating for clients with housing issues, as well as bringing about systemic change. You will be dealing with personnel issues, providing professional support and supervision to your team as well as carrying your own caseload of housing litigation.

Contributing to the strategic direction of Shelter legal services nationally will be an important aspect of the role too, as will taking the lead on delivering strategic change aligned to Shelter’s strategy and ensuring Legal aid contract requirements and performance targets are met.

You will be able to identify test case opportunities to address systemic bad practice and so achieve change for a greater number of people and will work closely with the Head of Legal Services, the Hub Management Team and teams within Communications, Policy and Campaigns and Business Development.

As a key member of the management team, you will also get to play your part in the management of our offices, including attending management team meetings and collaborating with other teams.

About you

You will be experienced in working under a housing legal aid contract, court advocacy, carrying your own caseload as well as managing and supervising others. You will have a minimum of 4 years post qualification legal practice experience, have supervisor status and have substantial knowledge of housing and homelessness law. Independent File Reviews, time recording and good case management will also be part of the role.

You are able to carry out research and policy analysis in the areas of housing, homeless and welfare law, produce reports and presentations.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team

The Legal Service is made up of four teams – Community Legal, National Legal, Strategic Litigation and Legal Support. The Community Legal Team are based throughout the England hubs. You will be based in our Bristol hub which specialises in providing housing advice and homelessness work, with a particular focus on families. The hub works in partnership with a range of organisations to improve the underlying systems that prevent people from living securely in suitable, safe, affordable accommodation.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a supporting statement with responses to the 'About You' points 1-5 outlined in the job description of no more than 1000 words total. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

CVs without an accompanying supporting statement will not be considered.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Recruitment Agencies

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

BACKGROUND

This is an exciting opportunity to join the legal aid casework team at Asylum Aid. You will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the billing of our legal aid work (including controlled work, certificated work and inter partes bills), which is vital to ensure the financial sustainability of our work. Asylum Aid holds legal aid contracts in the immigration & asylum and public law categories.

For thirty-five years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. We have built an expert service, delivering vital and life-saving services in some of the most complex legal cases, with a particular speciality working with unaccompanied children, survivors of trafficking, torture or other forms of human cruelty, and stateless people. Our vision is that all those in need of protection from persecution and other forms of human cruelty in the UK can obtain it, and are treated fairly and with dignity.

Since August 2020, Asylum Aid has been part of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. Asylum Aid operates as an independent charity, led by its own Executive Director within the group structure, and is ambitious about growing its impact and reach in the future to ensure protection from persecution for those who need it. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role would suit a person with strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills and numeracy. The ideal candidate will have already embarked on or be looking to develop a career providing excellent legal aid billing support and coordination essential to the financial sustainability of legal aid practice, whether within the charity sector or private practice. You will have a strong commitment to the values of Asylum Aid and an understanding of the importance of sound legal aid billing practices to our continued ability to provide our expert service to our clients. Prior experience is not essential as full training will be given and peer support is available.

The focus of the role of billing coordinator is to ensure the efficient and robust delivery of costing and billing of legal aid files conducted under Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract (Legal Help / Controlled Legal Representation and certificated work) as well as liaising with external costs lawyers to oversee the preparation of Inter Partes bills and negotiations with the paying party where we have obtained an order for our costs in judicial review proceedings.  This includes reconciliation of Legal Aid Agency payments received and made, and to provide essential coordination within the organisation to support lawyers in ensuring files are billed promptly and accurately, and costs are maximized. The billing coordinator will work with the Director of Legal Casework to develop and maintain an effective tracking system to ensure timely progression from case closure to billing.

This role will work closely with the Legal Team of Asylum Aid and the Finance team of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. You will also have access to the London Legal Support Trust Centres of Excellence legal aid billing peer support group and peer-to-peer support.

As this is a new role, there will be clear targets set as to the additional legal aid income brought in as a result of the extra capacity it will bring and a review will be undertaken after 12 months as to whether it is having the desired impact on our legal aid income.

Equal Opportunities

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the refugee and migration sectors. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK and you will receive full training to enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills to the UK context.

How to apply 

Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and a basic DBS check.

If appointed you will be required to give your consent to Asylum Aid to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment. 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9.00am on 12 May 2025

The website form will ask you to:

1. Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your

relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2. Upload your current CV

3. Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 19 May 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 26 May 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task ahead of/on the day.

At Helen Bamber Foundation Group we want to be transparent about what kind of qualities we are looking for and build trust from the very beginning of your journey with us. The first step is your interview, and we mean ‘your’ interview so we will provide you with your interview questions ahead of the interview. This will allow you time to prepare, and ensure you have your best examples in mind.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us though phone or email.

Experts by Experience Support

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network , which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources at  which may help in preparing your job application. .

Please complete this form request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application

We are currently looking for dedicated Immigration Advisers (IAA Level 2) to join our growing team to provide immigration advice and casework to destitute migrants. We will be recruiting on a rolling basis for a number of upcoming roles, one of which is a woman only role, so we welcome applications from women. Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

Praxis Community Projects is a dynamic, award-winning human rights charity supporting migrants in crisis or at- risk, ensuring that their essential human needs are met and that they are able to overcome the barriers they face. We provide legal advice and a range of welfare support including group work. We build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy, improve services and inspire solidarity with migrants.

The ideal candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of immigration and asylum law, as well as have a good understanding of the challenges faced by migrants with NRPF and those at risk of homelessness. They will be able to step immediately into a busy advice environment that includes independent outreach.

At Praxis, we work to build community, challenge exclusion and discrimination, influence policy and improve services. We played a leading role in exposing the Windrush scandal and advocate and campaign for lasting changes to policy and practice to address the root causes of the issues faced by at-risk migrants.

Praxis is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.

Please see our website to find out more about our work.

Our Attractive Benefits Package Includes 

· A 35 hour working week including flexible working hours

· A hybrid work model 

· 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays) 

· You can buy up to 5 days annual leave each year 

· A defined contribution pension scheme 

· Our employee assistance programme offers counselling and support for you 24/7. 

· A season ticket loan to help you spread the cost of your commute 

If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Recruitment team who will contact you to discuss how we can help.

For further details, please contact Maria Iglesias Head of Operations and Business Development

To apply, send us your CV and cover letter demonstrating your capabilities in relation to each of the points of the job description marked ‘A’. Where relevant use your answers to illustrate how your competencies have helped you to achieve positive results. This will give you the best possible chance to be shortlisted. Applications will only be accepted with a cover letter.

Interviews: Offered on a rolling basis

Start date: Ranging from immediate to TBD.

Job Purpose

• This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all our boroughs.
• Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.
• The objectives of the service include:
• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the senior support worker is to support the team manager with the smooth running of the allocated site and staff; supporting development and rest of the team including volunteer recruiting, induction (training and development) and supervision. Senior support worker will also lead in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will include deputising for the team manager where applicable including debriefing and providing support to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Understanding of risk and risk management
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Working closely with re-admitters and clients being discharged through the drop-in service on a weekly basis
• Responsible for keeping allocated site to a high standard and reporting any health and safety concerns
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR.
• Good time keeping skills - Essential
• To attend and contribute at weekly team meetings
• This role will be considered a key worker role
• Understanding of safety planning and de-escalation
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Understanding CQC standards and NICE guidelines around mental health
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Overseeing and provide shadowing to new staff members and volunteers
• Attend reflective practice, peer debriefing and line management supervision
• Maintaining good working relationships with partner agencies
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide guidance to support workers and volunteers
• To work with team managers and assist with reporting and monitoring
•  

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of de-escalation
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Understanding of different databases such as Views, Salesforce and NHS
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and ability to travel to multiple locations (e.g. NHS sites and community sites) would be essential.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends at multiple locations including NHS sites and community sites

Location: London and one other location TBC

Depending on the needs of the service, there is potential for limited flexible/hybrid working within this role. Arrangements will be discussed with the successful candidate

Salary: Grade 7 - £53,781 per annum

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Contract:  Permanent

Closing date: Sunday 18th May 2025 at 11.30pm

About the role 

You will ensure we deliver high quality legal services and manage our Legal Aid Contract, with your main focus being to manage and supervise the legal teams who are advocating for clients with housing issues, as well as bringing about systemic change. You will be dealing with personnel issues, providing professional support and supervision to your team as well as carrying your own caseload of housing litigation.

Contributing to the strategic direction of Shelter legal services nationally will be an important aspect of the role too, as will taking the lead on delivering strategic change aligned to Shelter’s strategy and ensuring Legal aid contract requirements and performance targets are met.

You will be able to identify test case opportunities to address systemic bad practice and so achieve change for a greater number of people and will work closely with the Head of Legal Services, the Hub Management Team and teams within Communications, Policy and Campaigns and Business Development. As a key member of the management team, you will also get to play your part in the management of our offices, including attending management team meetings and collaborating with other teams.

About you

You will be experienced in working under a housing legal aid contract, court advocacy, carrying your own caseload as well as managing and supervising others. You will have a minimum of 4 years post qualification legal practice experience, have supervisor status and have substantial knowledge of housing and homelessness law. Independent File Reviews, time recording and good case management will also be part of the role. You are able to carry out research and policy analysis in the areas of housing, homeless and welfare law, produce reports and presentations.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team

The Legal Service is made up of four teams – Community Legal, National Legal, Strategic Litigation and Legal Support. The Community Legal Team are based throughout the England hubs.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a supporting statement with responses to the 'About You' points 1-5 outlined in the job description of no more than 1000 words total. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

CVs without an accompanying supporting statement will not be considered.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Recruitment Agencies

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Salary £50,000 per annum | Full-time or part-time considered (minimum 3 days / 21 hours per week) | Secondments are also welcome | Fixed Term Contract to March 2026 with possibility of extension

Hybrid work model involving home and weekly office-based working in Bethnal Green.

Do you want to be at the forefront of national reforms improving access to justice for sexual violence survivors? 

Women and Girls Network (WGN) and Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) are seeking a motivated and experienced lawyer with feminist values who will lead on this ground-breaking work.

The successful applicant will work as part of WGN, supporting survivors of sexual violence to access high quality legal advice relating to their rights as survivors of sexual violence within the criminal justice system, challenging unjust decision-making and disproportionate data requests that violate privacy rights, and increasing the legal awareness of WGN team members by developing and delivering training.

About you

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in criminal law or civil cases against public authorities, with a strong understanding of the impact of sexual and domestic violence. They will be self-motivated, highly organised, and capable of communicating complex legal matters clearly to diverse audiences. The candidate will also have a commitment to feminist principles and the values of WGN and CWJ, along with a deep dedication to challenging discrimination and supporting those affected by violence against women and children.

About us

Women and Girls Network (WGN) is a pan-London organisation that supports women and girls affected by all forms of gender-based violence. Our overall aim is to promote, preserve and restore the mental health and well-being of women and girls who have experienced, or are at risk of, gender-based violence, whilst working towards a society free of gender-based violence.

We do this by:

• Providing women-only holistic and seamless therapeutic services, which meet women and girls’ needs and contribute to total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence.
• Evidencing the impact of gender-based violence and presenting this information in appropriate forums to affect social change in attitudes towards, and responses to, gender-based violence.
• Developing good practice in the sector by providing training and guidance on specialist service provision and the development of culturally appropriate service delivery.

How to apply

Please visit our website for more information and to download an application form. Completed applications, equal opportunities monitoring forms and a copy of your CV should be submitted by 9am on Tuesday 27th May 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place on 10th June 2025, however, please note that dates may be subject to change.

Further Information

This post is subject to satisfactory references, DBS check, and social media check. 

WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, enhanced leave entitlement, and an Employee Assistance Programme. We also provide clinical supervision, access to an ongoing CPD programme, and the opportunity to work in a leading multi-cultural feminist organisation. 

We welcome and encourage applications from women of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and and Global Majority women. 

WGN is an equal opportunities employer.

The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Location: London (remote working within the UK is possible)

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (5 days or 4 days per week pro rata)

Remuneration: £80,000 -£100,000 depending on experience

Role overview 

This is a new role within FILE, providing dedicated thought leadership internally and externally with respect to our land use and nature strategies. You will support our partners to accelerate a transition to sustainable food production, secure and enforce sustainable frameworks for extraction of transition minerals, and contribute to safeguarding key global ecosystems, including through enhancing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

You will work closely with the Director of Program Strategy, Regional Directors, and other portfolio leads to ensure land use and nature strategies are developed and integrated throughout our funding portfolios. Externally, you will build and maintain relationships with some of the world’s leading climate and biodiversity lawyers and campaigners, as well as with aligned philanthropies.

Our land use and nature work mainly supports partners working on protecting habitats in biodiversity rich areas of Africa, South America and South East Asia, including by challenging harmful practices of corporations based in the Global North. Its scope may shift over time, including as the successful candidate refines our strategy going forwards.

We seek to protect the rights of, and support partnerships with, indigenous people and local communities. Key strategic outcomes pursued include confronting supply chains of major corporates that drive greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and violate the rights of local communities, and securing regulatory changes to drive finance towards cleaner, more equitable alternatives.

Key Responsibilities

Each of these is conducted in close collaboration with relevant colleagues across FILE’s strategy teams, as well as FILE’s Research, Impact, and Learning, Grant Management, and Philanthropic Partnerships teams: 

• Lead the development of FILE’s land use and nature strategies, including a focus on legal and narrative and movement-building approaches, as well as on enhancing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities 

• These strategies will set out a well-considered approach to sectors and themes including exploitation of transition minerals, deforestation and biodiversity loss driven by industrial agriculture, addressing rights violations in global corporate supply chains, etc 

• Work in close collaboration with strategy, grant making and fundraising leads within FILE to increase access to funding sources and the resilience of partners working in the field

• Developing, maintaining and convening external partnerships and networks with partners and practitioners working on and use and nature strategies 

• Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and donor community on the need for legal interventions in pursuit of FILE’s land use and nature strategy, and support fundraising for FILE as well as directly for our partners 

Key Outcomes 

• FILE has a well-considered land use and nature strategy, including a focus both on legal and related narrative and movement strategies, which is integrated throughout our funding portfolios

• Increased funding is made available to partner organisations working on land use and nature, via FILE or directly from other philanthropies

• FILE colleagues and external partners have a trusted thought partner and collaborator on developing and implementing land use and nature legal strategies 

• Overseeing / establishing high quality convening(s), with support of FILE’s Convening Manager, and networks of civil society and relevant legal practitioners and peers working in this area, to catalyse innovation and strengthen connectivity 

• An engaged group of funders, ready to deepen their support for our partners’ work on land use and nature strategies 

About you 

We know that long lists of criteria can be discouraging and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the relevant criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

We also recognise that skills and experience can be gained in unexpected places, so we welcome applications from candidates who feel they have relevant skills for the role, gained from a wide range of professional, lived and learned experiences.

Essential criteria 

• A strong commitment to protecting the environment, reforming corporate and financial governance, strengthening government ambition, and prioritising the rights of indigenous peoples, marginalised groups, and other communities most affected by climate change and environmental harms 

• Experience of and expertise in developing and / or delivering legal strategies to advance systemic change on land use and nature 

• Demonstrated experience in linking legal strategies to effective communications, campaign, and/or movement strategies to advance systemic change 

• An ability to strategically manage projects, including prioritisation and forwards planning

• An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners, and understanding of funder positionality and responsibility. 

• A willingness to travel from time to time (at least four times a year, more if working remotely) to meet FILE staff and partners 

• An ability to work flexibly as part of a team spread across many time zones, which will involve some meetings outside of standard working hours 

• A professional standard of written and spoken English

Desired criteria 

• A current or past qualification / bar admission as a lawyer 

• Experience of working as a lawyer on strategic litigation against governments, corporations, or financial institutions 

• Demonstrated experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and / or civil society together 

• Experience working with communities adversely affected by climate change, environmental harms, and/or related human rights violations, particularly in the Global South 

• Existing relationships with NGOs, lawyers, and / or philanthropic partners working on relevant land use and nature strategies 

• An ability to communicate with partners in other relevant languages, including Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia, would be a bonus but not essential 

About FILE

The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation working to accelerate legal action on climate change. 

Through grant-making and in-house legal expertise, we empower our partners to deliver strategic, innovative legal interventions and we support lawyers in their own countries to bring their own cases. 

Legal action can unlock the systemic changes in finance, policy and social systems needed to protect all of us from climate change. The power of the law is both direct (changing policy and practice) and indirect (signalling the wider shifts taking place across these systems).

FILE is a ‘regrantor’ - this means we do not bring legal action in our own name. We receive grants from our philanthropic donors (a small group of like-minded climate foundations) and make onwards grants to partners who align with FILE’s charitable aims and purposes. We do not seek to make any profit from our activities either in a relevant financial year or in the longer term.

Working for FILE

FILE is a collaborative community of individuals who share a passion for climate, nature, and justice. We bring together knowledge and experience to support our mission.

Our people are empowered to lead their work both individually and as part of a wider team in order to make impactful change. As a relatively young organisation with the ambitious mission to change global systems, our roles are ideally suited to those who are highly strategic, flexible and adaptable, and open to growing in line with the Foundation.

FILE is committed to challenging inequality and values diversity, equity and justice in all areas of life. Our mission, work and impact is global, with staff and partners from across the world and a range of lived experiences. We firmly believe that we are strengthened by the diversity of our partners and staff.

At FILE, we actively work to create an inclusive culture where colleagues feel welcomed, heard and supported to succeed and thrive.

Location

FILE has offices in London and the Netherlands. We are advertising this role for candidates based (and with the right to work) in the UK, the Netherlands, Brazil or South Africa but will also consider applications from other locations where we are able to do so.  

Please note, therefore, that you will see this role advertised in multiple locations but that we are only hiring for one position. Please apply to the job post for your preferred location. 

How FILE supports its staff 

FILE is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. FILE offer a generous annual leave policy and additional time-off work to support wellbeing. Amongst other benefits, FILE offers private healthcare and a contribution to a pension scheme.

FILE is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and encourage candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our team to apply.
Join us in making a tangible difference in the fight against climate change by creating spaces where diverse voices come together to drive impactful solutions.

Applications 

Please apply on our website and upload your CV. This role is open for applications immediately and we accept applications on a rolling basis. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. The role will remain open for at least four weeks from the date of advertisement.
 

Diversity & Inclusion

As an equal opportunities employer, FILE is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join FILE. We are committed to continually learning and improving our diversity and inclusion practices, which can best be done if we are as diverse as the people of the world we’re working to protect.