Role Details
| Reference No: |
0329 |
| Closing Date: |
12th October 2020 11:59pm |
| Company / Division: |
Civil Legal Aid Office (CLAO) |
| Website: |
http://www.clao.org.uk |
| Location: |
Inverness |
| Salary: |
Year 1: £19,500; Year 2: 22,500 |
| Contract Type: |
Full time, Fixed Term (2 years) |
Job Description
About us
The Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) is a team of skilled, committed and passionate people providing publicly funded legal services across Scotland.
Our work in housing law (repossession; homelessness; unlawful eviction; disrepair) child protection, mental health, welfare benefits and debt concentrates on the rights of people who are disadvantaged.
We work closely with other agencies as part of our work to triage and refer some cases to other solicitors, advisors or support organisations. Further information on what we do can be found at
www.clao.org.uk.
You can also read about some of the
varied roles, locations and benefits on offer to solicitors working for the Civil Legal Assistance Office.
What we are offering
This is a unique opportunity to join our CLAO network as part of the Highland and Islands team in Inverness. The role entails rewarding work that can have a considerable impact on people’s lives, as well as supportive environment to develop new skills, learning from experienced solicitors, with different specialisms across our service. Experience in all of the areas we deal with is not essential, as we are able to provide training where needed.
This is a particularly exciting time to join our team, as we develop and shape the next phase of the CLAO network, building on the achievements of our 2017-2020 business plan and the changes we have made to our services, in response to the global pandemic.
We have adapted our services to allow most of them to be provided from home. Currently you will have support from colleagues and equipment to allow you to work mostly at home, attending the office in Inverness and other locations throughout Scotland when we need you to. Longer term, it is likely that you will be in the office or court more often, but will still have opportunities to work remotely.
Initially you will work mainly for the Highland and Islands team, but as part of our network you will have opportunities to represent clients in all of the areas in which we work; both by appearing remotely and travelling when required.
Inverness is a great city to live and work in. Professionally, the local bar is friendly and welcoming. It is a growing city with a choice of local schools and further education facilities with convenient transport links. If you are considering relocation, you may find this article from The Guardian interesting:
Let’s move to Inverness, Inverness-shire: wilderness on the doorstep.
Our benefits package includes a competitive holiday entitlement and a contributory defined benefit pension scheme. We also offer our employees access to comprehensive learning and development opportunities and wellbeing support. More details about our benefit package is available in the full job description.
About you
We are looking for a trainee solicitor with a commitment to social welfare law.
You will have the ability, with support from your manager and other experienced colleagues, to manage a demanding caseload comprised of publicly funded housing law (repossession; homelessness; unlawful eviction; disrepair) child protection, mental health, and some welfare benefits and debt work.
You will be highly organised with strong interpersonal skills and be calm and resilient.
You will have the ambition to become a court practitioner with excellent technical skills, and the ability to focus these where you can make the biggest difference.
You will have a degree and Diploma in Legal Practice and be in a position to obtain an entrance certificate from the Law Society of Scotland.
You will also have a full, clean driving licence.
To apply and access a full job description and person specification, please visit our
recruitment portal page. For assistance, please contact Klaudia Hall on
recruitment@slab.org.uk or phone 0131 240 2027.
