Role Details
| Reference No: |
0328 |
| Closing Date: |
26th October 2020 11:59pm |
| Company / Division: |
Civil Legal Aid Office (CLAO) |
| Website: |
http://www.clao.org.uk |
| Location: |
Inverness |
| Salary: |
£31,510 - £46,530 |
| Contract Type: |
Full time, Permanent |
| Positions Available: |
2 |
Job Description
*Extended Deadline*
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. 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.
As part of our team you will have the opportunity to represent clients in the Highlands, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and occasionally further afield; 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.
The additional benefit of a relocation package might be available for applicants relocating to Inverness from other areas. The details of this allowance will be reviewed individually with eligible candidates upon request.
About you
We need you to be a court practitioner with excellent technical skills and the ability to focus these where you can make the biggest difference; with a full, post-qualified and unrestricted practising certificate from the Law Society of Scotland, a full, clean driving licence and a commitment to practising and developing social welfare law.
You will be highly organised, have strong interpersonal skills and be calm and resilient.
GRADE 7 SOLICITOR
Starting salary from £46,350.
This is a senior post for a talented and highly experienced court solicitor, with some experience of managing or supervising staff. It is ideal for someone who is looking for an environment in which their skills will have the greatest impact. You will have the opportunity to carry out challenging casework and contribute to ensuring that the work of CLAO is carried out effectively, as well as opportunities to enhance skills further.
As well as taking responsibility for your own large and complex caseload, you will assist the Head of Office to manage the delivery of services in the Highland and Islands area by supporting efforts to develop and improve the service, carrying out tasks to ensure that the work of your team is always covered and supporting more junior staff.
You will have a track record of excelling at publicly funded litigation and people management skills.
Solid experience in one or more of housing law, child protection or mental health law would be advantageous.
GRADE 5 or 6 SOLICITOR
For Grade 6 starting salary from £38,200.
For Grade 5 starting salary from £31,510 (newly or recently qualified solicitors).
This position is an excellent opportunity for a skilled court solicitor and ideal for someone who already has a track record of excelling at litigation work (civil or criminal). It is also a great opportunity for a new or recently qualified solicitor who can demonstrate their potential and is looking for the opportunity to progress their career in a highly rewarding work environment.
You will manage a demanding caseload, with more experienced solicitors expected to do so with less supervision.
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.
