2 x Solicitor, Civil Legal Assistance Office
This job is closed and is displayed for reference only.
Reference:0328
Salary:Grade 7 - £46,530; Grade 6 - £38,200; Grade 5 - £31,510
Working pattern:Full time, Permanent
Location:Inverness
Closing date:26 October 2020 at midnight
*** Extended deadline ***
About us
The Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) is a team of skilled, committed and passionate people, providing publicly funded legal services in Highland and the Islands, Edinburgh and Lothians, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and Argyll and Bute.
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 and be supported to develop new skills and do rewarding work that can have a considerable impact on people’s lives. Experience in all of the areas we deal with is not essential, as we are able to provide training where needed.
It 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 Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetlands 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, convenient transport links to other major centres in Scotland and further afield. It provides city amenities and lifestyle with the opportunity for excellent work/life balance amid fantastic Highland landscapes and a rich history. A range of social and cultural facilities are immediately to hand, with outdoor sports and activities available throughout the area. If you are considering relocation, you may find the following article of interest: The Guardian article “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 well-being 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
Inverness
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; with opportunities both to carry out challenging casework and to contribute to ensuring that the work of the office is carried out effectively, as well as opportunities to enhance those 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
Inverness
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 skilled court solicitors: ideal both for those who already have a track record of excelling at litigation work (civil or criminal) and for newly or recently qualified solicitors, who can demonstrate the potential to do so and who are looking for the opportunity to progress their career in a highly rewarding work environment.
Either way you will manage a demanding caseload, with more experienced solicitors expected to do so with less supervision.
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.
What we are offering
This is a unique opportunity to join our CLAO network as part of the Highland and Islands team and be supported to develop new skills and do rewarding work that can have a considerable impact on people’s lives. Experience in all of the areas we deal with is not essential, as we are able to provide training where needed.
It 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 Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetlands 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, convenient transport links to other major centres in Scotland and further afield. It provides city amenities and lifestyle with the opportunity for excellent work/life balance amid fantastic Highland landscapes and a rich history. A range of social and cultural facilities are immediately to hand, with outdoor sports and activities available throughout the area. If you are considering relocation, you may find the following article of interest: The Guardian article “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 well-being 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.
Inverness
Starting salary from £46,350
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.
Inverness
For Grade 6 starting salary from £38,200
For Grade 5 starting salary from £31,510 (newly or recently qualified solicitors)
Either way you will manage a demanding caseload, with more experienced solicitors expected to do so with less supervision.
Application Information
Please state which role you are applying for on your application form. Bellow you can find a full job description, person specification and application, to apply please click the “Apply Online” button.
Completed applications should be returned by Monday the 26th October. Interviews will be organised via a video call shortly after closing date however, this can change depending of candidates’ availability.
To apply please click the “Apply Online” button. For assistance, please contact Klaudia Hall on recruitment@slab.org.uk or 0131 240 2145.
Completed applications should be returned by Monday the 26th October. Interviews will be organised via a video call shortly after closing date however, this can change depending of candidates’ availability.
To apply please click the “Apply Online” button. For assistance, please contact Klaudia Hall on recruitment@slab.org.uk or 0131 240 2145.
