CLM: Solicitor (provision of legal advice to children and their families) – deadline 12 July 2018

Title:  Solicitor – provision of legal advice to children and their families

Closing date for applications:  Thursday 12th July 2018

Employer:  Community Law & Mediation (CLM)

Reports to:  Managing Solicitor

Salary:  Commensurate with experience

Working Hours:  Part-time: 9.30am to 5pm 3/3.5 days per week.

Duration:  This is a fixed-term contract for a period of three years, subject to a probation period.

Location: CLM Northside, Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin 17. The successful candidate will be required to travel to various locations nationwide at least one day a week and for this reason, must have a full driving licence and access to a car.  

Background information

CLM is an independent community law centre, established in 1975, that works to empower individuals experiencing disadvantage by providing free legal information, free legal advice, education and mediation services. It has been granted Independent Law Centre status by the Law Society of Ireland and provides legal advice on all areas of law through free legal advice clinics, which operate on a drop-in basis. CLM also offers legal representation and advocacy, including Court and Tribunal Representation, in areas of law not covered by the State funded civil legal aid scheme. It makes referrals as appropriate to its mediation service and on a more strategic and national level, feeds the issues it comes across in its casework into its policy, education and resource work. At a national level, CLM Northside seeks to have a wider impact through its campaigns for law reform and by acting as a resource for other advocacy organisations. CLM Northside also runs an extensive community education programme.

For more details on Community Law & Mediation’s work, please see our website www.communitylawandmediation.ie.

Role

CLM is delighted to announce that the Children’s Rights Alliance is establishing a new Access to Justice Initiative.  The initiative will implement a legal information strategy on children and young people’s legal rights and entitlements and promote access to child-friendly justice in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings. A central part of the initiative will be the establishment of specialist legal advice outreach clinics for children and young people.

The Children’s Rights Alliance has contracted Community Law & Mediation (CLM) to work with it in providing specialist legal advice outreach clinics for children and young people.  The contract for the clinics will run for a three year period and the second phase of the project will involve strategic litigation. 

This exciting new role will involve the delivery of at least one legal advice clinic per week, at various locations throughout the country, together with follow-up work.  The role will involve law reform and policy work on behalf of CLM, as well as general casework. 

Responsibilities

• Delivery of specialist legal advice outreach clinics for children and young people
• Providing legal advice at clinics throughout the country
• Delivery of specialist legal advice clinics in relation to children in care and children with disabilities
• Management of a caseload
• Instructing and working with counsel and running litigation cases
• Provision of legal advice, advocacy and representation
• Provision of legal information and advice to other advocacy organisations in respect of individual client queries
• Provision of community education
• Law reform and policy work
• Liaising with stakeholders regarding the promotion and development of the law centre and the achievement of its goals and objectives
• Working as part of a team towards the strategic objectives of CLM and ensuring that high standards are maintained in office procedures and case management and, in particular, delivering the service in a way that respects the dignity of each of our clients
• Such other tasks as may be necessary to assist with the work of CLM

Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Appropriate degree
• A professional qualification as a solicitor
• Minimum of 3 years PQE
• Experience in providing legal services to children and their families
• Research experience
• Knowledge of children’s rights
• Knowledge of human rights and public interest law and demonstrated interest in the principle of access to justice
• Experience in litigation at all levels
• Experience in legal practice
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a capacity to be compassionate and respectful with clients
• A professional attitude with an ability to work as part of a team
• Self-motivating and ability to work under pressure
• Enthusiasm and commitment to social justice and equality
• IT skills
• Full driving licence and access to a car

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of judicial review/human rights law
• Masters in human rights law/children’s rights/public interest law/relevant area
• Experience in human rights/social justice work and/or in the community and voluntary sector.

Terms and Conditions

The successful candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract for a period of three years (subject to funding), on a part-time basis and subject to a probation period. The successful candidate will start immediately. The salary offered with this contract position is commensurate with experience. This position is based at CLM Northside, Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin 17. Regular travel is required.

Application

Please email CV and cover letter to Jane O’Sullivan, Managing Solicitor at CLM Northside, at josullivan@communitylawandmediation.ie.

Alternatively, please send by post to Managing Solicitor, Community Law & Mediation Northside, Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin 17. Incomplete applications will automatically be disqualified. The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 12th July 2018.  Interviews will be held in the week beginning 16th July 2018.

Community Law & Mediation is an equal opportunities employer.