Dear Applicant. Re: Paralegal possibly leading to a training contract after six months

Transcription

1 June 2015 Dear Applicant Re: Paralegal possibly leading to a training contract after six months Thank you your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed an application pack. If you would like to apply, please submit your CV and letter of application explaining why you are interested in this post and North Kensington Law Centre. You letter of application should also show how you meet the criteria of the person specification, and be no longer than two pages. The deadline for all applications is Thursday 25 th June 2015 Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 6 th July 2015 All applications should be addressed to Raji Hunjan and sent to raji@nklc.co.uk. Please note that we anticipate a high level of interest for this post and therefore ask that you ensure you are able to demonstrate how you meet the person specification in order to be considered. In particular we will only shortlist candidates with experience in a legal practice, and those who have a background in Housing or Immigration (ideally level 1 accredited). We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Raji Hunjan Director

2 Job Advert Paralegal, North Kensington Law Centre, Baseline Studios, Whitchurch Road, London W11 4AT 35 hours per week, 18k pa The North Kensington Law Centre is recruiting a Paralegal to manage a caseload under the supervision of our experienced solicitors. The purpose of the post is to undertake advice, casework and representation mainly in Housing and Immigration. This is a very exciting time to join NKLC as it continues to develop new ways of working to ensure its sustainability in the future. For the right candidate, this is an opportunity to build a portfolio of case work and operate in a legal aid and fixed fee context. Deadline for applications: Thursday 25 th June 2015 To download an application pack, please visit our website.

3 North Kensington Law Centre Paralegal with a possibility of leading to a training contract Responsible to: Contract: Salary: Senior Solicitor 35 hours a week (5 days) 18,000 pa Background The North Kensington Law Centre exists to serve the communities and most vulnerable in North Kensington and its surrounding boroughs. It has recently gone through a process of change to increase its efficiency and sustainability in the long term. As part of this, it has identified the need for increased capacity in its casework to generate further income through its fixed fee work as its LAA contracts. The role of the paralegal is to support our experienced Solicitors and build up a case load. This is a very exciting time to join NKLC as it starts to implement a new ways of working to ensure high quality casework, efficient systems to underpin this, and diversified income streams. For the right candidate, this is an opportunity to develop a range of skills and take on new responsibilities. Overall purpose of the post To increase the capacity of the North Kensington Law Centre to offer high quality second tier advice to the most vulnerable in the borough. To support the Law Centre in generating further income through fixed fee and LAA contracts. Duties and Responsibilities Manage a case load ensuring high quality client service. Tasks include but are not limited to: Overseeing the opening of new files Completing all compliance requirements Conducting research Communicating with clients and third parties Managing client monies Attending court and tribunals (if applicable) Keeping files up to date and that all time is recorded on the Law Centre s case management system. Interviewing witnesses and draft witness statements Meeting clients and undertaking various client care tasks Processing files to be billed and archived Manage telephone helplines, including an evening helpline if required.

4 Undertake all other duties as required by the Director, the Senior Solicitor and the Supervising Solicitor. Attend regular internal meetings Person Specification Experience and Education Level 1 accreditation in Immigration and Asylum and/or experience in Housing. Significant experience of casework as a caseworker, advisor, volunteer or paralegal A good academic record having obtained a minimum 2.1 degree at university and completed the LPC. Excellent IT skills, including experience of a case management system. The Law Centre uses Peapod Lola. Experience of working with vulnerable clients Experience of working both under an LAA contract and with private fee paying clients. Working in a Cloud hosted environment (desirable) Skills and competencies: Ability to work under the supervision of a senior solicitor A good understanding of the business side of casework, including client generation, time recording and billing Accuracy and attention to detail Ability to interview witnesses and collate relevant documentation Excellent research skills Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills Attention to detail and accuracy Ability to meet deadlines Key Attributes Ability to stay calm and composed in demanding situations A problem solver and can do attitude Ability to take clear instructions and follow through Good communication skills and personal presentation Patience and empathy when working with vulnerable clients Good organisation skills Flexible regarding working hours when necessary Flexible approach to carrying out duties outside of job description when required

5 About the North Kensington Law Centre The North Kensington Law Centre opened its doors in 1970 as the first Law Centre in the country, pioneering a community-based legal service which promotes rights and equality of opportunity. We have been serving the communities of North Kensington and beyond for over 40 years and have established a history and tradition of fighting for justice on behalf of people from disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. From the very beginning, our roots have been in campaigning for better and affordable housing for vulnerable communities. In addition to our history, we have the energy and value base to keep on achieving social change with communities for the next 40 years and beyond. Not only do we promote a rights based approach to access to justice, but we also believe that communities that are represented and have their voices heard on legal issues, are then able to participate more fully in community and civic life. We very much see access to legal help for vulnerable communities as a route out of poverty. In recent years, the North Kensington Law Centre and the communities it serves have been hit by two financial challenges. Firstly, cuts in housing and welfare benefits means that the challenges that our communities face have increased, more of our clients have much more complex cases and multiple needs/disadvantages, thus facing a greater risk of living in poverty. Secondly, cuts in advice services funding have impacted dramatically on the services we can offer, particularly the loss of legal aid funding for employment and welfare benefits advice since April 2013, and the reduction in immigration cases covered by legal aid. We have responded to the second of these challenges internally by changing our staffing structure, strengthening the make-up and role of our Management Committee, changing the role of the Director to focus on change strategies for the next five years and broking stronger partnerships across a range of different stakeholders. We are looking to respond to the first of these two challenges by exploring ways in which we can continue to serve communities with less legal aid funding; one of which is to provide a triage service which will enable us to still assess, sign post and engage with more people in the community. We aim to strengthen our organisation and our sustainability and effectiveness in the future by: Increasing the number of people we can support Streamlining our own internal processes and systems Moving from our current location to a smaller fully serviced office Strengthening our use of volunteers Building up a fee base structure for cases that fall out of legal aid scope. Further expanding and developing our governance structures Our Funding We are funded through a mix of Legal Aid contracts, grant funding and fee earning work. We are grateful to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for a contribution to our core costs. Other

6 funders include Tudor Trust, Trust for London, City Bridge, Big Lottery, Access to Justice Foundation, ABCT Trust and the London Legal Support Trust. Current Staffing Structures We are a relatively small organisation with eight paid members of staff and a strong team of legal volunteers. Our current staff structure consists of: Raji Hunjan, Director Martina Flanagan, Senior Solicitor, also supervises NKLC s Asylum contract Cassim Yacoobali, Asylum/Immigration caseworker (part time) Thalatha Wickramansinghe, Housing Solicitor Adrian Cooper, Welfare Benefits and generalist caseworker Barry Mills, Senior Employment Caseworker Claire Lathwell, Legal Triage Co-ordinator Sana Al-Hadad, Practice Co-ordinator/Volunteer Co-ordinator Office location In August 2014 we left our home of 40 years in the Golborne Road and are now based at Baseline Studios, Whitchurch St, London, W11 4AT. Our offices are open to the public, Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 5.00pm.