Any job offer is subject to DBS approval, undertaking child protection training and satisfactory references.

Transcription

1 Just for Kids Law Applicants Pack Youth Justice Lawyer Below we have included key information about our charity and the role. Read this document alongside the role description and person specification and explore our website to learn more about our work before applying for the role. Queries If you have any queries about the post please Kate Aubrey-Johnson, Youth Justice & Strategic Litigation Fellow, at or call us on , asking to speak to Kate in regards to the role. We will endeavour to speak to you immediately; sometimes this is not possible and we will aim to get back to you within 24 hours of your enquiry. Who are we looking to recruit? We are an award winning charity that punches above its weight striving for more for our young people and more from ourselves. Year on year we have been growing to ensure that we can reach out to more vulnerable young people within London, and reach an even greater number through our strategic litigation work. We have offices in North, West and South London. We are looking to recruit a lawyer to support our youth justice work. This includes Youth Justice case work, providing one-off advice and drafting written representations for crime-related legal enquiries as well as conducting youth justice litigation. The post holder will also be involved in legal research and drafting legal updates for yjlc.uk (Youth Justice Legal Centre online). S/he will also be expected to create, update and deliver youth justice training as well as generally assisting with Just for Kids Law s strategic litigation work. The role will be based in our main office (Euston Square) although you may be expected to work from other London locations. The role is 0.6 FTE (equivalent to 3 days per week). Working days and hours are negotiable. Any job offer is subject to DBS approval, undertaking child protection training and satisfactory references. Applying Download an application form and self declaration form from our website ( Return your completed application form and self declaration form, by (info@justforkidslaw.org) at the closing date and date specified below. Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to sign a copy of the submitted application form and self declaration form. Sadly we will be unable to contact unsuccessful applicants or consider those applications which are submitted after the deadline. Application forms are to be returned for the attention of the Managing Director at info@justforkidslaw.org Key dates Closing date for applications are 1pm on Monday 13 th October. Successful applicants will be notified by 5.30 pm on Friday 17 th October and interviews will be held at our North London Office in the week commencing 20 th October.

2 About Just for Kids Law Our mission Just for Kids Law delivers holistic, client-led support to children and young people from crisis to stability and onwards into independence. We do this through our innovative, community-based legal representation, advocacy and opportunities programmes. We drive systemic change through strategic litigation and policy reform. We are the leading experts in youth justice law, sharing our knowledge, expertise and models across the UK and the world. Our unique model Just for Kids Law was established in May 2006 based on the experiences of the directors, Shauneen Lambe and Aika Stephenson, who were working as legal aid lawyers and representing children in criminal courts. They found the children they represented in criminal proceedings had wider needs beyond good criminal representation. Many of the problems in their lives exclusion from school, unstable housing, mental health problems remained unresolved. We combine our specialist legal representation (often pro bono) with individualized packages of support to address the multiple and complex issues that our young people face preventing them from fully engaging within society. Once their lives are stabilized they work with our opportunities program to get into positive activities; work, education or training. How we deliver our award winning services We provide individualised packages of support to address the multiple and complex issues that our young people face and that prevents them fully engaging within society. We provide: independent youth advocacy for children and young people on a needs-led basis to help represent and support their wishes and to provide access to positive activities; legal representation in education and community care cases to ensure children receive education, housing, social services support and any other support to which they are legally entitled; specialist legal representation to children caught up in the criminal justice system; strategic litigation where we challenge the current youth justice system by undertaking cases that have wide-reaching impact for all young people; a Youth Opportunities Project and a Mentoring Project to support young people into education, employment or training; an Ambassador Project made up of young people who have been supported by JfK Law and now work with our staff to influence decisions and design their own community projects. in-house and external work experience opportunities for young people; policy work where we advise policy groups, think-tanks and government departments as well as drafting and responding to existing reports; unique training courses using our young clients as trainers. Using the first-hand experience of young people, we train law students, criminal justice practitioners, magistrates and judges on how best to represent and interact with children in court. All these programmes work together to offer young people an holistic and joined up approach to address multiple levels of need.

3 Role Description Role Proficient salary: Hours: Reporting to: Key accountabilities Summary Youth Justice Casework Strategic Litigation Casework and Policy Youth Justice Lawyer 26,000-36,000 (pro rata) (depending upon experience) 0.6 FTE (equivalent to 3 days per week) Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow and Executive Director Key elements/tasks The core elements to this role: Youth Justice casework, providing one-off advice and drafting written representations for crime-related legal enquiries; Conducting youth justice litigation; Legal research and drafting legal updates for yjlc.uk (Youth Justice Legal Centre online); Creating, updating and delivering youth justice training; Assisting with Just for Kids Law s strategic litigation. Providing legal advice, guidance and support and conducting litigation: Responding to youth justice-related legal enquiries; Providing legal advice and guidance; Liaising with clients, the police, CPS and other agencies or third parties as appropriate; Drafting case papers, including witness statements; Assessing the merits of a case and identifying appropriate strategies for resolving issues; Drafting written representations and liaising with third parties; Speaking at events; writing articles about youth justice/policy issues; Providing reports about the Youth Justice work as and when required; Liaising internally and externally with the media and communications team and devising case studies and information about the project Assisting the team with the strategic litigation and policy project: Assisting with researching and identifying judicial review proceedings or strategic challenges; Issuing judicial review proceedings; Drafting interventions where appropriate; Instructing counsel and working with counsel on pro bono interventions; Attending conferences in preparation for judicial review hearings; Speaking at events, writing articles about strategic litigation/policy issues; Providing reports about the Strategic Litigation project as and when required; Liaising internally and externally with the media and devising case studies and information about the project

4 Youth Justice training Youth Justice Legal Centre Reporting and evaluation Work with Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow to design, modify and update youth justice training materials; Work with team, partnership organisations and experts to deliver youth justice training; Work with Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow to promote and develop Just for Kids Law s youth justice training. Supporting the creation of an online legal resource for practitioners, professionals, the general public and children: Creating and updating legal content for website and court pack; Editing legal overviews drafted by pro bono lawyers; Drafting weekly updates and news items for website. Provide weekly updates to line manager and prioritise and manage cases in line with quality standards; Produce quarterly reports and additional reports as requested including any reports for funders; Maintain accurate case records and monitor and evaluate the work in line with Just for Kids Law evaluation and outcome monitoring systems.

5 Person Specification Qualifications & Training Degree in law Professional practising legal qualification Experience as a lawyer, desirable to have experience of conducting civil litigation Experience of the youth justice system in England and Wales Desirable to have experience of representing children at the police station and in criminal proceedings Knowledge Detailed knowledge of the law and legal issues affecting young people, in particular, the rights of children at the police station and in criminal proceedings Understanding of the principles and practice of representing young people. Skills and abilities The ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds; from professionals to vulnerable young people The ability to maintain a high level of client care, recognising the difficulties inherent in providing legal services to children and young people; Proven excellent research and writing skills The ability to work co-operatively with colleagues, in terms of the delivery of JFK Law s legal services and in the general running of the organisation; The ability to prioritise workloads and to ensure that all deadlines are met; The ability to communicate fluently and effectively, by correspondence and by telephone, with a range of internal and external contacts; The ability to be self-servicing in an office environment and to be able to use the full range of standard IT applications; The ability to work outside normal office hours on occasions, as required; The ability to travel, both within London and occasionally beyond, in order to carry out trainings and speaking events; The ability to attend and engage in external professional meetings where needed The ability to harness and maintain contacts with a wide range of agencies and individuals Good advocacy skills. Excellent legal drafting skills Excellent organisational skills and file management skills A knowledge and awareness of the requirements of public funding Ability to work independently Good attention to detail Experience At least 2 years post- qualification legal experience Experience of direct client work, providing advice and conducting litigation Desirable to have experience of writing legal materials Desirable to have experience of training professionals Experience of detailed legal research Experience of working directly with young people Experience in using Microsoft Office, and the internet and legal research programs. Essential experience in case and file management, managing own caseload

6 Equality and Diversity Other requirements independently Demonstrable commitment to the aims and principles of Just for Kids Law Commitment to incorporating Equality and Diversity principles in all aspects of work. A willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends. Willingness to attend trainings Willingness to speak publically at events Keep up to date with law and practice