About Good Law Project

Good Law Project’s mission is to achieve change through the law. We defend, define and change the law to protect the environment, uphold democracy and ensure no one is left behind. We hold Government and others to account through challenges in the Courts. We are a small and young organisation, but we have been expanding quickly, with increasingly prominent and successful legal cases: we had a primary role in overturning the prorogation of Parliament two years ago and have more recently been shining a bright light on Government’s award of pandemic contracts and jobs to their friends and associates. We raise funds directly from the public for our work, and operate on a not for profit basis. We are brave, honest and decisive – those are Good Law Project’s values.

Our website sets out more about what we do: https://goodlawproject.org/

We are committed to holding Government and other powerful actors to account and to tackling issues of injustice, inequality and discrimination experienced by some of the most marginalised groups in our society.

We are now looking for a Legal Manager to ensure that the legal and campaigning objectives of Good Law Project are met by the lawyers we instruct. You will support the Legal Director in developing and managing Good Law Project’s litigation portfolio and liaising with the Good Law Project team to build successful campaigns around those legal cases. You will also instruct lawyers on non-contentious matters.

You will not need to be a lawyer in practice but you will need to be a qualified and experienced barrister or solicitor, ideally with experience of strategic litigation. This position forms part of the “client” side of the legal team so your work will be informed by, rather than consist of, your experience as a practising lawyer.

You will report to our Legal Director and will have some paralegal and administrative support. You can read the full job description and person specification below, and you can see how the role fits into the current Good Law Project team at the end of this application information.

Salary: £50,000 per annum with generous benefits

Hours: 35 hours per week, over 5 days

Contract type: permanent, after completion of 3 months’ probation

Location: Hybrid office in central London (subject to any COVID-19 restrictions) with options for flexibility.

Essential experience and attributes

Qualified and experienced solicitor or barrister

A demonstrable ability to grasp quickly new concepts and areas of the law with an openness to learning new approaches, topics and skills;

Support Good Law Project’s values and demonstrate commitment to its areas of work

Desirable:

Experience and understanding of strategic litigation and using the law as a campaign tool

To apply, please send us one 3-page document consisting of your CV (max one page) with a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining why you are interested in the role, and how you meet the requirements, together with the details of two referees to jobs@goodlawproject.org, with the subject line “Legal Manager”.

Deadline for applications: midnight 18 October 2021

We intend to hold interviews via Zoom between 4 - 9 November 2021, with specific dates/times to be confirmed.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or social class. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from ethnic minorities and/or those with lived experience of disadvantage.

The role is advertised as “full-time” however we are happy to discuss and explore flexible options and job share arrangements.

Job title: Legal Manager

Job Purpose: to ensure that the legal and campaigning objectives of Good Law Project are met by the lawyers we instruct. You will support the Legal Director in developing and managing Good Law Project’s litigation portfolio and liaising with the Good Law Projectteam to build successful campaigns around those legal cases.

Reports to: Legal Director

Responsible for: no-one formally at present, though management of one or more members of the legal team may follow

Duties and key responsibilities

Manage external legal teams and provide ongoing instructions on allocated cases

Liaise with campaign team internally to help manage timing and content on communications and fundraising

Identify and work with colleagues and partner organisations to achieve shared goals through strategic litigation or legislative change

Supervise the work of paralegals or administrative assistants who may be supporting you with tasks

Instruct lawyers on non-contentious matters

General Responsibilities

Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or reasonably be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position

Actively support and embed Good Law Project’s values and its positive culture in your professional practice at all times

Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements

Support and promote inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace

Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff and projects

Person Specification
Experience Essential:

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Experience of practising or working with the law in England and Wales, Scotland and/or Northern Ireland

A good understanding of strategic litigation and using the law as a campaign tool

Experience in managing a wide-ranging and extensive caseload or matters

Desirable:

Practical experience with strategic litigation and using the law as a campaign tool

Experience in instructing counsel and other lawyers in outsourced arrangements

Experience in leading and managing junior members of staff

Skills and Abilities

Commitment to a high standard of professional behaviours, including collaboration, honesty and integrity

Strong creative and critical analytical skills, and an ability to grasp quickly new concepts and areas of the law with an openness to learning new ideas

Confident working with and assimilating complex technical, commercial, political, and legal material

Self-motivated with ability to work unsupervised, but can also work cooperatively as part of a team

Accurate and thorough, with attention to detail

Flexibility and adaptability in attitude and approach to work, with a willingness to ‘muck in’ and support the team with whatever might arise, working towards a common objective

Strong spoken and written communication skills which engage colleagues and stakeholders, encouraging understanding and participation

Self-confident and able to take initiative in areas of responsibility

Ability to manage multiple demands while consistently meeting deadlines

IT skills in core business applications and in the use of case management systems

Strong interpersonal skills e.g. approachable and able to demonstrate empathy while being clear about boundaries and organisational requirements

Ability to problem-solve difficult situations and deal with them calmly and effectively

Willingness to innovate and seek ways to improve casework and wider organisational systems and procedures

Knowledge Knowledge of public law and other fields relevant to Good Law Project’s work

Knowledge of UK political landscape

Education/Training/Qualifications

Qualification as a solicitor or barrister

Other Requirements

Commitment to the core values and ethos of the Good Law Project – see below

Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities and an ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work

Interested and motivated to further own skills and knowledge

Our values

Brave: We are brave and we are bold

Honest: We are honest, open and trustworthy

Decisive:

We are decisive, nimble and responsive