Category: Call

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer) for Britain.

Title: Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer)  
Location: London with remote working with colleagues across Europe 
Reports to: Executive Director 
Line Management: Legal Officer and Junior Legal Officer  
Contract: One year consultancy contract, full-time with likelihood of extension and migration to permanent employment contract  
We offer flexible hours, with a hybrid onsite London office /remote working. 
Salary: Officer 10.6 – 10.7  £48,000 – £50,500 depending on PQE experience, with progression up the scale after each annual review. 750 EURO available to support staff well-being. Assistance with home office equipment.  
Start date: As soon as possible   

How to apply: Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR’ 

Applications are due by 1 May 2024.

We are scheduling interviews as applications come in, don’t miss your chance and apply now!

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE  

The Associate Solicitor will lead our legal team in Britain and oversee our cases in England and Wales.  

The role requires a qualified solicitor with experience of running litigious cases. Our main practice areas in Britain are: (i) public law and human rights; (ii) employment and discrimination and (iii) defamation law. The post-holder will have particular expertise in one of these areas. Our cases also involve data rights, freedom of information, criminal law, actions against the police, charity law, education law, international humanitarian law, and immigration issues.  

The post holder will manage a growing team that consists of a Legal Officer and a Junior Legal Officer. In addition, our country teams have advocacy and communication officers and researchers who monitor anti-Palestinian racism. 

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 Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora.  

ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position. 

Required experience, knowledge and skills   

• 3 years + post-qualified experience (PQE) and admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales. 
• Experience leading on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in public, employment and/or defamation law.  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.  
• An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives. Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics and civil society organisations. 
• Excellent client care skills, particularly in relation to vulnerable or marginalised clients. 
• Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationship with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel. 
• High level of English-language proficiency. 
• Commitment to the Palestinian liberation and solidarity movement. 

Desirable experience, skills and knowledge 

• Dual-qualified in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland. 
• Ideal candidate will already have LAA Supervisor status or meet the requirements to do so.
• Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations. 

• Experience with management and organisational development.  
• Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law. 

Other Requirements

• Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC aims and objectives.
• Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.    
• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.    
• Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements. 
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff, and projects. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Oversee all litigious and advisory casework in Britain alongside our junior legal staff and legal network. Provide expert legal advice and representation, to individual clients and movement partners. 
• Manage our legal officers, providing training and feedback to them as appropriate. Collaborate closely with our legal network of solicitors and counsel with the goal of strengthening the wider movement.  
• Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal network, national partners and experts.  
• Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom. 
• Support ELSC’s outreach and public engagement initiatives. 

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer for Britain. 

Title: Advocacy & Communication Officer – Britain 
Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant

Location: London – with the possibility of remote working in Britain and remote working will colleagues across Europe.

Reports to: Chief of Advocacy and Communications.

Line Management: None

Salary: Salary range is £37,500 – £40,000 depending on experience and with progression up the pay scale after each annual review. 750 EURO available to support staff well-being. Assistance with home office equipment.

Start date: 1 April 2024 or as soon as possible.

How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line [UK ACO OFFICER]. Applications are due by 23:59 CET Sunday 17 March 2024.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE    

As the Advocacy Officer for Britain, you will be in the Advocacy & Communication Team and work with our Legal Officers in Britain and partners to design and implement public outreach strategies (including engaging with the press and use social media, in particular) to achieve visibility for our legal work and narrative change; crowdfund to cover legal costs; build campaigns, grow and mobilise our network of supporters; and establish relationships with activists on the ground in Britain. 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE  & QUALIFICATIONS 

• 2-3 years experience working in a similar role (or equivalent) with a good eye for a story and clear instincts about audience, channels, and purpose, and a track record of successfully placing stories in the media, including: pitching stories, writing press releases, and placing op eds.  
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist organising, in particular the rights of the Palestinian people and the intersectional struggles connected to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
• Experience (professional or volunteer) with campaigning; involvement in activist groups, grassroots, non-profit or electoral political organisations. 
• Experience convening coalitions and building relationships. 

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES    

• Basic knowledge of common law/human rights principles, the law of England & Wales, or direct experience with the British legal system.
• Demonstrated ability to distil complex legal and policy issues into compelling and accurate copy for a range of channels and audiences.
• Demonstrated skills in communications/ advocacy work. 
• Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills. English is the working language of the ELSC. 
• Good understanding and knowledge of British politics on the question of Palestine.
• Teamwork skills and flexibility; ability to manage time and prioritise with a busy workload.
• Highly organised, strong attention to detail, driven, can work independently without direction.  
• Commitment to anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.   
• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.   
• To be flexible within the broad remit of the post. 

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS   

• A Master’s degree in a related field. 
• Proficiency in Arabic. 
• Experience with web development, graphic design, social media management or other digital communications experience and skills. 

MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS

• In coordination with the Advocacy and Communication Team, produce and implement public outreach strategies that fit with the legal strategies of the individuals and groups we are supporting; provide them with expert media advice. 
• Develop, maintain and proactively use contacts with British, international print and broadcast media to identify opportunities for and secure, immediate and long-term media coverage in print and broadcast media.
• Pitch stories, produce/ review media materials on ELSC’s work, respond to queries from journalists and coordinate and carry out appropriate interviews.
• Draft and publish case summaries/updates on the ELSC website, in coordination with the relevant legal officers, and assist with the production and distribution of the ELSC monthly Newsletter.
• Support the Digital Communication Officer to design and monitor relevant social media content: text, visuals and potential videos/reels. 
• Maintain and expand our network of support in Britain through maintaining effective communication with activists and partner organisations.
• Represent the ELSC in public events in Britain. 

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking a Paralegal for the UK.

Job title: Paralegal 

Department: UK Legal Defence Team  

Office location: Remote working

Reporting to: UK Legal Officer – Team Leader 

Hours: 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility is required from time to time to meet the professional requirements of the role. 

Contract: Short term contract – ends 31 Dec 2023, start as soon as possible, Full-time – £2000 – £2500 depending on experience  

The Role

Overall purpose for this role 

• To provide a reliable and efficient support service for UK Legal Officer and assist with general administration of cases of repression; 
• To undertake a wide variety of paralegal and administrative tasks as set out below.  

Main duties and responsibilities 

Case Management 

• To effectively manage the intake and referral of cases and ensure that accurate information and instructions are obtained from clients and accurate records are maintained; 
• Assist with drafting documents, client liaison including interviewing clients and taking instructions, research work and provide general administrative support;  
• Sort and review records, drafting case summaries, liaise with solicitors, barristers and third parties;  
• Ensure that urgent matters are escalated and referred to appropriate person in a timely manner.   

Client/ 3rd party management 

• Communicate with clients/ other parties as and when necessary, in a professional, courteous and efficient manner; 

Document/ Data management 

• Ensure documents and copies of correspondence are kept up to date and filed; 
• Ensure accuracy when updating client information on the relevant databases; 
• Ensure database information is updated and maintained in accordance with instructions and in line with relevant processes; 

• Open new files and close old files as required. 

Person specification  

• Genuine interest in working with European Legal Support Centre and passionate about defending Palestinian solidarity and providing access to justice to all;   
• Good academic background with legal qualifications (Law Degree or GDL required; LPC/SQE or BPTC not required); 
• Previous experience in a legal firm, chambers and/or legal clinic or law centre 
• Ability to manage own workload in a busy environment to a consistently high standard and timely manner; 
• Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to client care; 
• Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders; 
• Experience with dealing with clients sensitively and managing difficult conversations; 
• Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment;  
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office Teams 

Desirable 

• Experience in interviewing and liaising with clients and taking witness statements

How to apply

All applications must be submitted via this form.

Fill in the form, upload a copy of your CV and complete the assignment.  

Rolling application process – open until filled. 

The ELSC is seeking a Legal Officer based in the UK to carry out ELSC’s activities in the UK and expand its team.

The UK Legal Officer will be responsible for overseeing all cases and projects emanating from the UK. The role will cover five main areas of work:

a) overseeing casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates in the UK;

b) providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under UK domestic law and European human rights law;

c) developing strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies;

d) analysing relevant legislation and jurisprudence under UK and EU law; and

e) organising and participating in workshops and advocacy events.

To read the full job description, please click here.

To apply for this position, send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, and a legal writing sample, in English, to application@elsc.support with the subject line “ELSC UK Legal Officer Application” by Sunday 17 April.

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Picture: Flag – Great Britain (cropped) Cc Vaughan Leiberum