Person Specification Managing Solicitor

PERSON SPECIFICATION – MANAGING SOLICITOR

JOB INFORMATION

Position: Managing Solicitor, permanent, full-time

Salary: £36,313-£41,616 per annum (NJC Scales 43-49) plus London Weighting (£3,299)

Holiday: 30 days paid holiday per year

Pension; Contributory pension available

Line Management Responsibility: All staff members

Reporting to: Management Committee

Location: Central London

Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm (flexible) plus occasional evening engagements by arrangement

JOB PURPOSE

To lead the organisation to ensure it meets its charitable objectives
To lead the strategic direction of PAS
To support and work with the charity’s Management Committee
To assure the quality and consistency of PAS legal services (including advice, litigation, training and other advocacy)
To manage the PAS staff
To manage the finances of PAS
To report on and publicise (to all stakeholders) the work of PAS

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivery of legal advice

To deliver legal advice directly (through casework, in writing, by phone or through advice surgeries) where appropriate/necessary
To supervise the other caseworker staff
To ensure PAS maintains its prison law and public law contracts

To maintain and improve PAS’s advice systems, including its database and electronic and paper storage of documents

Leadership and General Management

To reviewthe strategic aims of PAS, in consultation with the Management Committee and, as appropriate, staff and , where appropriate , to represent PAS at events and network with key stakeholders
To promote PAS externally, particularly to funders, stakeholders and other high level contacts
To take a proactive role in supporting and working with the Management Committee
To take the lead in reviewing strategic and organisational aims and policies and ensuring the implementation of policies adopted in accordance with those aims
To ensure that all statutory reporting requirements are met in particular in relation to Companies House, the Inland Revenue and the Charities Commission
People Management

Overseeing revenue and expenditure with overall responsibility for budget management
Cultivating relationships with individual funders and grant-making bodies and developing relationships with potential funders
Co-ordination of the production of annual financial reports (with external auditors)

PERSON SPECIFICATION (Skills and Experience)

Essential

Admission as a Solicitor with a minimumof5 years post qualification experience and who meets the LAA supervisor standard for prison law or public law or otherwise by reference to their experience would be acceptable to the LAA as a supervisor in these contract categories

Experience in leading a small organisation or equivalent senior management experience, preferably in the not-for-profit/charitable sector
Experience of judicial review and advice work
Experience of the legal aid system
Experience of line management of staff and excellent people management skills
Experience of financial management
Experience of working with a board of directors/trustees/management committee
A strong commitment to the rights of prisoners and minority groups
A strong commitment to equal opportunities

Desirable

Personal Attributes (to be assessed at interview)

Strong, effective manager
Strong decision making capabilities and positive outlook
Ability to work autonomously and use own initiative
Ability to relate to people from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds,
Ability to present information and communicate effectively
Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise and to work calmly under pressure