Job ad: legal officer, Rainbow Migration

Freemovement; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A dedicated legal support organization in London is seeking an experienced Legal Officer to deliver legal advice services to LGBTQI+ individuals seeking asylum. You will help improve the representation and support for these clients, coordinate training for legal professionals, and work with a network of caseworkers. This hybrid role offers a starting salary of £34,000, with the potential for annual increases, 25 days of annual leave, and an emphasis on work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Statutory employer pension contribution

Work-life balance focus

Annual leave increasing with service

Qualifications

• Experience in providing legal advice services focused on asylum.
• Ability to work collaboratively under guidance, develop networks.
• Strong understanding of asylum support and relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver legal advice services to LGBTQI+ asylum seekers.
• Provide casework assistance and second-tier advice.
• Design and deliver training to other legal professionals.
• Write policy and briefing papers.

Skills

Legal advice service delivery

Experience in asylum legal aid

Policy work and training

Network coordination

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

OISC Level 3 accreditation

Job description

Overview

Rainbow Migration are recruiting a Legal Officer to advise and help improve the representation of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum, and help change the asylum and immigration system to one that treats everyone with compassion, dignity and respect.

We are looking for a qualified solicitor or barrister (authorised to practice without a supervising solicitor in a legal advice centre) with valid practising certificate, or already accredited to Level 3 OISC with two years’ experience in providing advice and representation in asylum including working in legal aid (see further requirements in person specification).

Responsibilities

• Deliver Rainbow Migration’s legal advice service to adult LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum by giving one-off advice and working with support services colleagues to refer them to quality legal aid and pro bono lawyers.
• Provide occasional casework assistance (e.g., helping to prepare witness statements, making referrals to other specialist organisations, and taking other urgent steps) whilst not representing service users or maintaining a caseload.
• Provide occasional advice (within competence) on other issues affecting asylum and partnership service users such as asylum support, legal aid, trafficking, family reunion or community care.
• Deliver second-tier advice to the legal representatives of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum and other charities and professionals.
• Work with the Legal and Policy Director to design and deliver training to lawyers, NGOs and other professionals.
• Coordinate a network of caseworkers and lawyers representing LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum.
• Write blogs and articles on asylum and immigration policy and legislation as they apply to LGBTQI+ people.
• Help write policy and briefing papers.
• Occasionally attend meetings with other charities, Home Office policy makers and other stakeholders when required.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister (authorised to practise without a supervising solicitor in a legal advice centre) with valid practising certificate, or Level 3 OISC accreditation with two years’ experience in asylum advice and representation, including working in legal aid.
• Experience in providing day-to-day delivery of legal advice services and contributing to policy work and training.
• The ability to work under guidance of the Legal and Policy Director and to develop and coordinate a network of practitioners in this area.

Role details

• You will: Deliver legal advice service, provide occasional casework assistance, deliver second-tier advice, design and deliver training, coordinate a network of practitioners, and write policy/briefing materials. You will also attend meetings with policy makers and campaign partners when required.
• The Legal Officer will not provide direct legal representation of service users, but will provide substantive advice and casework within the scope of legal support and referrals.
• Occasionally you may provide advice on issues affecting asylum and related services.

Work arrangements

• This role may be full-time, part-time, or focused on first/second tier advice as a part-time option; please indicate preference in your application.
• Occasional evening work is required, and possibly weekends, with notice. Remote or London-based work; one day per week in London office when face-to-face service delivery resumes; some travel outside London with notice.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: Starting at £34,000 with potential annual increases up to £37,970 pro-rata for part-time employees, plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. Inflationary increases considered annually.
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time (35 hours/week), part-time or job share; with TOIL system and emphasis on work-life balance.
• Annual Leave: 25 days per year rising to 28 days with service, pro rata for part-time.

Location and Application

• Location: Remote or from Rainbow Migration’s offices in central London; availability to work from London office at least one day a week when required; some travel may be needed.
• Closing date: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; first consideration from 8 February 2022.
• Interview date: Ongoing scheduling as applications are received.
• How to apply: Please read full role description, email CV and covering statement to [e-mail].

Equal opportunity statement Rainbow Migration is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. We welcome applicants with lived experience of the UK asylum/immigration system and encourage applications from people of colour who are underrepresented among our staff. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the necessary criteria.

Additional information: The Free Movement blog was founded in 2007 by Colin Yeo, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers; this is provided for context but is not part of the role description.