Legal Coordinator

River Action Uk; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental campaign organization in the UK seeks a passionate Legal Coordinator to enhance efforts for cleaner rivers. This role demands legal expertise to manage strategic litigation and support advocacy work. Ideal candidates will possess a law degree, excellent research and communication skills, and experience in the environmental sector. Engage with external lawyers and lead impactful legal actions to drive changes. Join a dedicated team of positive disruptors and help protect the UK’s rivers.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable UK legal experience, ideally with environmental law.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues into accessible messaging.
• Experience in coordinating multiple projects under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Act as a link between external lawyers and campaigning work.
• Scope and manage strategic litigation to achieve systemic change.
• Produce legal research to inform policy and advocacy work.

Skills

Legal research skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Ability to manage multiple projects

Education

Law degree or equivalent

Job description

As Legal Coordinator, you will play a crucial role in shaping River Action's fight for cleaner rivers by acting as the link between legal expertise provided by external lawyers and River Action's day-to-day campaigning, policy, advocacy and operational work. The role will involve working closely with River Action's Head of Legal to use the law and legal strategies to strengthen and improve environmental protection of the UK’s rivers. This exciting role will include scoping, developing and managing strategic litigation to achieve systemic change as well as supporting River Action's policy and advocacy work. You'll also support the River Action team to build successful campaigns to challenge polluters, hold government and regulators accountable, and push for policy reform. Support the Head of Legal in scoping, developing and managing River Action's legal work, including commissioning legal services from external lawyers and providing instructions on legal matters. Produce legal research and analysis to inform and support River Action's strategic litigation, policy and advocacy work. Work with the campaigns team to develop impactful legal actions as part of creative and positively disruptive campaigns to deliver organisational goals. Work with the communities team to identify opportunities for River Action to support communities through legal action, including by developing the River Rescue Kit and other initiatives to extend impact. Engage with and obtain information and evidence from claimants, complainants, expert witnesses and other sources to support legal actions and campaigns. Develop an in-depth understanding of UK legal and policy frameworks relating to rivers and ensure colleagues are kept up to date with changes.

Do you want to be part of a movement making waves to clean up the UK's rivers? Are you passionate about using the law as a tool for change? Do you have the legal and research skills to amplify our impact? If so, we want you to join our team. We are looking for a highly capable, ambitious, well‑organised, energetic, proactive and diligent individual with legal experience (academic or professional) to play an integral role in developing and delivering our growing legal, policy and advocacy work. You don't need to be a qualified or practising lawyer, but you do need to have a law degree or equivalent and familiarity with environmental law. You'll understand the importance of winning in both courts of law and of public opinion. You'll be passionate, eager to learn and committed to.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrable UK legal experience (academic and/or professional), ideally including environmental, public and administrative law. A law degree or equivalent is required.
• Excellent legal research, drafting and communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues into accessible and impactful messaging.
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills with demonstrable experience of coordinating multiple projects, working flexibly and at
• Good understanding of strategic litigation and using the law as a tool for change.
• Proven ability to produce high quality work under pressure.
• Commitment to River Action's mission and to working collaboratively across the sector.
• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister.
• Experience working in a similar role.
• Experience working in the UK's environmental sector.
• Experience with strategic litigation and using the law as a tool for change.
• Experience with instructing and managing external lawyers.
• Experience working with parliamentarians and of UK parliamentary procedures.
• Media / spokesperson experience.

We are a campaign organisation on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the impacts of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution. We take a creative and bold approach to campaigning, blending sharp strategy with positively disruptive tactics to inspire real action. We support grassroots movements, galvanise public opinion, influence government policy and drive industry change. We are a small, dedicated and talented team of positive disrupters and community mobilisers who work collaboratively to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of people and nature. Find out more about our mission and our team on our website.