Solicitor

JR United Kingdom; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A unique opportunity for a Solicitor to provide vital legal support to women, children, and young people affected by domestic abuse across Shetland and Orkney. The role involves delivering compassionate legal advice, engaging in casework, and contributing to policy-making in family law.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Home-based working options available

Expenses covered for travel to the islands

Access to central Edinburgh office space

Qualifications

• Experience in family law required.
• Awareness of domestic abuse and the criminal justice process appreciated.
• Open to solicitors with varying post-qualifying experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation in family law matters.
• Conduct legal casework and court representation on domestic abuse cases.
• Contribute to policy and research regarding legal responses to domestic abuse.

Skills

Family Law

Trauma-Informed Approach

Sensitivity

Job description

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A unique opportunity has arisen to provide vital legal support to women, children, and young people affected by domestic abuse across Shetland and Orkney.

We are seeking a dedicated Solicitor to join a collaborative project between Scottish Women’s Aid, Shetland Women’s Aid, Women’s Aid Orkney, and Baker Gostelow Family Law, together, we aim to address unmet legal needs for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.

The successful candidate(s) will be employed by Baker Gostelow Family Law and will take a compassionate, collaborative, and trauma-informed approach to delivering legal information, advice, and representation to women supported by Women’s Aid Orkney and Shetland Women’s Aid.

Role Overview

Legal casework and Court representation will largely focus on family law matters such asseparation, contact and residence, as well as on related areas such as housing and financial claims arising from separation.

In this rewarding role, you will not only provide legal advice and representation on family law matters but also contribute to policy and research – helping to shape the future of legal responses to domestic abuse.

We understand that working in this field requires sensitivity and specialist knowledge as such, candidates must have some experience in family law and an awareness of domestic abuse and the criminal justice process. Training on these areas will also be provided.

If you’re a solicitor with family law experience and a passion for social justice, we’d love to hear from you!

Location & flexibility: We’re committed to making this role work for the right candidate. While our ideal candidate would be based on Orkney and/or Shetland, we’re open to hybrid and flexible working arrangements – let’s discuss what works for you. The role is expected to involve:

• A mix of office and court work on the Shetland & Orkney Islands.
• Home-based working options available.
• We welcome applications for full-time, part-time, or job share arrangements.
• For the right candidate there’s potential to work remotely, with travel to the islands
• (expenses covered).
• Access to central Edinburgh office space, if required.

Salary: £35,000 – £55,125 FTE per annum, commensurate with post qualifying & family law experience.

Contract: Fixed Term 18 months. We are open to offering this role as either one full-time position (39 hours per week) or two part-time positions.

Experience: This post is suitable for solicitors with a range of post-qualifying experience, starting at newly qualified. It is preferred that applicants have some experience in the area of family law.

Essential: This role(s) is available only to women. This is a Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 .