Charity registered in Scotland SC032226
Dundee North Law Centre has been assisting people in Dundee with their legal issues for 30 years. Our overall objective is to combat poverty and homelessness by providing free accessible, confidential, quality legal advice and representation on social welfare law issues including housing, evictions, debt, and welfare benefits.
We are looking for an experienced Principal Solicitor, with a passion for helping people, to lead our team of solicitors in providing legal advice and representation which contributes to the well-being of local communities in Dundee.
Dundee Law Centre Solicitors need to ensure that clients receive high quality, targeted legal advice and representation on the full range of social welfare law issues. The work involves advising on social welfare matters such as housing, evictions, debt, welfare, and benefits. The work is varied and complex, the pace is fast, and the Law Centre Principal Solicitor and staff need to be resilient and agile. Dundee Law Centre has an ongoing portfolio of social welfare matters and the Law Centre Solicitors need to be flexible in managing a mixed caseload to include legal advice, court work and tribunals.
The Principal Solicitor will provide high quality, targeted and accessible legal advice and representation across a range of practice areas and will work as a valued legal partner with colleagues across the organisation to secure and deliver effective solutions to legal issues. The Principal Solicitor will need to be highly experienced and technically proficient in the Law Centre’s areas of legal specialism. The Principal Solicitor will be expected to work with a high degree of autonomy on complex legal matters.
The Principal Solicitor will generally lead and manage their own portfolio of matters, but they will also work collegiately with other Law Centre Solicitors, the Chair of the Board, and the Operations Manager on legal projects, particularly those which require legal input on social welfare matters. The Principal Solicitor will also supervise the work of the Law Centre’s Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors, and other expert advisors. The Principal Solicitor will be expected to provide legal advice that is placed within the wider strategic context and as such will be expected to develop and maintain a broad knowledge of the Law Centre’s strategic objectives, to develop strong working relationships with colleagues at all levels across the organisation and to be influential in securing high levels of legal compliance whilst supporting the effective delivery of the Dundee Law Centre legal services.
Dundee Law Centre is recruiting for an ambitious and self-driven Finance & Operations Manager to join our team due to the retirement of the current post holder.
Post responsibilities:
- Responsibility for all the organisation’s financial matters.
- Overseeing the Finance, HR, business, and administrative operations and managing the staff directly related to those functions.
- Assessing and enhancing the efficiency of internal and external operational processes.
- Leading and motivating staff to achieve operational objectives.
- Overseeing the recruitment process and oversee HR policies and procedures.
- Establishing policies that improve and promote company vision and culture.
- Evaluate company performance and implement company strategies.
- Prepare and manage the budget and work in collaboration with the Treasurer.
- Develop strategies for raising awareness of the business including website and social media campaigns.
- Deliver monthly performance reports to the Board.
- Reviewing and identifying funding opportunities for the organisation.
Skills and Qualifications Requirements:
- Previous working experience at a Senior management level for at least 3 years
- Educated to degree level in Finance, Administration, or relevant field
- In-depth knowledge of different business functions such as Finance, Business Development and HR.
- Knowledge of fundraising, strategic planning, and business development
- Working knowledge of data analysis and KPIs
- Familiar with IT/Business infrastructure
- Organisational and time management skill imperative.
- Problem-solving mindset
- Good communication and presentation skills
Dundee Law Centre are ardent promoters of access to justice across the city. Our aim is to ensure everyone in Dundee facing social welfare challenges and inequality understands their legal rights and has access to professional legal services.
Alongside our legal aid casework, the Law Centre is part funded by Dundee City Council to provide a range of community outreach and legal advice, and representation services. Dundee Community Law Limited is a Limited Liability Partnership and a Practice Unit licensed by the Law Society of Scotland. Our solicitors are regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, and we provide legal services to the charity Dundee Law Centre.
We strive to tackle poverty and help people to exercise their legal rights. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life of people by representation through the legal process. Our solicitors work alongside community-based advice agencies, providing them with legal support to help their clients.
Our services are very much in demand, and we are expanding our team as a result. This solicitor will be responsible for taking on and managing a varied caseload to meet the Law Centre’s contractual and performance targets. We are particularly looking for solicitors who are interested in social welfare law and have experience of working with vulnerable clients. However, this role would suit candidates who are seeking a change in direction, away from the ‘rat race’ and who what to make a real difference by using their legal knowledge and experience. Candidates must also be able to maintain excellent working relationships with a dedicated support administrative team.
Skills Required:
You will have the ability, and confidence to manage a caseload mainly comprising of housing law (repossession, homelessness, eviction, domestic abuse in housing – not criminal work - and disrepair), welfare benefits and debt work. Previous experience of social welfare law is preferred but not necessary as full training can be provided. A desire to make a difference and a passion for helping people to understand their legal rights is vital in this role. The successful candidate will be working with other experienced solicitors who are keen to support their new colleague.
You will be experienced in Scottish Legal Aid and its required quality assurance framework.
You will understand the needs of vulnerable and complex clients and be able to communicate legal concepts clearly and in plain English.
You will be a confident court practitioner with excellent technical skills, and the ability to focus these where you can make the biggest difference. This is a varied and exciting opportunity to work with a dedicated team and do something that really matters.
You will have a minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience and a full current practicing certificate from the Law Society of Scotland. The ability to drive and having your own car will be useful in the role although not essential.
Due to our continued growth of the law centre, we are seeking a legal & finance administrative assistant for the administration/finance department. Reporting to the Finance & Operations Manager the successful candidate will be working as an integral part of a friendly and supportive team. Whilst previous experience in a legal/finance environment is advantageous it is not essential and applications from candidates with previous finance experience who exhibit the skills and attributes below will be given due consideration. The roll will involve you in a variety of financial and legal administrative tasks working in a busy law centre which prides itself on its professionalism and efficiency.
Ideally, we are looking for a candidate with experience of working in a similar role who will be able to come in and hit the ground running. This is a specialised team, and this will be a good opportunity for a candidate to advance your skills and knowledge.
Key Responsibilities
• Submit Advice & Assistance civil aid claims to the Scottish Board of Legal Aid.
• Monitor the closed case submission, finance email boxes and queries in a timely manner.
• Track all legal aid receipts and reconciliation of the bank account on a weekly basis.
• Develop an advanced working knowledge of the Scottish legal aid process.
• Maintain legal aid submissions records.
• Data entry for statistical reporting purposes.
• Keep client management system updated.
• Data entry for our enquiries process for statistical reporting purposes.
• Maintain excel spreadsheets for statistical reporting purposes.
• Daily administrative duties to keep the department.
• Data entry for purchase invoices.
Skills and Attributes
• Positive and confident with a can-do attitude with a desire to learn and develop within the role.
• Highly numerate with a methodical approach, excellent accuracy and attention to detail is imperative.
• Ability to work under pressure, to assess tasks, prioritise and escalate when required.
• A team player who is also willing to take ownership and responsibility for their own role.
• Communicates will and the ability to work with colleagues at all levels.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Work and Outlook
• Working knowledge of legal client management system, but not essential as training will be offered.
• Working knowledge of Xero accounting software, but not essential as training will be offered.
• Working knowledge of the Scottish Legal Aid Board advantageous but not essential as training will be offered.
Dundee Law Centre are ardent promoters of access to justice across the city. Our aim is to ensure everyone in Dundee facing social welfare challenges and inequality understands their legal rights and has access to professional legal services.
Alongside our legal aid casework, the Law Centre is part funded by Dundee City Council to provide a range of community outreach, legal advice, and representation services. Dundee Community Law Limited is a Limited Liability Partnership and a Practice Unit licensed by the Law Society of Scotland. Our solicitors are regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, and we provide legal services to the charity Dundee Law Centre.
We strive to tackle poverty and help people to exercise their legal rights. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people by representation through the legal process. Our solicitors work alongside community-based advice agencies, providing them with legal support to help their clients.
Our services are very much in demand, and we are expanding our team as a result. This solicitor will be responsible for taking on and managing a varied caseload to meet the Law Centre’s contractual and performance targets. We are particularly looking for solicitors who are interested in social welfare law and have experience of working with vulnerable clients. However, this role would suit candidates who are seeking a change in direction, and who what to make a real difference by using their legal knowledge and experience. Candidates must also be able to maintain excellent working relationships with a dedicated support administrative team.
Skills Required:
You will have the ability, and confidence to manage a caseload mainly comprising of housing law (repossession, homelessness, eviction, domestic abuse in housing – not criminal work - and disrepair), welfare benefits and debt work. Previous experience of social welfare law is preferred but not necessary as full training can be provided. A desire to make a difference and a passion for helping people to understand their legal rights is vital in this role. The successful candidate will be working with other experienced solicitors who are keen to support their new colleague.
You will be experienced in Scottish Legal Aid and its required quality assurance framework.
You will understand the needs of vulnerable and complex clients and be able to communicate legal concepts clearly and in plain English.
You will be a confident court practitioner with excellent technical skills, and the ability to focus these where you can make the biggest difference. This is a varied and exciting opportunity to work with a dedicated team and do something that really matters.
You will have a minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience and a full current practicing certificate from the Law Society of Scotland. The ability to drive and having your own car will be useful in the role although not essential.
Dundee Law Centre is seeking new trustees to join our Board of Directors.
Dundee Law Centre is a long-established charity offering free legal advice and representation to clients living within Dundee who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances and in need of legal services.
Our main focus is to address unmet legal need within the area of Social Welfare Law
Dundee Law Centre is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Our legal services are delivered through a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) staffed by registered qualified solicitors whose practice is regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.
The Board is currently seeking individuals with an interest in making a difference, to support the continued development and sustainability of the Law Centre.
The Law Centre offices have recently relocated to central Dundee to connect more readily with our clients and partners in the community.
To bring additional skills and expertise to the Board, we are seeking applications from dedicated individuals from wide ranging and diverse backgrounds including those with a background in areas such as law, finance, business, marketing, fundraising and the voluntary sector.
This is a great opportunity to get involved with the Law Centre at an exciting time in our development. New Board members will get the chance to make a difference and be a part of change in our organisation.
This is a voluntary unpaid position