Associate Solicitor – Britain

Main Purpose of the Role

The Associate Solicitor will conduct civil litigation in Britain and oversee cases in England and Wales. The role requires a qualified solicitor with experience of running litigious cases. We are seeking to expand our work in Britain to include civil discrimination claims, actions against the state, and media law work. The post-holder will have particular expertise in one or more of these areas. Our cases also involve data rights, freedom of information, charity law, education law, international humanitarian law, and defamation issues.

The post holder will join a growing team that consists of a Senior Legal Officer, Legal Officer and a Junior Legal Officer. In addition, our British work team has an Advocacy and Communication Manager and two researchers who monitor anti-Palestinian repression.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, or social class. We particularly welcome applications from Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora.

ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct civil litigation and advisory casework in Britain alongside our legal team and legal network.
• Provide expert legal advice and representation, to individual clients and movement partners.
• Provide training and feedback to junior legal staff as appropriate.
• Collaborate closely with our legal network of solicitors and counsel with the goal of strengthening the wider movement.
• Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal network, national partners and experts.
• Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.
• Support ELSC’s outreach and public engagement initiatives.

Required Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• 3-5 years + post-qualified experience (PQE) and admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales.
• Experience leading on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters in civil litigation, particularly actions against the state, media and/or privacy law.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.
• An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives.
• Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics and civil society organisations.
• Excellent client care skills, particularly in relation to vulnerable or marginalised clients.
• Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.
• High level of English-language proficiency.
• Commitment to the Palestinian liberation and solidarity movement.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Knowledge

• Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.
• Experience with supervision and organisational development.
• Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
• Dual-qualified in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland.

Other Requirements

• Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC aims and objectives.
• Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.
• Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff, and projects.