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Solicitor
Salary: Starting salary is £37,060
Working pattern: Full time or part time, Fixed Term
Location: Nationwide (working remotely)
Closing date: 10 November 2024 at midnight
Are you a passionate and dedicated criminal defence solicitor looking to make a real difference?
Join our Solicitor Contact Line (SCL) and provide crucial, 24-hour legal support, by telephone or in person, to individuals in police custody across Scotland, taking all reasonable steps to protect the welfare and wellbeing of any person in police custody. You will also assist in providing ongoing service to clients through the Public Defence Solicitors’ Office (PDSO).
We’re seeking solicitors with:
• a passion for criminal defence and commitment to promoting justice
• experience providing legal advice in criminal cases
• the ability to work independently, often under pressure, while making sound legal judgements
• a willingness to work a flexible, shift-based schedule
• a full, valid driving licence.
About the role
SCL is a team of publicly funded criminal defence lawyers who provide dedicated advice and representation, on the phone and in person, 24-hours a day, to people arrested at police stations.
The role operates on a flexible, shift-based system, with shifts covering 24 hours, seven days a week. You will work an average of 37 hours per week (full time) or pro rata for part time.
Shifts vary between 12 hour solo shifts for remote telephone consultations and eight hour attendance shifts at police stations. You will be required to work overnights, at weekends, and on public holidays as part of the rota system.
We accommodate flexible working preferences where possible, while ensuring full service coverage.
This post is a fixed term six month contact on either a full time or part time basis.
About us
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. We are a non-departmental public body responsible to Scottish Government. Our main purpose is to manage and continuously improve publicly funded legal assistance and advise Scottish Ministers on its strategic development for the benefit of society.
If you wish to learn more about us and our other direct services, please visit our website.
Why work for us
We are an ethical organisation, carrying out rewarding work that can have considerable impact on clients’ lives.
We seek high calibre people and in return, we set out to provide good training and development with rewarding working conditions. We aim to be an ‘employer of choice’. Should you come to work with us, you’ll discover that no matter what your job or level of responsibilities, you are treated as an individual, with fairness, dignity and respect.
Our stable and secure reward package includes:
• a competitive salary with potential for pay progression
• flexible working arrangements and a great holiday entitlement of 34 days per year (inclusive of public and privilege holidays) increasing after five years of continuous service
• a defined benefit pension scheme with a 6% employee contribution
• job security in a stable environment for long term career progression
• support from colleagues within a rewarding, positive work culture
• opportunities for learning and development while making a difference with challenging tasks for ultimate job satisfaction.
For more about working with us and our benefits: www.slab.org.uk/recruitment/working-for-us.
We are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to being fair, inclusive and a place where all belong.
We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people.
We will ensure that disclosure of disability status will not negatively impact anyone’s application. We are committed to guaranteeing an interview to every applicant who indicates they have a disability, in terms of the Equality Act 2010, that meets the minimum criteria for the role.
For more details about this role and a full list of essential criteria and required competencies, please see the ‘Additional Information’ section on the vacancy page of our recruitment portal.
Deadline
Completed applications should be returned by Sunday 10 November 2024 (midnight) via SLAB’s recruitment portal. We recommend applying early, as the vacancy may close ahead of the deadline.
Interviews are likely to be organised for Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 November 2024.
