JOB APPLICATION FORM

Please complete this form as fully as possible. This will be the only information we will use when deciding the shortlist of candidates for interview. The form should be completed clearly in black ink, or preferably typed. If you find that you have insufficient space to complete any sections in the space provided, please continue on a separate sheet of A4 paper.

Please note that the short-listing panel do not receive any of the information contained in sections 1 to 5 of this form until after a shortlist has been finalised.

Completed application forms should be returned by email as a single Word or PDF document to Kim Brookes at recruitment@islingtonlaw.org.uk (with MiCLU LRO Post in the subject title) by no later than 12pm on Wednesday 17 September 2014.

APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT AS: LEGAL & RESEARCH OFFICER – September 2014

SECTION 1: Personal Details

Surname:

First Names:

Home Address:

Telephone no: Home:

Work: May we contact you there? Y / N

Email address: (Please provide only if we are able to use this address in connection with your application)

SECTION 2: ReferencesPlease give below the names and addresses of two referees who will be able to provide references relating to your suitability for the post. One should be your present or most recent employer. Your referees will not be approached before the interview.

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First Referee Second RefereeName: Name:

Position held: Position held:Address: Address:

Tel: Tel:

Email: Email:Present/most recent employer? Yes | No Present/most recent employer? Yes | No

SECTION 3: NoticeIf applicable, what period of notice are you required to give?

NB: Due to the part time nature of this post shortlisted candidates for interview will be asked about other roles (inc other paid employment) which may need to be taken into consideration and/or impact on your work. SECTION 4: GeneralAre you related to any member of the staff or management committee of Islington Law Centre?

Yes | No If Yes, please give details

Do you hold any criminal convictions?

Yes | No If Yes, please list all offences with dates:

NB: For this post it will be necessary to undergo an enhanced DBS check

Do you have a disability and/or a medical condition which means that you have particular access needs which you would like us to take into consideration?

Yes | No If Yes, please give details

NB:

SECTION 5: Declaration

I declare, to the best of my knowledge, that all information provided on this application is true and factually correct. I understand that any falsification of information will result in the application being withdrawn from the recruitment process or if in the event of employment may result in disciplinary action, which could include dismissal by Islington Law Centre.

Signature Date

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SECTION 6: Education and Training (beginning with the most recent)

Datesfrom – to

School/Academic institution attended

Course/Qualification(including. Subjects (if applicable) and

qualifications/grades)

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Relevant Training / Short Courses Attended (in the last 3 years)Dates attended Course title Organising body

Membership of Professional Bodies / Organisations (if applicable)Organisation Membership level Date obtained / start date

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SECTION 7: Relevant work and life experiencesThis would include your current and previous employment, voluntary work and life experiences (beginning with the most recent)

Datesfrom - to

Name of employer (if applicable)

Employment/voluntary work, etc (inc. brief outline of duties/activities)

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SECTION 8: Further InformationIn this section of the application form please give your reasons for applying for this post. Please list any special knowledge, abilities and skills you have attained which will support your application. Please continue on other sheets of A4 paper if necessary.

Please refer to the skills and experience required that are detailed in the person specification for the post and, point by point, provide evidence that you possess them by giving specific examples.

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Recruitment monitoring form: September 2014

The Migrant & Refugee Children’s Legal Unit and Islington Law Centre are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all prospective and existing employees in all aspects of employment. As part of our Equalities Policy we monitor the range of applicants for jobs with the Centre, and those appointed.

Please only answer the questions you want to answer and tick one box only for each answer. The information you write on this form will play no part in our selection process and is for monitoring purposes only. It will remain anonymous, and will be separated from your application form by a member of our administrative team.

The information may be used to provide statistical information to our funders, but no individual details will be disclosed.

Are you: malePlease female

How would you describe your ethnic origins / identity?

What is your year of birth?

Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Please circle Yes / No

Do you have responsibilities as a carer? Please circle Yes / No

How would you describe your sexuality / orientation?

How did you learn about this job vacancy?

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August 2014Dear Applicant

Re: Legal & Research Officer – Migrant & Refugee Children’s Legal Unit (MiCLU)

Thank you for your interest in this position. Please find attached:

Recruitment Pack: including, background information, job description, person specification

application form

equal opportunities monitoring form

Please ensure that you use the application form to demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Where possible you should evidence your responses with examples of your experience. Please complete all sections of the form in full. We cannot accept CVs.

Please note that the closing date for this post is 12pm on Wednesday 17 September 2014. We will proceed to shortlist on the basis of applications received by this date and cannot guarantee to accept late applications.

Completed application forms should be returned by email as a single Word or PDF document to Kim Brookes at recruitment@islingtonlaw.org.uk (with MiCLU LRO Post in the subject title) by no later than 12pm on Wednesday 17 September 2014

If you have a disability and would like to discuss any access issues in relation to your application and/or the post, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We regret that, due to the very high number of enquiries we usually receive, we are unable to contact candidates who are not shortlisted.

We will be contacting candidates who we would like to invite for interview as soon as possible following the closing date. Interviews for this post will take place on 29 September 2014.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit a short practical test, related to the person specification, which will last in the region of 45 minutes and will take place on the day of the interview.

Thank you for your interest in working at MiCLU based at Islington Law Centre.

Yours faithfully, MiCLU

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MiCLU Legal & Research Officer (Part time)Recruitment Pack

This pack contains the following:

• Background information• Job Description• Person Specification

Completed application forms should be returned by email as a single Word or PDF document to Kim Brookes at recruitment@islingtonlaw.org.uk (with MiCLU LRO Post in the subject title) by no later than 12pm on Wednesday 17 September 2014. Applications received after the closing date may not be considered.

We regret that, due to the very high number of enquiries we usually receive, we are unable to contact candidates who are not shortlisted.

We will be contacting candidates who we would like to invite for interview as soon as possible following the closing date. Interviews for this post will take place on 29 September 2014.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit a short practical test, related to the person specification, which will last in the region of 45 minutes and will take place on the day of the interview.

Due to our limited resources we may not be in a position to notify unsuccessful Applicants. We will also be unable to provide individual feedback on applications.

If you are likely to have any difficulty completing the task or attending an interview due to any disability, please contact Kim Brookes at info@islingtonlaw.org.uk .

Thank you for your interest in working at MiCLU

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Islington Law Centre

Islington Law Centre is one of the largest Law Centres in the UK - a registered charity and company limited by guarantee established over 40 years ago and currently employing 36 people. The Centre has a commitment to high standards of legal work and provides free, independent legal assistance and representation in community care, consumer, debt,

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education, employment, housing, immigration, asylum and social welfare law. The Centre has established a wide range of partnerships at a local and strategic level - running 18 outreach sessions each week to community and voluntary sector organisations and currently working with partners to develop new models of working to respond to the rapidly changing funding environment following the legal aid cuts in April 2013.

The Centre operates mainly in London, but undertakes work at a national level through its specialist projects such as MiCLU and the Migrants’ Law Project. We benefit from the support of a large team of volunteers – approximately 150 in a year, including 3 evening advice sessions, offered under the LawWorks scheme.

MiCLU

MiCLU is a specialist legal and policy hub, based at Islington Law Centre, with innovative approaches to promoting and protecting the rights of migrant and refugee children in the UK – seeking to ensure that their voices are heard in all decisions that impact their lives.

MiCLU carries out its work in a number of ways including - direct representation and support for young people through our child-centred and child-rights based legal service model and driving systematic change through a combination of strategic litigation, policy, influencing and legal education work. We are regularly called upon for expert advice, support, bespoke training and evidence from lawyers, NGOs, children’s charities and statutory agencies nationally.

MiCLU works in close partnership with specialist lawyers within Islington Law Centre, establishing and leading on the PROTECT project – a pioneering multi-disciplinary legal, advocacy and mediation service for separated children and young people across immigration/asylum, housing, education and social welfare law. We are delighted that funding for this innovative partnership has recently been secured for a further two years.

MiCLU also benefits from close working partnerships with a number of City Firms, London Universities and leading Barristers Chambers who provide substantial pro-bono support to further its strategic and thematic priorities.

Funding and Governance

The Law Centre is a registered charity, and has a management committee, who serve as Trustees in a voluntary capacity. Ruth Hayes acts as Centre Director, and there is a team of 15 casework supervisors across the Centre. The Law Centre hosts 3 specialist projects and owns a new not for profit Social Enterprise with a primary aim of improving access to justice.

We hold an LSC contract in housing, asylum and work within the Law Centre Networks welfare benefits Upper Tribunal contract, and for the co-ordination of the Duty Desk scheme at the Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Courts. We have a range of grant agreements with a number of Trusts and Foundations and receive good support from our Local Authority.

MiCLU’s Founding Director, Baljeet Sandhu, leads on all of MiCLU’s work programmes and reports directly to the Centre Director and the Management Committee. MiCLU is largely funded by external grants from a number of Charitable Trusts and Foundations.

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The Law Centre and MiCLU are grateful for the support of all its funders.

Background to this post

MiCLU has recently secured two new major grants to develop and expand its extremely successful work programme with children and young people. The new funds will allow us to grow our small dynamic team and in addition to this new post we are also recruiting for a part time Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer.

The LRO will work closely with MiCLU’s Director and have specific responsibility for developing our UK wide legal education programme and support the design of an innovative new legal project seeking to develop a more structured and coordinated approach to advancing and protecting the rights of vulnerable children and young people subject to immigration control.

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone with a legal background who wishes to move into legal education and/or frontline policy advocacy work. We would welcome applications from those requiring flexible working arrangements due to other legal, academic and personal commitments.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post: Legal & Research Officer (part time)1

Location: MiCLU, LONDON N1 (flexible working will be considered)

Working Hours: The successful candidate will be paid for 14 hours per week. Flexible working hours will be available but s/he will be required to work normal office hours and planned travel outside of Greater London will occasionally be necessary. Funding for the post has been secured until August 2016 (with possible extension, subject to circumstances and funding).

Reports to: MiCLU Director

Salary: £28,191 pro rata

Job Purpose

The LRO will work closely with MiCLU’s Director and have specific responsibility for developing our UK wide legal education programme and support the design of an innovative new legal project seeking to develop a more structured and coordinated approach to advancing and protecting the rights of vulnerable children and young people subject to immigration control.

1 Subject to a 6 month probationary period

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S/he will also provide legal and research support to the MiCLU team where necessary and prepare specialist legal resources, information, training and advice for internal and external purposes.

This post will be supported by a range of volunteers from City Firms and London Universities and s/he will be responsible for utilising and managing this resource to meet project outputs and outcomes.

The successful candidate will combine intellectual rigour and strong research skills with a grounding in human rights, immigration and asylum law and have a passion for children’s rights issues. S/he will need to be able to work under their own initiative and be very focussed in their approach to implementing the aims of MiCLU’s training programme and progressing its thematic and strategic priorities.

The role will involve attending meetings and events outside of London ((which are planned in advance; travel expenses will be covered).

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Legal Research

To keep abreast of all legislation and policy change and practice that relate to migrant and refugee children in the UK, EU and within the international arena where necessary.

Be responsible for reviewing legal developments, judgements and practice within areas of legal specialisation; including immigration, asylum, family, housing, community care, education and social welfare law.

To design, coordinate and deliver MiCLU’s internal legal information service To produce and disseminate effective, comprehensive and accurate legal

materials / publications and other legal and research outputs (inc. internal and external legal bulletins/updates, case notes, factsheets, newsfeeds and legal notes on designated topics) by using appropriate tools and methods to share with internal staff and different partner agencies and audiences as required

Prepare legal articles for MiCLU publications, and/or outside journals/publications Provide legal and research support to MiCLU’s strategic litigation and influencing

work programme Representing MiCLU at domestic and international events, seminars and/or

conferences where necessary. S/he must be prepared to work proactively, illustrate an ability to use their own

initiative and react promptly to changing law, policy and practice.

2. Training and development

To design, co-ordinate and manage MiCLU’s national training programme To develop and maintain external relationships with Government departments,

academic institutes, City partners and other relevant agencies and organisations To develop and co-ordinate positive collaborative working partnerships with relevant

stakeholders.

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To design, deliver and manage relevant training information, seminars and events to disseminate learning on law, policy and practice within areas of specialisation for relevant partners and audiences

Provide both ad hoc and scheduled training, support and guidance to MiCLU’s legal team and MiCLU’s research volunteers as appropriate.

To support MiCLU’s social media activities and assist the MiCLU Team with the development of MiCLU’s website and be responsible for ensuring that all legal information relating to children and young people on the website is up to date and accurate.

2. Advocacy and Policy work

Proactively contribute to MiCLU’s policy and research work where necessary. Provide legal support to client organisations, professional advice agencies and

practitioners on specific issues within areas of specialisation that align with MiCLU’s strategic training and influencing priorities.

To represent MiCLU at all relevant stakeholder and external forums and meetings To support MiCLU’s policy team with developing MiCLU’s engagement in

international and regional children’s human rights mechanics, including producing reports and executing advocacy strategies to advance the visibility of the needs, rights and entitlements of migrant and refugee children.

3. Administration

To be responsible for updating and maintaining a log of all project work, including all internal and external engagement.

To carry out a share of administrative tasks for MiCLU’s litigation/events/activities and carry out own typing and word-processing.

Helping to establish structures and systems to enable materials and information to be accessed, shared and updated effectively and develop knowledge management tools

To use and participate in the development of relevant IT software for project task/management.

To identify potential funders and assist in the preparation of funding proposals to further the work of MiCLU.

To participate in the evaluation and review of the work of MiCLU, including the preparation of monitoring and evaluation reports, presenting statistical information and analysis of casework and project work and its impact on migrant and refugee children and the wider community.

6. Team Work, Decision Making and Management

A key part of the role will be to work effectively as part of a small dynamic team, and s/he will be expected to:

Contribute to the strategic planning of MiCLU and take responsibility for the development of an operational plan for MiCLU’s MiCLU’s legal education and knowledge sharing activities, providing regular reviews and reports to the MiCLU Director and/or the legal and policy team where necessary.

Attend project/staff meetings to develop and strengthen collaboration and team activities and pro-actively participate in consultation and decision making as required.

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To take responsibility for recruiting, training, supervising and managing legal, policy and research volunteers to take forward MiCLU’s legal education and knowledge sharing activities.

Contribute to MiCLU’s overall project work and develop MiCLU’s expertise, contacts and reach.

Contribute to the wider work of the Law Centre e.g. maintaining collaborative working partnerships

Provide support and supervision to MiCLU staff as required.

8. Promotion of the MiCLU and the Law Centre’s Policies

S/he will carry out their duties in accordance with MiCLU and the Law Centre’s policies and in particular the Child Protection, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities/Dignity at Work and Health and Safety policies.

This job description is not exhaustive and as such, the postholder will be expected to be flexible, and to carry out all reasonable requests. However, any substantive changes will only be made following discussion with the post holder and the provision, as appropriate, of further training.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Quality Essential Desirable Measurement method

Education

& Training

Legally qualified to degree level (or an equivalent professional qualification)

Postgraduate qualification in law

Written application

Experiences & Skills

Minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with refugees and migrants or similarly vulnerable client groups from different cultural backgrounds

Detailed and up to date knowledge of immigration, asylum, human rights and EU law relating to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants

Knowledge and understanding of domestic and international human rights law and practice as it relates to children and young people

Accredited to OISC level 3/IAAS level 2 code of standards for immigration advice

Good awareness of child, family law welfare, community care and education law and how these areas intersects with immigration law, policy and practice

Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting young asylum seekers, refugees and migrants

Written application, test, interview

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Excellent written and presentation skills, and attention to detail

Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills

Ability to research, analyse, synthesize and present large volumes of information efficiently and clearly

Excellent analytical skills with an ability to identify and interpret complex legal issues and information

Ability to digest and explain complex legal issues to legal and non-legal audiences

Experience of pulling together comprehensive and compelling evidence / research / information in respect of asylum, human rights and/or issues surrounding children and young people

Experience of public speaking

Experience of delivering training to legal and/or non-legal practitioners

Experience of community development and/or specialist second tier advice to NGOs and advice agencies

Written application, test, interview

Experience of successfully managing administrative work within tight deadlines

Excellent administrative, management, and organizational skills

Ability to take initiative and take responsibility for implementing legal and research projects

Ability to build connections with key organisations, institutes and initiatives and ability to keep up to date with developments in their work.

Ability to carry out work on fundraising, evaluation and monitoring work of MiCLU

Experience of managing or organising projects/events

Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders

Experience of working within a small specialised team

Experience of managing volunteers

Experience of preparing funding applications and reports for funders.

Written application, interview

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Personal Qualities

Committed to promoting the rights of migrant and refugee children

Highly motivated and ability to work under pressure

An interest in developing the skills and knowledge of others

Written application, interview

Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.

Clear and proven ability to work in support of team and project objectives and work effectively and supportively in a range of cultural contexts and environments

Excellent ability to share resources, knowledge, ideas and skills across a small team to develop the effectiveness of MiCLU’s integrated working approach.

Written application, interview

Experience in use of case management systems and databases

Experience of IT and website software

Written application, test

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