Legal Project Manager Job Title: Legal Project Manager Job Type: Full time (35 hours per week) Salary: £37,000 - £40,000 per annum Start Date: June/July Reporting Structure: Reports to Director Management Responsibilities: Managing Caseworker Interns and external providers (such as corporate law support and technical assistance experts) and supervising on EUSS/immigration cases. ___________________________________________________________________ THE AIRE CENTRE The AIRE Centre is a London-based legal charity that transforms people’s lives by making sure they’re treated fairly. Our mission is to promote awareness of European law rights and assist marginalised individuals and those in vulnerable circumstances to assert those rights The AIRE Centre is one the few remaining NGOs providing free legal advice to migrants. About the Role: We are seeking a qualified lawyer or OISC 2/3 immigration advisor to undertake advice, casework and litigation on behalf of EEA and other migrants to ensure they continue to have access to justice. In addition, the post-holder will provide research, drafting and other support on our Western Balkans Programme Projects: EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Support complex applications to the EUSS, including completing application forms, collecting evidence, drafting legal submissions, witness statements etc. Manage EUSS refusal tribunal and admin review appeals, including: Drafting grounds of appeal / legal submissions Preparation of bundles of evidence and witness statements Supporting the drafting of skeleton arguments and liaising with counsel. Supervise and review the work / advice letters of EUSS legal assistants and interns. Manage the collection of data on EUSS advice sent and applications submitted, including drafting the monthly and quarterly reports. Prepare and deliver training sessions and webinars. Draft and update information sheets and support the preparation, updating and development of other online resources. Identify broader issues with the EUSS and potential areas for strategic litigation Liaise directly with the Home Office to request changes / updates to guidance and to highlight problem areas. Represent the AIRE Centre in strategic discussions / at EUSS coalition events (e.g. ILPA EU working group). Litigation and tribunal casework Manage a caseload of deportation and social security tribunal cases, including the possibility of advocacy before UK tribunals, including: Acting as the first point of contact for clients, their family members, the courts and counsel. Collecting evidence, preparing witness statements and bundles of evidence Drafting grounds of appeal Drafting arguments regarding which legal regime the deportation case falls under. Drafting skeleton arguments Liaising directly with and drafting submissions to the Home Office and the DWP to resolve cases prior to the hearing taking place. Involvement in litigation and third party interventions before the UK and European Courts: Conducting legal research Drafting sections of / entire interventions where appropriate. Advice line Training and management of interns to staff the advice line (including interns handling the advice line remotely and forwarding the phone line to the relevant interns each week) Drafting letters of advice for individuals and 2nd tier advice agencies on EU law, retained EU law and Withdrawal Agreement rights Reviewing and editing advice letters prepared by interns and colleagues. Collecting, analysing and reporting on data re the volume and type of advice provided. Western Balkans Programme Leading on drafting the publications on European Human Rights and EU law used as the basis for the annual rule of law forum, and other events (e.g. gender and the judiciary forum) Liaising and collaborating with ECtHR judges to co-author publications on ECtHR and EU law. Drafting other, ad hoc publications and articles across different projects (inc. gender and the judiciary, ESG and miscellaneous articles published in journals). Drafting case analysis and articles on ECtHR and CJEU cases and issues for the WB Legal Bulletin Supervising Western Balkans interns, including review and editing case summaries of ECtHR and CJEU cases drafted in preparation for Western Balkans events/materials Preparation for events including: Drafting speeches Drafting the agenda Developing content for panel discussions Attending international events and relevant follow up work, e.g. writing to judges and other attendees, preparation of event reports etc. Presenting on our publications at international events / panel discussions. Developing and drafting content for various websites, e.g. the general, gender and Asset Recovery websites. Developing ideas and concepts for the Gender and the Judiciary Network. Office management Supervising interns on their day to day work in the office and providing support in the drafting of advice letters/tribunal casework Conducting the induction for new interns Updating the intern/tribunal handbook where necessary, to make sure it has up to date legal information, login details and information about salesforce or advice line/ information on tribunal procedure Shortlisting candidates for interview and interviewing new interns Maintaining the internal database for Western Balkans seminars and other materials Admin/Communication Producing a monthly newsletter using mailchimp account and keeping up to date with office work on projects/cases/events for newsletter Drafting fundraising applications where necessary Editing/adding material on AIRE website Admin based material preparation for Western Balkans events such as finding case summaries, editing, putting together drafts etc. Other Representing the AIRE Centre where necessary at various events Organising training for interns on topics that might be useful to them such as tribunal procedure, immigration law. Managing and contributing to AIRE’s policy work, e.g. drafting and organising responses to government consultations on relevant issues (inc. the EUSS and the ECHR). PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential A high level of written and spoken English A qualified lawyer (preferably in a UK jurisdiction), or an accredited caseworker to OISC level 2 or 3 Knowledge of EU free movement, retained EU law, the Withdrawal Agreement, Appendix EU and/or domestic immigration law Knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights Ability to carry out workshop application surgeries Excellent legal drafting skills Willingness to attend events during non-work hours occasionally Willingness to travel (within the UK and in Europe) Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office) Strong prioritisation skills and ability to manage own workload Ability to work flexibly Strong empathy with The AIRE Centre’s values and mission Desirable Experience working with and communicating with vulnerable clients Experience of practising public law in the UK Previous experience working with CRM systems (for example Salesforce) Experience of grant funding and/or ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a government department funder Experience of event management Experience or willingness to undertake advocacy in First Tier Tribunals (Immigration) Working knowledge of another EU language How to Apply Complete the attached recruitment forms: Application form Equality & Diversity Monitoring form and email to: [email protected] Essential dates Closing date: 12th June 2023, 9.00am Interview date: TBC Manage Cookie Preferences