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:
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 a part time basis (approx. 650 hours in six months, on average 25 hours a week).
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 the 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:
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 Thursday 9 January 2025 (midnight) via SLAB’s recruitment portal.
Application Information
To apply please click 'Apply Online'.
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For assistance or queries, please email recruitment@slab.org.uk.
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