Job Details: Mercy Law Resource Centre: Managing Solicitor


Irish Future
Talbot Street
Dublin 1
irishfuture.ie
Mercy Law Resource Centre: Managing Solicitor


TITLE: MANAGING SOLICITOR

EMPLOYER: MERCY LAW RESOURCE CENTRE LIMITED (MLRC)

REPORTS TO: THE BOARD ? VIA THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

SALARY: COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE

WORKING HOURS: FULL-TIME: 9.**APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**A.M-5.**APPLY ON
THE WEBSITE**P.M. MON-FRI (A FOUR DAY WORKING WEEK WILL ALSO BE
CONSIDERED)

DURATION: PERMANENT

LOCATION MLRC OFFICES, DUBLIN 8

-------------------------

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) is an independent law centre and
charity which provides free legal advice and representation to people
who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the areas of
housing and social welfare law. Our services include:

* Free legal advice clinics in a number of hostels for homeless
people;
* Legal representation in the areas of housing and social welfare
law;
* Legal support and training to organisations working in the field
of homelessness;
* Policy Work;
* Befriending Service.

JOB DESCRIPTION

GENERAL

* Overall management and running of the Centre;
* Actively manage relationships with key stakeholders in the
government, legal, academic and NGO sector;
* Implement the Centre?s Strategic Plan **Apply on the website**
to **Apply on the website**;
* Oversee and develop policy and research papers on relevant issues
for submission to Government;
* Act as primary spokesperson for the Centre on all matters.

LEGAL STRATEGY

* Oversee the legal casework of the Centre;
* Monitor the casework activity to ensure litigation is undertaken
with a view to achieving advances for our communities in the area of
human rights and social justice;
* Undertake selected strategic legal casework where possible.

PLANNING

* Collaborate with the Board to articulate the Centre?s vision and
to develop and implement strategies for achieving that vision;
* Develop and monitor strategies to ensure the long-term financial
viability of the Centre;
* Develop future leadership within the Centre.

MANAGEMENT

* Oversee the operations of the Centre and manage its compliance with
legal and regulatory requirements;
* Promote a culture that reflects the Centre?s values and ensures
its organisational effectiveness;
* Evaluate staff?s performance on a regular basis and actively
support staff and volunteers in performance of their duties, including
the befriending service;
* Report to the Board of the Centre and support the Board members
work and activities;
* Other reasonable duties as directed by the Chairperson of the
Board.

FUNDRAISING

* Develop and implement fundraising strategies in conjunction with
the Board;
* Serve as the primary contact person in funder relationships and
actively develop and foster those relationships;
* Draft and report on funding applications and grants and pursue
funding opportunities for the Centre supported by the relevant staff.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

* Serve as the primary representative for the Centre;
* Ensure that the Centre and its purpose and services are strongly
and positively presented to relevant stakeholders;
* Actively advocate for the Centre in line with the vision.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Managing the overall operation of the Centre and implementing
decisions taken by the Board of MLRC;
* Management of a litigation caseload with particular emphasis on
public housing, homelessness and social welfare law;
* Provision of legal advice and assistance to individuals through
legal advice clinics in hostels and other centres for people who are
homeless;
* Provision of legal information, advice and training to
organizations dealing with homelessness, including oversight and
design of MLRC?s training sessions;
* Developing policy and law reform proposals on legal issues
affecting our client group. This will include carrying out research,
analysing legislation, writing submissions and such other tasks as
necessary;
* Working together with other lawyers and organizations on issues
affecting our client group and assisting in the development of
initiatives facilitating such cooperation;
* Recruiting, coordinating and supervising any legal and
administrative staff including volunteers, interns and volunteer
befrienders;
* Liaising with external organizations regarding the promotion and
development of the Centre and the achievement of its goals and
objectives;
* Ensuring that legal and other professional obligations of the
Centre (e.g. insurance, employment, accounts, reporting to Law
Society, CRO, Charities section of the Revenue) are carried out in a
proper and timely fashion;
* Working as part of a team to ensure that high standards are
developed and maintained in office procedures and case management and,
in particular, to ensure that our services are delivered in a way that
respects the special needs of our clients;
* Such other tasks as may be necessary to assist in the carrying out
of the work of the Centre.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

* An appropriate third level qualification (to at least Level 8) in a
relevant discipline;
* A professional qualification as a solicitor with minimum two years
post-qualification experience;
* A demonstrable interest in or commitment to helping those who are
disadvantaged and/or using law to advocate on their behalf;
* Litigation experience at Superior Court level and wide experience
of legal practice;
* Prior achievements in delivering on organisational vision and
strategy;
* Experience of and track record in fundraising;
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability
to command the confidence of funders, donors and other stakeholders;
* A professional attitude with an ability to work under pressure and
to act on one?s own initiative.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

* Masters in human rights or public interest law;
* Experience in human rights/social justice work and/or in the
community and voluntary sector;
* Experience in the area of human rights law;
* Experience of handling a variety of legal and policy matters;
* Knowledge of legal issues affecting those who are homeless or
experiencing disadvantage.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Managing Solicitor position will be offered as a permanent
position with an initial six month probationary period.

The salary offered with this contract position is commensurate with
experience.

This position is based at Mercy Law Resource Centre, **Apply on the
website** Cork Street, Dublin 8 and the hours of work are 9.**Apply on
the website**a.m. to 5.**Apply on the website**pm. Monday to Friday.
Applicants available for a four day working week will also be
considered.

APPLICATION

To apply for this post, please send your CV and a covering
letter/personal statement to **Apply on the website** or by post for
the attention of Ciara Kiely, RSM Ireland, Trinity House, Charleston
Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

The closing date for receipt of applications is **Apply on the
website**pm (Noon) on Wednesday, 4th November **Apply on the
website**.

It is anticipated that first-stage interviews will commence early
November.


We need : English (Good)

Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others

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