Solicitor (without Legal Aid) Citizens Advice Sheffield is Sheffield’s leading provider of advice and advocacy services. Every year we help over 20,000 people in Sheffield. Our services are free, confidential, independent and impartial. We work with our partners, ranging from large public sector bodies to smaller community organisations, to support our clients with the problems they face, while campaigning to improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives. We provide a wide variety of advice and advocacy services through digital means, by telephone and in person and we strive to be responsive and adaptable in order to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve. We work in a fast-changing and often challenging environment but together we make a big difference. Job Description and Person Specification The Role Solicitor specialising in a specific area of social welfare law, providing high-quality legal advice and representation. Managing their own caseload and providing comprehensive legal services. The solicitor is also responsible for managing a team of advisors or volunteers within their specific specialist area of law and the monitoring of the quality of their work through both local and national Citizens Advice standards. An important aspect of this role is to communicate effectively with other client-facing staff members to offer support, advice and guidance when dealing with clients presenting with queries relating to their specialist area. Duties and Responsibilities Solicitors at CAS are Team Managers and part of the wider management team. They are required to: ● Deliver services in accordance with our service delivery strategy and operational plans, including telephone, digital and pre-booked appointment services ● Meet the needs of all clients, wherever possible empowering clients to improve their confidence and capability, and supporting them to develop and implement action plans to meet their needs In addition Solicitors are expected to: ● Provide expert legal advice, casework assistance, and representation to clients in your specialist area (eg Housing, Employment, or Immigration Law). ● Manage a varied caseload, including conducting initial interviews, undertaking legal research, drafting legal documents, negotiating settlements, and representing clients in court or tribunals. ● Conduct thorough case analysis and develop effective legal strategies. ● Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files ● Comply with all relevant Law Society regulations, standards, and quality requirements. ● Contribute to the development of legal resources and training materials for staff and volunteers. ● Participate in internal and external meetings and networking events as required. ● Work collaboratively with other team members, including caseworkers, volunteers, and administrative staff, to provide a holistic service to clients. ● Contribute to the organisation's aims and objectives, including promoting access to justice and raising awareness of social welfare issues. ● Undertake continuous professional development to maintain and enhance legal knowledge and skills. Staff supervision, support and development Like all team managers, Solicitors are required to: ● Contribute to creating and supporting a positive culture in which all paid staff and volunteers are supported and valued ● Contribute to engaging paid staff and volunteers in good team work, planning and delivering services, and in campaigning ● Supervise paid staff and volunteers in accordance with our policies and procedures ● Provide advice, guidance and support to and supervise paid staff and volunteers in relation to any aspect of service delivery ● Support volunteer recruitment, training, development and retention ● Support the design and delivery of training Campaigning and social policy development Solicitors may also: ● Support research and other activity to identify priorities for campaigns and social policy development, and the evidence to support such campaigns ● Support the design and implementation of campaigns locally ● Assist with our contribution to regional and national campaigns, and with acting upon these campaigns locally Service strategy, planning and development Solicitors will: ● Support and advise the leadership team to develop and implement service delivery strategies and plans Professional learning and development Solicitors, like all team managers are all required to undertake learning and development including: ● Keeping up to date with legislation ● Keeping up to date with policies and procedures ● Attending internal and external training ● Obtaining and maintaining accreditation for specialist practice Reporting to: Service Manager Responsible for: a team of paid advisers/ advice workers and volunteers