CONTRACT: 0.6 FTE
SALARY: £28,000 per annum (£16,800)
DEPARTMENT: Legal
REPORTS: Chief Legal Counsel
PURPOSE: To assist the FSU Legal Team with administrative and other tasks
LOCATION: You will mostly be working from home, and will only need to commit to coming to London one day per month for our monthly all-staff meeting.
Who are we?
The Free Speech Union is a non-partisan, mass-membership public interest body. We stand up for the speech rights of our 11,000+ members and campaign for free speech more widely. Our in-house legal team, working with our casework team, coordinate legal support for members in difficulty. Our research arm publishes briefings on where free speech needs to be better protected and our lobbying arm focuses on free-speech related legislation. Our events arm organises events (“speakeasies”) and stages regular public discussions and debates.
The FSU has sister organisations in South Africa and New Zealand, with more to come. We have an exciting journey ahead and we’re looking for more talented individuals to join our organisation.
The role
The role is a unique opportunity to join the legal team. You will play a key role in free speech disputes taking place in workplaces, universities, professional associations, voluntary organisations and the courts.
We need someone who:
- has excellent administrative skills
- has good communication skills
- is reliable and conscientious
- writes clearly and concisely (good spelling, grammar and punctuation)
- is happy to work flexible hours
We act for anyone who becomes a member, subject to our discretion, whatever their politics.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Preparing letters to members and other basic correspondence
- Creating bundles of documents
- Formatting documents
- Drafting the FSU’s legal newsletter
- Keeping our case management system up to date
- Gathering documents relating to legislation and policy
- Setting up and maintaining FSU crowdfunders
- Document and diary management
- Note-taking
- Organising legal events
- Creating template letters and documents
- Summarising legal cases
PERSON SPECIFICATION
| Essential |
| Experience in an administrative or secretarial role. |
| Good working knowledge of the legal sector in the United Kingdom. |
| Good writing skills, with an emphasis on correct English spelling, grammar and punctuation. |
| Good Microsoft Word and Excel skills. |
| Agreeable – good interpersonal skills with people at all levels, particularly those in difficult situations. |
| The ability to work flexible hours which may include weekends and evenings. |
| Homeworking – must have premises, equipment and systems to enable working from home. |
| Experience in administrative or secretarial roles. |
| Desirable |
| Experience working as a paralegal or legal executive. |
| Legal training (BA, LLB, GDL). |
| Experience organising events. |
| Experience in the use of case management systems, e.g. SalesForce. |
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should send a CV and introductory letter to [email protected] by Monday 24th July. The FSU is actively recruiting for this role and may withdraw it at its discretion.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Benefits
- Employer pension contribution of eight percent
- Health insurance (BUPA)
- The autonomy and flexibility of working from home.
- Full access to our learning and development programme.
- 28 paid holidays per calendar year (pro rata) including public holidays (annual allotment increases with tenure).
- The chance to get together with the entire FSU team face-to-face, at our away days and events.
Probationary Period
This post is subject to a three-month probationary period.
Review of this Job Description
This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation. To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.
The FSU is an equal opportunity employer and will consider qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, sex, religion or belief.