Church & Charity Lawyer (Maternity Cover)

This is a fixed term maternity cover role for approximately 12months. The fixed term appointment may end earlier or be extended depending on the substantive post-holder's return date

The position is a mixture of office and home-based working for 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

The usual office days for the Church & Charity team are a Monday and Friday but some flexibility at other times, to accommodate client needs, is an essential part of the role when required.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Department, the principal purpose of the role is to deliver high quality legal services to clients in the ecclesiastical, charity and not for profit sectors, providing advice on governance, regulatory, commercial and property matters.

By working collaboratively with all members of the Church & Charity department, the post-holder will provide our clients with a service that is of a high standard, ensures the department works effectively and promotes a professional image of the Firm at all times.

The role requires someone familiar with advising clients in a commercial manner, management and control of a caseload, workload, and risk management in relation to the role. It includes helping to develop relationships across departments, as well as interaction with other law firms and professionals.

The role also involves working with the management team from time to time, assisting in the design, delivery and implementation of system changes, workflow and process improvements, as well as being involved in training and business development activities to promote the Church and Charity department and the business as a whole.

Job Description

Principal duties:

• To operate within a departmental structure delivering a consistent, excellent standard of legal services to our clients.
• Undertake fee-earning work, working both independently and as a member of the team and provide a profitable contribution to the work of the department.
• Manage client matters, with a particular focus on:
  • Establishing and registering new charities;
  • Dealing with the Charity Commission and other regulators;
  • Changing legal forms (e.g. incorporating unincorporated charities as a CIO, company limited by guarantee or appointment of corporate trustees);
  • Constitutional reviews and amending governing documentation;
  • Changing charitable objects and advising on public benefit;
  • Mergers, collaborations and restructuring;
  • Trust fund management and complex trust issues;
  • Restrictive funds and permanent endowment;
  • Fundraising;
  • Trading and establishment of subsidiary companies;
  • Donations and legacies;
  • Trustee training;
  • Property matters and
  • Operational issues (e.g. data protection, freedom of information requests, safeguarding, commercial agreements, employment, immigration).
• Maintain high standards in the processing of client work, both in respect of professional standards and client care.
• Attending upon clients to take instructions and advising on the most appropriate course of action to meet clients' needs; taking appropriate action in executing clients' instructions in a timely manner.
• Supervision of the Church & Charity Paralegal as required.
• Ensure the confidentiality and security of all company and client documentation, information and effects.
• Maintain good professional working relationships with external institutions and organisations.
• Comply with the Firm's policies in the carrying out of duties and assist Partners and other fee earners in achieving a smooth output of work.
• Liaise with the HOD and other staff to ensure adequate cover within the department at all times, and to attend to clients of other fee earners in their absence, where this is appropriate.
• Achieve agreed financial targets, in respect of both fee income and the recording of chargeable hours.
• Financial control of your own matters with particular regard to cash flow through collection of monies on account and billing procedures.
• Recognise fee-earning opportunities and develop as appropriate.
• Design and deliver business development to stakeholders and partners to grow and develop the department and assist in marketing the firm's services and building its' client base through other firm-wide development activities.
• Maintain orderly and up-to-date electronic files and comply with the firm's policies and procedures on paperless file management.
• Use the firms IT, case management & dictation systems (Leap, BigHand).
• Complete time recording and other management records required by the firm.