Legal Department CoordinatorSalary £21,000 per annum (pro-rata), with the option of joining the Union's pension scheme Hours per week: 28 (Work pattern to be agreed. 4 days/week minimum; 5 days preferred)This is a grant-funded position for a fixed term of 7 months. After this time there may be an option to extend the role if further funding is secured and if agreed by all parties.

IntroductionThe Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is a small, grassroots Trade Union founded in 2012. It currently consists of five branches, representing a diverse membership of cleaners and porters, cycle couriers, food delivery drivers, security guards, maintenance workers, foster carers and office workers. The current membership is almost 1000 people, mostly in London but now country-wide.IWGB is a campaigning union, and has helped its members win the London Living Wage; enhanced sick leave, annual leave and pensions; holiday pay; the right to be classed as workers (in a recent case against the courier firm CitySprint); and much more - such as back pay, financial compensation and adaptations to job role - through individual and collective case work. Case work remains a vital part of our work in protecting workers’ existing rights and winning back working people’s dignity and respect. We are now recruiting a part-time Legal Department Coordinator to take responsibility for running their own case load in the union’s Legal Department, based at our headquarters in central London. The Legal Department Coordinator will also supervise one or two other volunteer case workers, and will run free, 15-minute legal advice sessions to members of the public on employment law matters. The successful candidate will report to the union’s General Secretary and work alongside the Office Manager and a staff of volunteers and unpaid union officials. Relevant skills and past experience are essential to hit the ground running and work independently in this small team, without close day-to-day oversight from union executives. However, good teamwork and the ability to work well with others are essential to the role. Many of our members are non-English speaking, so the Legal Department

Coordinator will work closely with interpreters and translators, and the ability to speak or quickly pick up Spanish is a desirable attribute.Ours is a small, friendly office and a highly motivated team. We believe in working cooperatively and supportively to provide the best possible support to our members and each other. This is a great opportunity for a qualified and enthusiastic person, committed to improving working conditions, to engage in rewarding and socially meaningful work.

The roleThe main responsibilities of the post are to:

ensure union members are allocated to a case worker when they have a case

manage a case load of grievances, disciplinaries and (when sufficiently experienced) employment tribunals

guide a maximum of two volunteer caseworker(s) through cases and ensure the quality of training and legal work in the department

provide regular legal surgeries/advice clinics to the public on employment law matters

prepare tribunal claims and bundles, documentation etc. ensure the smooth operation of the IWGB Legal Department instruct barristers for Employment Tribunal cases communicate with and regularly update the union’s management

about the work of the Legal Department maintain data management processes and keep members informed

while acting in accordance with their needs undertake any other duties appropriate to the post and help other

staff maintain the smooth running of the union’s head office.

Person specificationEssential

Hold a law degree and have a good knowledge of UK employment law.

Have extensive experience of employment-related case work. Grasp the IWGB’s approach and be personally committed to social

justice and the improvement of working conditions. Have demonstrable supervisory and/or managerial experience. Have good computer skills, including a knowledge of MS Office

including Excel. Have a high level of personal organisation and an ability to deal with

a demanding and stressful job. Be able to work independently and in a team.

Desirable Have a high level of spoken Spanish or a facility with another

Southern-European language. Have been an active member of a union or have knowledge of the

trade union movement.

How to applyPlease email your CV and a cover letter explaining why you feel you would fit this role to Jon Katona (IWGB Vice-President) at jonkatona@iwgb.co.uk. Please also include the details of two professional references. Deadline for applications: 12.00 (noon), Saturday 4 February 2017.

Interview candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be held in the evenings of 8–9 February.