Paralegal Law Clinic

Job Description

Robert Gordon University is a leading modern university, renowned for the employability of its graduates and holder of a Gold Award in TEF (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework). Its professionally-focused Law School has a strong reputation for innovative and flexible online and on-campus courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which have a global reach.

Building on its success, the Law School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic permanent assistant for its expanding Law Clinic. You will contribute to a thriving Law School primarily through assisting with the management of the Law Clinic, supporting the PG Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and teaching legal skills on a number of programmes.

Applications from practising paralegals/legal executives are particularly encouraged.

This role is offered on a full time basis however part time hours may be considered.

For informal enquiries please contact Margaret Downie at m.downie@rgu.ac.uk

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

Grade 7 Salary Scale: £35,326 – 40,927     Grade 8 Salary Scale: £42,149 – 50,296

Salary on appointment will be dependent upon experience. Candidates with limited or no prior experience as an academic will be placed on the first point of the Grade 7 scale. Consideration will be given to offering an Academic Attraction Payment (adjusted annually) for those candidates who have specific industry knowledge, skills or, expertise which are required for the position.

Please see the job attachments for further information regarding the Grade 7 and Grade 8 criteria.  Further guidance on Academic Attraction Payments can be found here.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits. 

Salary on first appointment is normally to the bottom of the scale, although in exceptional circumstances an appointment further up the scale may be considered. 

Requirements

RESPONSIBLE TO: Dean of School

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF POST: Assist with management of the Law Clinic. Contribute to the teaching, development and running of the PG Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. This position will actively underpin and support the teaching and consultancy activities of the Law School.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• Assist the Manager of the Law Clinic

• Assists in Administration of PG Diploma Professional Legal Practice

• Carries out designated teaching online and on campus (e.g. via lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, online activities, etc) and assessment duties in areas of expertise, or as otherwise, required by the Dean of School.

• Participates in the development and preparation of teaching materials.

• Provides tutorial and personal guidance for students.

• Supervision of undergraduate projects.

• Develops and maintains expertise in subject areas.

• Participates in subject and course development.

• Participates in curriculum development and, in particular, contributing to the introduction of new methods of teaching and learning.  

• Undertakes appropriate administrative responsibilities (e.g. year tutor, student selection, examination organisation, placement organisation, timetabling, maintaining attendance records etc).

• Assists in the supervision and visiting of students during their periods of work experience.

• Promotes and markets the School (and Law Clinic) and its courses to local, national and international clientele (including student recruitment).

• Maintains working relationships with other Schools/Departments/Units within the University, as necessary, for the smooth operation and continued development of the School and its courses.

•Actively participates in and suggests relevant staff development activities.

• Engages with other staff, wherever possible, in consultancy activities relevant to the School.

• Establishes and maintains relevant professional and industrial links, as necessary, for the effective operation of the School’s courses (e.g. engagement in work of external bodies, educational and professional).

• Represents the School on relevant University committees and the School and University on external committees.

• Carries out such other related duties as may be required. 

 

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

HND Legal services or equivalent or Qualified Paralegal or Qualified Legal Executive

Knowledge

Demonstrates expert knowledge in one or more area of legal practice

Experience

Expertise in legal practice.

Experience of working in a legal environment.

 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

LLB in Scots Law

Knowledge

Awareness of the professional legal environment in the UK

Experience

Experience of practice as a paralegal, teaching experience, staff training experience.

 

Unsociable Hours

Willingness to work occasionally in evenings or weekends

Travel

Willingness to travel for university purposes. The successful candidate will be required to live within 30 miles of the University. The Law Clinic will operate in several locations within the city of Aberdeen.

 

The Individual

Behaviour 1: Communication – Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner.

Behaviour 2: Pastoral Care and Welfare – Experience of calming and reassuring those with work/study related problems who may be experiencing distress, dealing with difficult welfare situations or confidential matters and providing support for those in considerable distress or requiring long-term complex support.

Behaviour 3: Teaching and Learning Support – Experience of providing standard information or delivering teaching or training, designing content or learning materials within existing frameworks and developing innovative approaches to learning experience and the curriculum.

Behaviour 4: Service Delivery – Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards.

Behaviour 5: Analysis and Research – Experience of identifying or designing data gathering and analytical methods appropriate for each investigation, and producing reports that identify key issues and findings.

Behaviour 6: Liaison and Networking – Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships, leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest and leading and building external networks to enhance the work of the organisation.