1. law, govt and politics

To apply: Please send your CV, equal opportunities form
(found at the end of this document), and a covering letter
outlining your interest in the role and how your experience
matches the requirements of the position (carefully
describing in detail how you meet the essential and
desirable criteria in the person specification) to Chris Potts at
[email protected]
Counterculture Partnership LLP
Job description
Legal Assistant / Lawyer
Closing date: 10am, Tuesday 26 May
Interviews to be held in Manchester on Tuesday 2 June
Start date is flexible.
Counterculture Partnership LLP (Counterculture) is an independent business
consultancy working with third sector, cultural, creative people and organisations. We
provide practical help through strategy, finance and specialist consultancy services.
Our work ranges from strategic planning to funding, financial and project
management, governance and advocacy, operations, training, IT, HR and now legal
services. Our approach is built on our experience within the cultural and charity
sectors, with clients including Tate, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and London
International Festival of Theatre in the arts industry as well as Liverpool Guild of
Students, and the Helena Kennedy Foundation in the wider charity sector.
We are a rapidly growing organisation with an office based within the Institute of
Contemporary Arts on the Mall, in central London, with additional offices in
Manchester and Sussex. The company is made up of nine Partners supported by an
Administration Manager and a Finance Manager with a number of consulting staff and
expert associates who support us and deliver client projects. We each have an area of
specialist knowledge. Examples include charity finance, strategic and business
planning, arts policy and management.
This document outlines responsibilities you will have in your role as part of the
Counterculture team.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Role
To conduct legal consultancy work with arts and charity clients and creative businesses
with a functional specialism in the following areas of law: company, commercial,
charity, contracts and IP.
To assist and support our legal partner (based in the North of England/Manchester)
and help develop Counterculture’s legal services. This role is to be based in the
Counterculture Manchester office.
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Accountability
The Legal Assistant / Lawyer is managed by Keith Arrowsmith, Partner.
Client Relations
• To provide a high quality legal service to all Counterculture clients
• To develop and maintain good client relationship skills, gaining clients’
confidence and that of other professionals
• Receive requests for legal advice from current and potential clients and
deciding on the most appropriate responses to make to these requests
• Establishing what needs to be done to solve a client’s problems
• Offering advice on the law, legal procedures and a wide range of associated
issues
• Attend and represent Counterculture at client meetings
• Draw up contracts and other legal documents
• Research documents and case history to ensure accuracy of advice and
procedures
• Prepare, file and prosecute trademark and design applications.
Professional Standards:
• To work and behave in a professional manner and to the highest standards of
the profession
• Comply with procedures set out in the Operations Manual, professional
standards and any requirement set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• Carry out duties given by the partners or employees faithfully and diligently and
follow all reasonable instructions
• To participate in the growth and development of the firm
• Treat all information about the firm and its client and their business as wholly
confidential
• Keeping up-to-date with changes in the relevant areas of law
• Attract additional business from new and existing clients
• Record all chargeable hours
Personal Development:
• To have a clear understanding of what it would take to develop a career to the
next level
• Support internal Counterculture procedures and systems including file / case
management, and time recording
• To respect partners, staff and clients and in turn earn the respect of the firm
and its and clients
• Participate in team meetings
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Attend internal training and external training as and when required
Keep up to date with law and practice
Share information with colleagues
Read journals and attend courses as part of continuing professional
development (CPD) and keep track of CPD hours
Maintain high standards of professional conduct while generating adequate
practice income.
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Person Specification
Skills and Experience
Essential
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3-5 years’ experience of law-related work (eg: contract management) OR a
recently qualified LLB, OR Chartered Company Secretary, Trade Mark Attorney
OR equivalent.
Proven experience of writing reports, and to a high standard.
The ability to work calmly and accurately under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Extremely good communication skills, both written and verbal, with clients and
colleagues.
Exemplary attention to detail.
Desirable
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Some experience of commercial tenancies and other commercial
arrangements.
Law degree, 2:1 or above preferred.
An interest in the arts and charity sectors.
Experience within the arts and charity sectors would be an advantage.
The ability to work flexibly and autonomously where required.
Confidence, drive, ambition, and a can-do attitude.
Role details and benefits
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Full-time position.
Salary from £25,000 per annum, contingent upon experience.
Holiday – a minimum of 20 days (in addition to statutory holidays).
Pension scheme (pending)
Training and professional development opportunities.
Start date is flexible
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Counterculture strives to be an equal opportunities
employer. Our equal opportunities policy aims to ensure
that no employee or job applicant is treated less
favourably on the grounds of gender, sexuality, race,
ethnicity, nationality, age, class, religion or disability. We
are committed to ensuring that only job related criteria
are used in the recruitment process.
To enable us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy, it
would be appreciated if you could answer the following
questions. The answers will be detached from your
application before consideration and will be used for
statistical purposes only.
Post
applied for:
Personal details
Female
Male
Age:
Ethnic background
Please state what you consider to be your cultural /
ethnic origin.
Religion and belief
Please state what you consider to be your religion or
belief .
Disability
Do you consider yourself to
have a disability*?
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Yes
No
*A person has a disability if he / she has a physical or
mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term
adverse effect on his/ her ability to carry out normal dayto day activities. Impairment must affect one of the
following:- mobility dexterity; physical co-ordination;
continence; ability to lift; carry or otherwise move
everyday objects; speech; hearing or eyesight; memory
or ability to concentrate, learn or understand; perception
of the risk of physical danger.
Sexual Orientation
What is your sexual orientation?
Bisexual
Gay man
Gay Woman / Lesbian
Heterosexual / Straight
Other
Prefer not to say
Please note that the Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Form does not form part of your application.
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