Recruitment Pack: EU Law and Policy Specialist

Liberty is one of the UK's oldest human rights and civil liberties organisations. Since 1934, Liberty has been working to protect civil liberties and promote human rights, campaigning on a broad range of issues - from privacy to the prohibition on torture to the rights of young people and free speech and protest, Liberty works to defend and protect the rights and freedoms of everyone in society.

Liberty works in a number of ways; campaigning through the media, raising awareness of human rights and civil liberties issues in the wider community; lobbying Parliament, exposing laws that undermine civil liberties and human rights and working with politicians to correct them; challenging laws, by taking test cases to domestic courts and to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg; and providing free advice to members of the public.

Liberty is looking for an EU Law and Policy Specialist to join the team and deliver exceptional quality research on the possible implications of Brexit for the rights people living in the UK. We want someone who can

  • Work independently to deliver first rate legal research
  • Write fluently, explaining complexities at the level of detail appropriate to the audience

You may be a practicing lawyer or come from a policy background but you will definitely have an existing interest in EU law and a strong grounding in the principles of policy research. You will share our commitment to human rights and be ready to deliver this critical piece of work to a high standard and against external deadlines.

Position Description
Position title: / EU Law and Policy Specialist
Position reports to: / Policy Director
Salary / Circa £40,000 p.a.
Employment status: / Fixed term for 12 month
Hours: / 35 hours per week
Some flexibility could be accommodated
Location: / Westminster, London
Some remote working could be accommodated.
Contact: / Cait Winter
Closing date for applications: / 12noon Wednesday 18th January 2017
Interview dates: / 1st round interviews: Week commencing 23rd January 2017
2nd round interviews:Later that week or the following week.
Role purpose
The EU Law and Policy Specialist will be responsible for delivering a legal research project to comprehensively map EU laws which confer rights on UK citizens and EU nationals living in the UK
Key responsibilities
Legal Research
  • Research and map European Union law across a range of human rights related areas, including but not limited to; data protection, asylum and immigration, trafficking, criminal justice policy, equality and workers’ rights
  • Produce high quality briefings on EU rights related law including detailed descriptions of the EU General Principles, the EU Charter, Treaties, Regulations and Directives
  • Produce high quality briefing on the rights-related jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union
  • Produce materials based on research findings for a range of audiences including, NGOs, charities, Government departments, policy makers and parliamentarians and grassroots advice services.
  • Produce legal and policy briefings on the Great Repeal Bill
  • Provide policy input on Liberty’s campaign to secure a human rights compliant Brexit
Legal Advice and external relations
  • Liaise with external partners (e.g. researchers, NGOs, barristers and solicitors) as Liberty’s representative, potentially commissioning further discrete EU law-related research and advice
  • Provide briefings (oral and written) to other members of staff on the legal implications of Brexit and relevant developments
  • Work with Liberty’s Legal Department and in particular the Advice and Information Officers to provide information and advice directly to members of the public on the legal implications of Brexit
  • Work with Liberty’s Campaigns and Press departments to explain research findings to the public through writing blogs and articles and representingthe organisation at Brexit-related events

General

  • Contribute to the overall work of the Policy department to ensure objectives are achieved
  • Perform other duties as necessary at the request of the Directors

Selection criteria / Essential / Desirable
Technical expertise & qualifications: / Degree level education / 
Legal qualification including in European Union law / 
Post-graduate qualification in European Union law / 
Experience: / Experience of either legal research, legal practice or policy development / 
Knowledge and skills / Commitment to, and comprehensive understanding of, civil liberties and human rights issues and relevant domestic and international human rights frameworks / 
Excellent academic legal research skills / 
Specialist knowledge of EU law / 
Self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with team members, other staff at Liberty and other organisations / 
Ability to produce expert, clear, and accessible reports and documents / 
Ability to work to (often tight) deadlines / 
Ability to scrutinise legislation / 
Sound political judgment and a commitment to Liberty’s non-party/cross-party stance / 
Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, complex legal arguments and principles clearly and succinctly to a non-legal audience / 
A good understanding of the Parliamentary and legislative processes / 
A good understanding of the methods by which pressure groups can affect public policy / 
Important information
  1. Completed application forms should be returned by email as Word or PDF documents to no later than 12pm, Wednesday 18th January 2017.Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  1. You will receive an automatically generated response confirming receipt. If you DO NOT receive this response within one to two hours of sending, please call 020 7403 3888 to check whether your application has been received - be sure to do so before the closing date.
  1. First round Interviews are scheduled for week commencing 23rd January and second round interviews are scheduled for later that week or the following week. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by phone to arrange interview times. Details of the interview (location, members of panel etc) will be confirmed by email.
  1. Applicants who have not been short listed will be notified by email. Due to our limited resources we are unable to provide feedback on applications.
  1. Interview panels will be made up of two to four people who will each ask the candidates questions. The questions are intended to allow you to expand on your application and to demonstrate to the panel how far you meet the essential and desirable requirements of the post. All candidates are asked a uniform set of questions (usually 5 or 6) and may also be asked follow up questions to clarify or expand on individual answers. At the end of the interview candidates will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the job, conditions of service, etc.
  1. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete pre-interview tasks.
  1. Once all interviews have taken place, shortlisted applicants will be contacted and informed of the outcome either by email or phone and offered the opportunity to receive feedback.
  1. Liberty’s offices are wheelchair accessible. If you have a special requirement for completing a task or attending an interview due to a disability, please contact us on 020 7403 3888