Head of Strategic Litigation
This is an exciting opportunity to lead CPAG’s strategic legal work. As Head of Strategic Litigation, you will oversee and carry out CPAG’s work of using legal cases for positive impact, to benefit families and children in poverty. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of CPAG’s legal work, in addition to managing CPAG’s legal practice, including our legal aid (public law) contract, and playing an active role in conducting high‑profile litigation on a day‑to‑day basis.
CPAG’s legal team currently consists of the Head of Strategic Litigation and a newly qualified solicitor. Some legal casework is also undertaken by highly experienced welfare rights advisers who sit in CPAG’s welfare rights team. Such work predominately consists of statutory appeals in the Upper Tribunal and you will be responsible for overseeing such work and for conduct of the case should it go up to the Court of Appeal or higher.
We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about using the law to advocate for the rights of and directly improve the lives of families in poverty. You will be a solicitor (E&W qualified) with substantial post‑qualification experience. You will have experience of conducting public law litigation and legal aid (publicly funded) work. You will be able to supervise the casework of colleagues and support the professional development and wellbeing of your team. You may have experience of working with clients in vulnerable situations or with additional needs, for example, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, disabled people or children and young people.
Knowledge of and experience in the social security field is an advantage but is not a requisite of the post. You will be fully supported in understanding the complexities of social security legislation by experienced welfare rights colleagues.
Given the responsibilities of the post and that you will be the most senior lawyer in the organisation, we are happy to discuss mechanisms for providing additional support to the post‑holder, including use of external costs support and external legal supervision.
Hours: 35 per week. CPAG operates a ‘core hours’ and flexi/TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) policy. Flexible working arrangements will be considered (e.g. part time, compressed hours).
Salary: Band E 95-105% (£51,458 – £56,875) plus 5.64% of salary pension employer contribution.
Contract: Permanent
Location: London (with hybrid working options)
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