We are recruiting our first Dale Vince Fellow

Founded by Jolyon Maugham QC, the Good Law Project uses law to deliver a progressive society. We devise and bring novel, strategic legal cases to enhance the rule of law, drive demand for further legal change and, increasingly, to strengthen and uphold environmental laws. We use the debate generated by our cases to inform and engage.

The Good Law Project is bold. We challenge the status quo and we stand up for what is right regardless of who our opponents are.

The Good Law Project has recently established the Dale Vince Fellowship which has as its purpose to develop and deliver the Good Law Project’s strategic litigation docket. The Dale Vince Fellowship is supported by Ecotricity Group Ltd, a leading UK green energy group.

The Good Law Project is now looking to recruit the very first Dale Vince Fellow.

About the role

We are looking for someone to join as legal researcher with a broad range of responsibilities. Although you will work across the docket of our work, you will work in particular on environmental litigation.

You will likely be legally trained (we are open to applications from those at all stages of their careers), interested in public and environmental affairs with strong analytical and communication skills.

Core responsibilities

Your role will be to help us to identify and then pursue cases which create social value and environmental benefit. You will be closely involved in crowd sourcing litigation proposals which you will then research and assess for feasibility and likelihood of success before presenting your recommendations to the Board.

You will work alongside external specialist lawyers to work up prospective litigation, writing briefs for stakeholders and liaising with media and funders. Alongside relevant experience, we will expect you to demonstrate:

• academic rigour and accuracy;
• powerful research and analytical skills;
• a commitment to the Good Law Project objectives;
• a basic understanding of relevant litigation procedures;
• excellent written communication skills for both legal and non-legal professionals; and
• tenacity, diplomacy and integrity.

Whilst the role will have a focus on environmental litigation, we will want you to engage on our entire range of cases, which currently stretch across constitutional and administrative law, tax, employment, equality and discrimination, and data protection. You must be an efficient self-starter who enjoys a wide variety of legal work, often delivered to a tight deadline and you are used to managing a busy case load. You are happy picking up queries and matters outside of your immediate comfort zone and you pay attention to detail whilst keeping commercials in mind.

The Good Law Project community is highly supportive and you will be engaging frequently with the Director (Jolyon Maugham QC) and other colleagues such as the Chief Operating Officer. You will also be working independently, often based at home.

We will expect you to be highly proactive, think creatively and work collaboratively.

We celebrate diversity and inclusion, and we will expect you to work with humility and respect. We particularly welcome applications from those under-represented in the law and/or who can demonstrate a lived experience of disadvantage.

We work with a wide constituency, including charities, campaigners and activists, community organisers, social enterprises, funders and others with the primary purpose of creating social value. The person we will choose for this fellowship will build cooperative relationships with these groups – at all times to enhance the efficacy, legitimacy and effectiveness of use of the law.

Applications, please, of no more than three pages, by 5pm on 1 November 2019 to info@goodlawproject.org stating the date you would be available to start.

We anticipate paying a salary of £27,000 for the one year fellowship. Location: a mix of central London and remote working.