Senior Solicitor

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and motivated part-time Senior Solicitor to join CLAO Aberdeen. This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a collaborative team delivering high-quality, trauma-informed legal advice and representation to legally aided clients at some of the most challenging points in their lives.

You will manage a complex and varied caseload, with a particular focus on key areas of children’s hearings, public family law, housing, and homelessness. 

Alongside frontline casework, you will work closely with the Head of Office in Aberdeen, supporting day-to-day operational activity and contributing to the delivery of CLAO’s strategic priorities. This includes mentoring and supporting colleagues, coordinating strategic and service-development projects, and building effective relationships with external partners and agencies.

This post is ideally suited to a solicitor with significant civil litigation experience, a strong commitment to access to justice, and an interest in developing people-management and supervisory skills. If you enjoy supporting and developing others while contributing to innovative and strategic work alongside your own caseload, this role offers the scope to do exactly that.

The work of this role is based within the geographical area covered by our Aberdeen office. It will involve regular attendance at in-person court and children’s hearings in Aberdeen and across Aberdeenshire. While we are open to flexible and remote working arrangements, including working from home or from our Edinburgh or Inverness offices, regular attendance at the Aberdeen office is required and therefore locally based candidates are preferred.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a varied and often high-volume caseload of specialist and contentious civil and children’s cases with minimal supervision
• Providing timely, independent legal advice and representation to clients in accordance with professional and ethical standards
• Participating in rotas, including duty solicitor schemes and helpline cover, as required
• Supporting the Head of Office with operational and management responsibilities, including supervision, workload allocation, and compliance
• Providing guidance, supervision and mentoring to solicitors and trainees across the CLAO network
• Assisting in the coordination and delivery of CLAO’s strategic initiatives, such as the Child Law Hub, Court of Session and Sheriff Appeal Court agency work, external training programmes, and our Homeless Helpline 
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with solicitors, partner agencies, and external stakeholders.

To succeed in this role you will need:

• Strong practical experience in at least one of our core areas of work (housing & homelessness, public family law, mental health & AWI, benefits and debt matters) including advocacy and case management in complex or contentious matters
• A sound understanding of legal aid and the wider civil justice system in Scotland
• Excellent judgement, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work independently while managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to mentor and support colleagues effectively
• A collaborative, flexible, and pragmatic approach to delivering high-quality public legal services.

What we offer:

• A meaningful role where your work makes a real impact
• A supportive, inclusive, and values-driven working environment
• Opportunities for learning and professional development
• Flexible working to support a healthy work-life balance
• A competitive salary and benefits package, including pension contributions
• Generous annual leave entitlement (34 days, rising to 42 days after two years’ service, pro rata for part time)
• Enhanced family-friendly leave entitlements
• Access to wellbeing support, mental health support, and an employee assistance programme
• Access to a wide range of discounts (including gym and retail) and the Cycle to Work scheme through our partner, Edenred.

For more details about this role and a full list of essential criteria and required competencies, please see the Job Description. 

ABOUT US

The Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) is part of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, providing accessible legal support to those who need it most. Since 2008, we have helped people with their civil law problems by providing a combination of direct casework, expert guidance and training to advice organisations, and referrals to other providers of legal assistance. In addition to supporting individuals, we collaborate with local and national organisations on projects that strengthen legal assistance networks and address community needs.

We are part of the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s Client Legal Services Directorate. The Directorate comprises the Civil Legal Assistance Office (CLAO), Public Defence Solicitor’s Office (PDSO) and Solicitor Contact Line (SCL) making us Scotland’s largest multi-disciplinary legal aid practice and a unique place to work.

Learn more at www.clao.org.uk.

The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) plays a vital role in ensuring access to justice for all individuals in Scotland. As a non-departmental public body, SLAB operates independently but is accountable to the Scottish Government. Our mission is simple: to provide essential legal support to those who need it most, ensuring fair access to justice for all.

We manage and continually improve the delivery of publicly funded legal assistance and provide strategic advice to Scottish Ministers, shaping the future of legal aid in Scotland. In a dynamic and evolving legal landscape, our work is central to the functioning of the justice system, supporting the courts and helping people navigate complex legal matters.

At SLAB, we believe in the power of a diverse, talented workforce. We employ individuals from all backgrounds, bringing a range of skills and experiences to our workforce. Every role, whether directly interacting with the public or providing behind-the-scenes support, makes a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

We offer an inclusive, supportive work environment with a comprehensive employment package. To learn more about working with SLAB and the benefits we offer, please visit www.slab.org.uk/recruitment/working-for-us.

We are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to being fair, inclusive and a place where all belong.

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people. 

We will ensure that the disclosure of disability status will not negatively impact anyone’s application. Where reasonable, we are committed to guaranteeing an interview to every applicant who indicates they have a disability, under the Equality Act 2010, and meets the minimum criteria for the role.

For further information on SLAB’s services, values, and how the legal aid system works, please visit www.slab.org.uk.