VACANCY: Legal Trustee
PLEASE NOTE: CLAPA is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and will assess all prospective employees in line with this commitment. See the recruitment pack below for more details.
About CLAPA
The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) is the national charity for people affected by cleft lip and palate in the United Kingdom.
CLAPA supports people affected by cleft to take control of their journey, connect with others, and use their voices to impact the future of care. Our vision is that no one affected by cleft lip and palate in the United Kingdom will go through their journey alone. Find out more.
Legal Trustee (Part Time, Volunteer)
Role Description
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the CLAPA’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
You would be joining our board at an exciting time, as we create and implement our new 5 year strategy for 2025-2030.
The Legal Trustee will participate in all areas of the charity’s governance with a special interest in the legal implications of the strategy, governance and support with the Board’s understanding and interpretation.
Key Tasks
The Legal Trustee will be expected to:
- Offer legal expertise to fellow Trustees and the Senior Management Team (SMT) particularly in relation to external contracts and agreements.
- Be an integral part of the Trustee board, working alongside other Trustees and the charity’s SMT, formulating and regularly reviewing the charity’s strategic aims and objectives, evaluating performance and impact, ensuring the organisation complies with statutory and regulatory requirements from a legal perspective.
The duties of a Trustee are to:
- Ensure that CLAPA complies with its constitution/memorandum and articles of association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Ensure that CLAPA pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
- Ensure CLAPA applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those organisations are
- Contribute actively to the board in giving firm strategic direction to CLAPA, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance
- Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions and adhere to the Trustee Code of Conduct. Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect.
- Occasionally attend CLAPA-led events to ensure an understanding of our services and represent the organisation externally (usually online but sometimes in-person).
- Respond to occasional queries from the wider CLAPA team (with authorisation from the SMT) seeking to use your knowledge to help inform service delivery and decision making.
- Devote necessary time and effort to your duties as a Trustee and be available and responsive to trustees and others for contact between meetings
- Ensure CLAPA complies with relevant Safeguarding and Health & Safety legislation by working with the Board to ensure correct procedures and reporting channels are in place and to participate in internal committee meetings as required
- Complete a relevant level DBS check in line with CLAPA policy and join the DBS update service
- Safeguard the good name and values of CLAPA
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of CLAPA
- Protect and manage the property of CLAPA and ensure the proper investment of CLAPA’s funds
- Contribute to the broader promotion of CLAPA’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.
- Appoint the Chief Executive and monitor their performance
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Personal empathy for our vision and mission.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified Barrister or Solicitor or a person with equivalent legal qualifications and experience
- Strong communication skills and excellent leadership skills along with a willingness to challenge the status quo
- Broad based legal knowledge and experience gained in private practice or as an in-house lawyer
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team as well as independently
- Integrity, good independent judgment and analytical/ evaluation skills
- A commitment to CLAPA and willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the charity, and to act as the charity’s ambassador to external bodies, charities and companies
- Competent use of IT skills
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
Desirable
- An understanding of probate to assist CLAPA in processing received legacies
- A generalist lawyer with a solid understanding of commercial, marketing, data protection and employment law and ability to apply this in a practical, risk assessed manner.
- Commercial and business expertise
- Previous experience of influencing and developing an organisational strategy
- General knowledge and understanding of UK Employment law
- Knowledge and understanding of cleft lip and palate and its impact on people born with a cleft and their families
- Experience and knowledge of voluntary sector organisations
Terms of Office
- Trustees will normally hold office for two three year terms.
- Usually a maximum of two terms can be served.
- This is a voluntary position.
How to Apply
Please complete the online Application Form:
Legal Trustee Recruitment Pack (PDF)
You may request an application form in another format by emailing [email protected] with ‘Legal Trustee Recruitment Pack Request’ in the subject.
Applications close: Wednesday 6th November 2024. We regret that we are unable to consider any applications received after this time.
Interviews: 12th – 15th November 2024
Start date: As soon as possible – to be agreed
If the interview or start dates will be an issue for you because of religious festivals or other key dates, we will make every effort to accommodate this. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
If you have not heard from us by Tuesday 12th November 2024 then please assume your application has been unsuccessful. We regret that due to our small team, we are unable to give feedback on unsuccessful applications.
We request that no recruitment agencies contact us regarding this listing.
