We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven, public-spirited qualified and experienced solicitor or barrister to join our expert Whistleblowing Advice Line team. 

If you are keen to use your legal training for the benefit of the public interest in a part time role, we want to hear from you.  We are keen to hear applications from an experienced lawyer looking for a new and exciting area of work. Protect is a specialist organisation providing  expert advice on whistleblowing law. We are looking for an individual to help supervise our team of legal advisers and we’re looking for someone with experience in employment law, and ideally some knowledge of whistleblowing.  

Protect is the UK's leading whistleblowing charity with nearly 30 years’ subject matter expertise.  We are unique in that we are the only free, confidential legal advice line for whistleblowers. The Charity is regularly involved in the biggest legal cases concerning whistleblowing, and in recent years has intervened in most of the key Court of Appeal and Supreme Court whistleblowing cases. We also support organisations from FTSE250 to SMEs, across multiple sectors, in enhancing their whistleblowing arrangements, and we campaign for legal reform to better protect whistleblowing. 

Our Advice Line delivers whistleblowing advice by phone, currently advising on more than 3,000 cases a year with a small team of 8-10 advisers. We do not litigate but we advise on a wide variety of cases, many of which are complex and involve ongoing work with callers to help them escalate their concerns and respond to possible retaliation at work. As a senior legal adviser, you will be helping individuals with practical and strategic advice, as well as advice on their individual rights, as they go through a stressful time. You will be contributing to holding organisations to account and protecting the public. 

Senior Adviser duties and responsibilities: 

Case management 

• Provide advice to individuals on how they can raise their whistleblowing concerns in the most effective manner, whilst doing so in a way which minimises the chance of them suffering negative repercussions as a result; 

• Manage your own case load of whistleblowers, providing them with bespoke legal and practical advice and support on their situation (once you have completed Protect’s training process); 

• Maintain accurate records of cases and details from callers  

• Effectively review ET1 documents, internal grievance/disciplinary documents and whistleblowing disclosures 

Supervision responsibilities 

• Effectively supervise the work of junior advisers  to ensure their understanding of whistleblowing law and its application to varied cases is accurate and pragmatic   

• Keep up to date with the law, particularly with legal developments in whistleblowing  

• Provide ad-hoc, expert supervision on complex matters  

• Support Protect’s Legal Director with strategic litigation work  

• Assist in developing and improving the service, so that it best fulfils Protect’s charitable objectives; 

Business Support and Policy 

• The role is varied and senior advisers may also be asked to assist on an ad hoc basis in other areas of the organisation’s work, including:  

• Supporting the Policy team as they campaign for reform of whistleblowing law and practice; 

• Assisting the Business Support team in their delivery of training and consultancy to businesses, charities and government bodies; and 

• Working with Protect’s senior lawyers in their preparation of legal interventions in key whistleblower cases. 

Person Specification  

• Genuine interest in using the law to uphold individual rights and the public interest  

• Previous experience managing a caseload as either a solicitor/barrister  

• Previous experience providing advice  

• Previous experience supervising on cases, or overseeing the work of others 

• Excellent legal research skills  

• Good understanding of employment law and practice  

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and intensive working environment  

• Strong interpersonal skills  

• Strong organisational and planning skills  

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

• Commitment to outstanding client care  

Experience of delivering training and engaging with policy makers, or the business community, will also count favourably towards an application.  

Protect is happy to discuss flexible working and we currently offer hybrid working between our office in Bethnal Green, London and home.   Details of all the benefits of working at Protect are available on our website https://protect-advice.org.uk/vacancies/ 

Please apply by Friday 4 April 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on 14 and 15 April. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please contact rebecca@protect-advice.org.uk.