Legal and Grants Support Officer
Responsible to:
Salary range:
Key relationships:
Location:
Hours:
Chief Executive Officer
£23,580 - £29,480
CEO, Legal team, external lawyers, partners and beneficiaries
MLDI, the Foundry, 17 Oval Way, London SE11 5RR
37.5 hours (flexible), occasional evening and weekend work
The Media Legal Defence Initiative is a charity that helps journalists defend their rights. We support
independent media, journalists and bloggers who are under legal threat by making sure that lawyers are
available to defend them. We engage in strategic litigation to improve the regulatory environment for
media freedom, make grants to organisations in various countries to run media defence programmes,
and build the capacity of the lawyers and organisations we work with on issues of media law. MLDI was
set up in 2008 and has established itself as a leader in the field.
Role Summary
The Legal and Grants Support Officer is an important role that provides support to the legal team and is
the first port of call for incoming requests for support from journalists. The role also administers the
grants that MLDI makes to partner organisations.
Main Responsibilities
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Handling queries and requests for support from independent media, journalists, bloggers,
lawyers, partners and others
Providing an initial assessment of grant applications against MLDI’s case selection criteria and
undertaking due diligence on the applicant
Providing written case reports and assessments on the validity of grant requests with evidence
and references for the legal team and the CEO
Monitoring the performance of grants awarded including by agreeing appropriate outcomes and
reporting regimes with the legal officers and producing monitoring reports
Ensuring that grant databases, including MLDI’s GIFTS system, are kept accurate and up to date
Ensuring that the applications section of the website is kept accurate and up to date
Ensuring the smooth, coherent and consistent assessment of requests for support
Managing and maintaining systems for case filing, document and knowledge management
Drafting minutes, legal letters, faxes and emails
Assisting in the preparation of bundles for filing
Assisting with the development of training materials and presentations
Managing logistics for trainings and workshops for MLDI staff and external participants
Providing administrative support for the legal team in relation to grant making, visits, overseas
travel and case management
Preparing monthly reports on legal activity
Such other paralegal support as may be required
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Providing material for the MLDI website as needed
Person Specification
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Good general education to degree level
Legal training or substantial hands on experience in a legal environment
Strong proven project management skills and experience of delivering successful projects
Ability to analyse and synthesise complex information quickly and effectively
Competent IT user including Microsoft Office Packages, internet and email
Ability to work creatively and flexibly in a small ream, supporting other colleagues, and with a
strong commitment to learning and improvement
Excellent written and spoken English, good editorial skills and the ability to communicate with
diverse communities
Experience of working with, and relating to, a diverse range of people and a pleasant, diplomatic
manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues at all levels, as well as with MLDI’s partners
Good working knowledge (spoken and written) of French would be a significant advantage; a
good working knowledge (spoken and written) of Russian or Spanish would be an advantage
Proven experience of grant making administration and the process of grant making
Experience of working hands on in a legal environment and the management of legal
documentation
Proven track record of an organised and methodical approach to work, combining numerical
accuracy with attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
Experience with databases
Experience of, and an interest in, working for a ‘not for profit’ and in a human rights environment
would be an advantage