The Legal Education Foundation (LEF), a Royal Charter charitable foundation whose charitable objectives are “to promote the advancement of legal education and the study of law in all its branches and the sound development and administration of law,” was created in 2012 with funds received from the £200m sale of its education and training operation, The College of Law.

The Foundation’s vision is of a just and fair society. It believes the law should be a tool for social justice. The Foundation operates a combination of open and proactive grant programmes, awarding from inception to the last financial year end, over £45m through 587 grants to over 220 organisations. The Foundation’s subsidiary has awarded £8m in grants over the same period. The principal source of funds for the Foundation are the returns on investments which currently stand at around £270m. In addition, the Foundation receives and distributes restricted grants from other organisations and has a charitable subsidiary (Justice Collaborations) whose principal source of funds is restricted grants from other charitable foundations and organisations. More information about the grants the Foundation has made since 2020 can be found here.

LEF has also developed and runs a set of initiatives tackling particular strategic challenges in the sector. These include the Justice First Fellowship, a scheme which was established in 2013 to support the next generation of social justice lawyers. The scheme has gone on to fund over 140 new social justice lawyers. Of the 88 Fellows that have completed, over 90% are successfully working as lawyers using law for public benefit.

There are three strategic objectives that are driving LEF’s work to 2025:

Stronger Sector: training and support for a thriving social justice legal sector

Fairer Systems: transparency, accountability and the protection of rights

Smarter Justice: an enduring commitment to learning and evidence in the justice system.

This is an exciting time to join the Foundation as work to develop its next five-year strategy from 2025-30 is underway. In its first ten years of operation, LEF has firmly established itself as a key body supporting the role of law as a tool for social justice in the UK. Trustees are passionate about consolidating and enhancing this role. They will be investing in the Foundation’s approaches to grantmaking, learning and influencing. LEF will particularly be looking to develop its approach to supporting the role of law to build power in communities that have been historically marginalised and oppressed.

LEF is governed by a Board of Trustees (referred to in their Royal Charter as Governors) who set and oversee the delivery of their strategy. The Trustees ensure that the Foundation as a whole can work effectively, using the appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and knowledge to make informed decisions. They can access independent professional advice, such as legal or financial advice, at the Foundation’s expense if needed.

There are currently 10 Trustees, with two Trustees who will reach the end of their terms in November 2023. In addition to sitting on the main Board, Trustees are normally expected to join one of the following committees: Finance Audit and Risk, Investment, Grants & Learning, Nominations & Remuneration; or the Justice Collaborations Board.

Trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the Foundation including, in particular:

• Overseeing the values, governance and strategy, fiduciary duties, assets and activities of the charity
• Ensuring that it is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit in compliance with its governing document and the law

LEF is looking to appoint a number of new Trustees to join its Board and that of its subsidiary Justice Collaborations.

The successful candidates will have a track record at a senior level in at least one of the following areas:

• Progressive grant-making: The Foundation is aiming to become a genuinely inclusive funder. The ideal candidate will help the Foundation’s grant-making to be bold, energetic and creative in response to the needs of directly impacted communities and movements. They should have experience in the design, administration and governance of grant programmes that are equitable and that seek to build trust and exercise the power that comes with being a funder responsibly
• Strategic communications and influencing: Candidates should be able to strengthen the Foundation’s strategic communications and ability to influence and amplify the voices of the organisations the Foundation supports. They will be able to support the Foundation to develop an effective organisation-wide strategy to make policy influencing and strategic communications integral to achieving the Foundation’s vision, mission and values
• Human Rights / Public Law: There are particular areas of law that are integral to the Foundation's areas of strategic focus, including human rights, public law, as well as an understanding of constitutional, legislative and regulatory frameworks. Candidates will have senior experience in NGOs that make particular use of law or legal strategies, the judiciary, government or relevant areas of public policy, senior legal and justice system academic experience, including in the UK and internationally or private practice or the Bar
• Front-line experience and expertise: The Foundation seeks to put lived experience at the heart of its strategy and programmes with its grant-making as a key driver of that work.  It has been developing this approach through a careful process of outreach and redesign of grant making and governance processes and has seen the value of this in terms of engagement and decision making. The Foundation is keen to strengthen this perspective at board level and enhance understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities facing frontline organisations and social movements

Essential skills and experience:

• Commitment to the Foundation’s vision, mission and values
• A track record across one or a combination of the areas outlined above
• The ability to work in a board setting and to work in partnership with those from outside of the field
• An understanding of the non-executive role and how it can be used to guide and support the executive
• Understanding, awareness of, and commitment to, the principles and practice of equal opportunities, diversity and anti-oppression

Desirable experience:

• First-hand understanding of the not-for-profit sector
• Direct lived and learned experience of the issues which the Foundation seeks to address in its mission and vision, including an understanding of the structural barriers that prevent equal treatment and undermine access to justice

In addition to the above, LEF is open to those candidates seeking their first board position, provided that they demonstrate an understanding of the Trustee role and how it can be used to guide and support the executive team.

Paddy Sloan, Chair
Ailsa Beaton
Tamsin Evans
Jonathan Freeman
Vivek Luthra
Alison Pickup
Monica Risam
Hetan Shah
Rupen Shah
Alex Temple 

Note from the organisation:

We want the Legal Education Foundation to be a great place to work with a truly inclusive organisation culture that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. A vital part of this is ensuring that we have a representative board so that equalities and justice remain at the heart of everything we do. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minoritised backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, disabled and neurodiverse communities, and people with lived experience of social welfare legal issues who are underrepresented on our board, so we are actively recruiting and prioritising candidates who bring this understanding alongside other skills and expertise. In line with the Equality Act 2010, we may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

We will not ask applicants to describe their personal experience at any stage during this recruitment process or during their work at the Foundation.

Access and adjustments:

LEF is committed to making its recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you have any access requirements or would like to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including being provided information in an alternative format,  please contact Arushi Kharkwal from Nurole at [email protected]

The Legal Education Foundation is a Disability Confident employer. It guarantees any applicant who declares they have a disability will be offered an interview if they meet the minimum requirements of the job specification.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. There is a requirement to join at least one meeting in-person. The majority of the meetings can be virtual and the Board is flexible depending on needs of the Trustees. The appointment is for a three year term, which can be renewed three times at the discretion of the Board.

This organisation is based in London and meetings will take place as a blend of virtual and in-person meetings. Candidates will be UK based.