ISM is Seeking a Senior Employment Law Adviser

The award-winning ISM is the dynamic, change-making professional body representing musicians. With a current membership of over 11,000 musicians, the ISM is well known for its outstanding legal services to members and our campaigning work on issues from music education to AI and Brexit.

The ISM is now looking for a highly experienced Senior Employment Law Adviser to join our in-house legal team who have a well-deserved reputation for going the extra mile and delivering gold standard services to our 11,000 musician members. You should be experienced in Claimant work with a good knowledge of all aspects of employment law and in particular issues relating to status and holiday pay. You should also have experience of engaging with ACAS and instituting proceedings in the Tribunal should this become necessary.

You will have at least 5 years’ experience working in employment law and have a real commitment to going the extra mile and supporting those who work in precarious settings such as musicians. You will be comfortable working to competing deadlines, have great interpersonal skills and have high levels of attention to detail. The role is 35 hours per week. You will be joining a professional staff team who are based in Bayswater, London.

The role is hybrid but for at least 3 days per week you will be in the ISM office.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Deliver quick, accurate advice to members by phone, email and in meetings. Advice will be around all aspects of a musicians’ working life including employment, freelance issues, status, tax and holiday pay
• Attend disciplinary and grievance meetings and other types of meetings on behalf of members eg redundancy and changes in terms and conditions and collective matters whether in person or virtually.
• Negotiate appropriate settlements for members following taking careful instructions from the member.
• Following consultation with colleagues and in compliance with internal criteria which includes obtaining permission from the CEO, refer employment law cases to our retained solicitors and keep in touch with the member throughout the ongoing processes.
• In emergency situations where no other option is available and only after consultation with colleagues and the CEO issue ET1 proceedings in order to protect the member’s position.
• Ensure that the ISM’s safeguarding policies and procedures are followed at all times.
• Raise matters of concern with the Designated Safeguarding Person.
• Help to ensure that the standard of legal advice given to members promotes high levels of retention and assists the recruitment of new members and embed a culture whereby the member feels well served by the ISM.
• Assist in the recording of legal activity data as required and in the distribution of member feedback forms regarding their experience of legal services to aid the delivery of a gold standard legal service.
• Assist in the interpretation of the member experience of legal services provision.
• Work with colleagues to produce regular statistical reports and analysis on member use of the legal services. Work with the Head of Charities and Services in the interpretation of such data.
• Assist in the preparation of the quarterly Board papers for the legal function.
• Assist in the creation and embedding of the legal services protocol to ensure delivery of legal services to members meet our agreed standards re member experience and the ISM Group’s business goals.
• Give external presentations and deliver webinars to a broad range of stakeholders including ISM members and musicians generally.
• Contribute to the ISM’s resources for members and provide features, blogs etc. across a range of platforms.
• Contribute to policy work led by the Head of External Affairs.
• Ensure the legal services team generates a high level of retention in the membership and supports recruitment.