Purpose of the role
The Legal Director provides strategic leadership on immigration, economic migration, asylum and nationality for ILPA, with a primary focus on legal policy, legislative analysis, member engagement and public influence.
The role is responsible for shaping ILPA’s legal positions, overseeing the quality and coherence of legal analysis across the organisation, and maintaining ILPA’s standing as the leading professional membership body in immigration and asylum law.
Key responsibilities
1. Legal strategy and leadership
In collaboration with the Trustees and Chief Executive, the Legal Director will:
a. Develop and maintain ILPA’s short-, medium- and long-term legal strategy in line with ILPA’s charitable objectives.
b. Identify emerging legal, policy and practice issues affecting immigration, asylum and nationality law.
c. Engage with ILPA members to understand frontline impacts and systemic concerns.
d. Advise the Trustees and Chief Executive on legal policy priorities, organisational positioning and risk.
e. Translate member insight into clear legal and policy positions.
f. Lead ILPA’s legal responses to legislative proposals, consultations and policy initiatives.
g. Ensure ILPA’s legal work remains focused, authoritative and aligned with ILPA’s strategic plan.
2. Policy, parliamentary and public influence
a. Lead ILPA’s engagement on legal and policy matters with government departments, Parliament and public bodies.
b. Draft and oversee consultation responses, parliamentary briefings and policy submissions.
c. Represent ILPA at meetings with Ministers, officials, parliamentarians and sector partners.
d. Provide expert evidence to parliamentary inquiries and committees.
e. Support the Chief Executive in high-level advocacy and external relations where appropriate.
f. Maintain ILPA’s reputation as a trusted expert voice on immigration and asylum law.
3. Member support and legal expertise
a. Maintain expert-level knowledge of UK and international immigration, asylum and nationality law.
b. Monitor and analyse developments in legislation, case law and policy.
c. Oversee the accuracy and quality of legal information provided to members.
d. Support ILPA’s thematic and regional working groups, including attendance and follow-up actions where appropriate.
e. Build and maintain relationships with NGOs, migrant organisations and advice-sector partners.
f. Strengthen member engagement through high-quality legal leadership and insight.
4. Relationship with litigation and advice functions
a. Work collaboratively with the Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice to ensure consistency between ILPA’s policy positions and litigation strategy.
b. Provide legal policy insight to inform litigation priorities where appropriate.
5. Management and organisational leadership
a. Line manage the Senior Legal Officer and support the Chief Executive’s HR management function for the Senior Legal Officer
b. Provide strategic direction and professional support to the legal function without direct responsibility for operational casework or project delivery.
c. Contribute as a senior member of ILPA’s management team.
d. Support organisational planning, risk management and reporting.
e. Act as a senior ambassador for ILPA internally and externally.
6. Cross-organisational working
a. Work with the Training Manager to identify emerging legal training needs and priority topics for members.
b. Contribute to the development of training programmes, events and conferences by advising on content and legal accuracy.
c. Support identification of suitable speakers and trainers from within ILPA’s membership.
d. Work with the Content and Digital Services Manager to ensure legal content is accurate, accessible and up to date across ILPA’s digital platforms.
e. Contribute legal expertise to funding bids and project reporting where required.
f. Support organisational strategy development and review.
g. Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority of the role.
Accountability and relationships
Reports to: Chief Executive
Direct reports: Senior Legal Officer
Key internal relationships:
· Director of Strategic Litigation and Advice
· Training Manager
· Content and Digital Services Manager
· Trustees and Chief Executive
Person specification
Essential
· Substantial expertise in immigration, asylum and nationality law
· Strong understanding of public law and human rights frameworks
· Proven experience of legal policy development and advocacy
· Excellent analytical and drafting skills
· Experience managing senior legal staff
· Authority and credibility with Parliament, government and the profession
Desirable
· Experience within a membership organisation or charity
· Understanding of litigation governance structures
· Experience contributing to digital legal resources
· Familiarity with training design or professional education
Why work at ILPA
• National profile and respected reputation
• High-impact policy and legal work
• Flexible and supportive working culture
• Collaborative, expert-led organisation