Research Assistant

Job Purpose

You will contribute to a collaborative and rights-based project focused on addressing the unmet legal needs of Gypsy Traveller communities in Scotland. This project, in partnership with Making Rights Real, seeks to empower Gypsy Traveller communities to identify their legal needs and co-create calls to action, particularly in anticipation of upcoming international human rights monitoring cycles.

Preliminary conversations with Making Rights Real and members of the Gypsy Traveller community have highlighted some of the profound challenges faced by these communities in Scotland. These include recurring themes of systemic discrimination, prejudice, and a pervasive sense of being unheard. The barriers to accessing justice are multifaceted, including racism, limited awareness of legal rights, and poor access to advice and legal representation.

The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Nicole Busby and Mr Cameron Wong McDermott in undertaking scoping research to identify and address the unmet legal needs of Gypsy Traveller communities in Scotland. This will involve supporting gap analysis and stakeholder mapping, capturing the lived experiences of community members, and co-designing solutions to improve access to justice. The research assistant will contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and proposals, and will help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

By joining this project, you will contribute to the GO Justice Centre's mission to drive social change through legal education and research, with a particular focus on empowering communities and individuals to use the law to access justice and achieve social and economic inclusion. To this end, you will play a role in supporting Cameron Wong McDermott in managing the work of a new Social Change Law Clinic. We anticipate that the Clinic will work towards producing a report that will serve as evidence for the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, who will undertake evaluation of the UK’s compliance with the Convention in the first half of 2025.

This role will be part time (4 hours per week) and will therefore be of interest to postgraduate (LLM or PHD) or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice students.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Perform the following activities in conjunction with and under the guidance of GO Justice staff:

1. Plan and conduct assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project/group/School/College research strategy.

2. Document research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and papers as appropriate.

3. Develop and enhance your research profile and reputation and that of The GO Justice Centre, including contributing to high quality reports and other publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4. Contribute to the presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

5. Contribute to the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

6. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team/ group/ meetings/ seminars/ workshops across the GO Justice Centre, School of Law, College, University and wider community.

7. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the project, including Budgets/Expenditure.

8. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field of human rights and equality law.

9. Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.

10. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by GO Justice staff.

11. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring People Changing The World.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 SCQF Level 10 [Honours degree] in a relevant subject or a cognate discipline, or equivalent

A2 Theoretical and practical knowledge of human rights and/or equality law.

A3 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the wider subject area.

Desirable:

B1 Currently undertaking postgraduate study (PhD/LLM/Diploma in Professional Legal Practice)

B2 Experience of working with civil society organisations.

B3 Experience of working with marginalised and/or vulnerable groups.

B4 Knowledge and understanding of Gypsy Traveller communities and the issues they face.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Project or subject specific skills

C2 Research creativity and cross-discipline collaborative ability as appropriate

C3 Excellent communication skills [oral and written], including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely

C4 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach

C5 Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills

C6 Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate

C7 Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working

C8 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach

Experience

Essential:

E1 Sufficient relevant research experience [or equivalent] appropriate to an early career researcher

E2 Project or subject specific experience

E3 Experience of scientific writing

E4 Proven ability to deliver quality outputs in a timely and efficient manner

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed, and should be addressed to Cameron Wong McDermott, [email protected]

Terms and Conditions

Salary: Grade 6, £32,332 - £36,024 per annum, pro rata

This post is part time (4 hours per week) and fixed term until 31.3.25.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.