Volunteer Legal Advice Coordinator
Are you a legal professional with a few hours to spare? Are you looking to use your skills to support improved access to legal advice for local people? We are looking for a Legal Advice Coordinator to support our advice team in making client referrals to local pro bono lawyers.
Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) is a well-established charity providing free, confidential and impartial advice on issues affecting people’s day-to-day lives. We are a local charity supported by local volunteers who help local people.
Our volunteer advisers, together with paid specialist caseworkers, see circa 3000 unique clients per annum and advise on a wide range of increasingly complex issues. These include the areas of employment, housing, debt, benefits, family and immigration law. Although our advisers are highly trained, they are not able to give legal advice nor represent clients in ongoing disputes or proceedings.
In an age of limited legal aid support and increasing cost of private legal advice, engaging a lawyer is often out of reach for many of our clients. Lack of professional legal advice can result in a client’s legal position being compromised.
We are therefore developing our links with local law firms willing to provide pro bono advice in order to make such support available to CAEE clients. A number of firms have already pledged support.
About the Role
We are seeking a volunteer to:
- Assist in establishing a collective of local lawyers willing to provide pro bono support;
- Liaise with firms to arrange mechanisms for client referrals;
- Agree Memoranda Of Understanding with law firms setting out parameters for referrals and legal advice and/or representation;
- If required, assist CAEE advisers in triage of cases for referral in line with arrangements agreed with law firms;
- Keep record of referrals, and monitor outcomes and assist with outcome reporting;
- Comply with principles of confidentiality and GDPR.
We estimate the role will require no more than 3 hours per week but this is flexible.
You will work with our Advice Services Manager and Volunteer Advice Service Supervisors
Your skills
The role would suit any legal professional including legal executive, solicitor, barrister or academic and may particularly suit those working part time, retired, non-practising and/or in training. You will be:
- friendly and approachable;
- have excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens advice aims, principles and policies.
Why volunteer for CAEE?
You will:
- make a real difference to people’s lives;
- be part of a dedicated, friendly team;
- network with local law firms.
The role is unpaid but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
If you are interested in volunteering you can Apply Online.
If you would like to chat about things before applying, you can express your interest online and we will get back to you by phone or email.