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Applications will open in October 2024. Please check this website in October for more details.
About this project
Disability Law Service provides free legal advice on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits to Disabled people and their carers to ensure that they have access to their rights and justice.
DLS offer a range of free advice services, which are available either by phone or in writing. They are currently looking to recruit volunteers for their Housing and Community Care Advice lines. They are also looking to recruit a volunteer to triage their Legal Aid Eligibility Helpline.
The Role
Legal Aid Eligibility Helpline Volunteer
This is a triage service where the volunteer would determine if the client is eligible for legal aid. The volunteer would receive training on how to tell whether the client is eligible if the client doesn’t know. This role is open to students in Year 2 of their LLB.
Housing and Community Care Helpline Volunteer
Volunteers will take calls from clients and note down their information, then conduct research on the client’s issue. After this, a qualified supervisor will review the research and advice before the student calls the client back and gives them advice. This role is open to students in years 2, 3, and 4 of their LLB
Training and Supervision Provided
- DLS will provide training on Working with Vulnerable clients, Professional Conduct, and Safeguarding (subject to availability)
- For the Legal Aid Eligibility role: DLS will provide training on what legal aid is, what legal aid eligibility consists of, and how to determine eligibility
- For the Housing and Community Care role: DLS will provide training on Housing and Community care law. Volunteers will then shadow advisors triaging the advice line for 4-6 weeks.
- In addition, all students will receive the CAJ Mandatory Volunteer training, which covers data protection and confidentiality, working with vulnerable clients, professional conduct and regulation, self-care, and our expectations of CAJ volunteers.
Time commitment
Six month commitment, with volunteers expected to commit one full day per week. Please note that this is a remote role, with some possibility of coming into the DLS office.
When selected for this role, please have all documents required for an Enhanced DBS Check ready.
Pro Bono Skills Development Framework
The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in voluntary pro bono the opportunity to participate in the Pro Bono Skills Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the skills gained during your placement, aligned with the Aurora Competence Framework. Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to Pro Bono, acknowledging your dedication and skill development. Your participation will help you document and showcase the valuable competencies you've developed, however, please note that participation in the PBSDF scheme is entirely voluntary and will not affect your placement in any way.
Who can apply
Legal Aid Eligibility Helpline Volunteer - Year 2 LLB Students
Housing and Community Care Helpline Volunteer - Year 2, 3, 4 LLB Students and all LLM Students
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity will open in October 2024. Please apply via the online application form.
When applying, please make sure you have completed the CAJ Equality and Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire. You only need to complete this once per academic year.
Should you have any questions, please contact Annika Melwani at annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.