Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

Applications for this opportunity are closed.

About IPSEA 

Children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have a legal right to an eduation that meets their individual needs. But tens of thousands of children with SEND are not getting the support they are legally entitled to. IPSEA is the leading charity on SEND law in england, providing free legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. IPSEA also provides training on the SEND legal framework, and influences local and national policy. 

IPSEA offers a range of services to help children and young people with SEND receive the education they are entitled to by law. IPSEA has online legal guides, an email information service, telephone helplines, tribunal support services, SEND law training, and policy work. 

About the roles

IPSEA is seeking student volunteers with a particular interest in SEND law to help support their call-back advice line. All new volunteers are asked to train and learn how to support our call-back helplines initially. We see the training and application of learning by delivering next-step advice as the foundation on which to progress to casework volunteering on our Tribunal Support Service. Volunteers need to reach a level of competency before taking on casework support, as it is vital we can offer families going through the tribunal process confident and experienced volunteers.

IPSEA is recruiting students over the summer. They are looking for students who are able to commit to IPSEA's training over the July - August period, and who can begin their role from end of September 2025. 

Advice Calls Volunteer

  • Students will schedule calls with clients to offer advice regarding their specific issue. 
  • Handle 1-2 calls per week. Each call should last about 30-35 minutes. Each session, which includes both calling time and time to write up the client's issue, will last around 90 minutes (1.5 hours). 
  • This is a call-back rather than call-in role. Students will know when their thirty-minute slot is, and will have an outline of the client’s issues 
  • The role will involve delivering advice where appropriate, and where advice cannot be given, signposting to appropriate services  
  • Volunteers will be supported by the IPSEA legal team and may be required to send follow up emails with additional advice  
  • Volunteers need to have strong attention to detail  

If volunteers reach a level of competency and experience, they may be able to progress to the Casework Volunteer role. 


Casework Volunteer

  • Volunteers would be allocated a family to support.
  • Their role would involve reading documents, advising on process, supporting families through various stages of the hearing.
  • This may involve tribunal representation on the day, where the student attends  the hearing virtually to represent the family. 
  • All output will be reviewed by a legal team member. 

Training

Before beginning to make calls or handle casework, all students must complete IPSEA's formal training. Students must complete IPSEA's formal training modules over the summer (July - August 2025) before formally beginning their role from 22nd September 2025. 

This will include:

  • IPSEA Safeguarding, data protection and cyber security training (eLearning module, 1 hour) 
  • IPSEA SEN Law level 1 training (eLearning, 10 modules, to complete at own pace) - this will include reading materials and end of module assessments, with an 80% pass rate required. 
  • 1 x Call management session (1.5 hrs) with pre-attendance tasks – involves reading pre-call information, listening to 2 x calls (1 ¾ hours) 
  • 1 x Skills session (1 hr) interactive live session and covers everything in Volunteer handbook 
  • 1 x Systems training recorded session (1 hr) on using case management system to make calls and record notes 

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.

 

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.

 

DBS

After being selected, you will need to undergo a Basic DBS check, facilitated by IPSEA. To ensure that the process is smooth, it is helpful to have the relevant documents ready. The government guidance on accepted documents for a basic check is helpful in this regard. 

Eligibility and How to Apply: 

Applications for this opportunity are closed. 

Interviews will take place on the 30th of June.

Once selected, students are expected to complete IPSEA's training over the summer. 

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.

Key Information 

Applications are now closed.

Interviews: 30th June

How to apply: 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. 

Time commitment: 

Advice calls volunteer: 4-8 calls per month from 22nd September 2025 - April 2026. Each call and subsequent write up will take 1.5 hours to complete. A minimum of one call each week is expected. 

Eligibility: All incoming year 2, 3, and 4 LLB students. 

Please be aware that this opportunity is entirely remote.