Trainee Adviser & Advocate - Community Links @ Catch 22

Rolling deadline

Community Links is a hub tackling health and social inequality in East London and beyond. We work alongside the community helping people of all ages reach their full potential. We take our local knowledge of what works to influence national decision making. We are proud to be part of Catch22.

Mission

We work towards a world where your potential is not limited by your health or social circumstances.

Vision

We believe everyone can thrive if they have 3 basic things: good people around them, a good place to live and a purpose in life. We call these our 3Ps.

Values

Our ethos is to be driven by dreams and judged by delivery.

In November 2020, our Board of Trustees took the decision to merge fully with Catch22. Our two organisations have complementary strengths, are closely aligned in terms of activities, objectives and missions, and have been part of an innovative strategic partnership since 2017. 

The role

Our most popular volunteering role is for a Trainee Adviser & Advocate in our Advice Team. Volunteers in this role help support clients directly with legal, debt, or welfare benefits advice under the guidance of a trained and qualified advisors, both remotely and face-to-face.

Role Description 

You will be joining our award-winning Advice Team. We provide volunteers with training and legal work experience, generally under the supervision of a legal adviser, debt adviser or welfare benefits adviser.

This opportunity is open to anyone who has an interest in helping others and is ideal for those considering a career that involves dealing with vulnerable members of the public. The trainee advisor and advocate role is also great work experience for those wishing to go into a profession which involves giving advice to clients and managing a caseload. 

This role allows you to volunteer from home or if you wish to volunteer from our office. A lunch allowance is provided, as well as a travel allowance for journeys up to Transport for London Zone 6. 

Aim

To help/advise or refer onwards members of the public who present with a variety of legal problems. 

Transferable Skills

As a Trainee Advisor and Advocate, you will be expected to learn about and gain experience by: 

• Triaging and interviewing clients
• Taking clients’ detailed instructions
• Advising clients with legal problems
• Researching the law
• Making appropriate referrals and signposting clients to professional services
• Ad hoc paralegal work, such as: drafting, casework, research, project work and dealing with external organisations etc.

What abilities and qualities are needed?

• Good listening, oral communication and written English skills
• Ability to treat clients’ personal details confidentially
• Organisation and team working skills, including the ability to take feedback on board
• Enthusiasm, empathy, patience, maturity and professionalism

If you are interested in this role, please complete this application form for a Trainee Adviser & Advocate and send it via email to advice@community-links.org. Ideally, we need volunteers to be willing and able to commit to a minimum of 15 hours a week, for at least 3 months.