Training Contract - April 2025 - Justice First Fellowship/Community Law Service

Application deadline: 29 November 2024

Community Law Service (Northampton and County) is an independent specialist social welfare law, not-for-profit, advice provider. The Organisation delivers specialist legal advice, casework and representation currently in the fields of Welfare Benefits, Debt, Housing and Immigration; we also deliver fuel poverty advice which often incorporates benefit and debt advice. 

Amongst our staff, we have highly experienced and longstanding advisors; we employ a solicitor, a CILEX Fellow and have 2 solicitors on our Board of Trustees. CLS is a Disability Confident employer and pays at least the real living wage to staff. We have robust internal procedures set out within our Office Manual to ensure effective operation and a positive work environment for staff.

Approximately 20,000 people are supported annually; in 2023/24, 6322 people received a specialist casework service; £8,506,827 additional income was secured for our clients and £28,535,388 of debt was managed. 

CLS holds LEXCEL accreditation, is FCA and OISC regulated, authorised to provide immigration advice to Level 3. Our debt advisors are supported by us to study and achieve the IMA’s Certificate in Money Advice Practice. For all areas, we maintain accreditation via in-house training, supervision and support as well as ongoing external training.

CLS has a Legal Aid contract (held since 2000) in Housing and Debt and, since August 2023, also holds the Legal Aid Agency's Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service contract in 3 courts, prior to which the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme had been delivered by CLS since 2006. This enabled representation at 1116 court hearings in 2023/24. We are an active, successful member of 2 large advice networks across the East Midlands covering debt and immigration advice.

As the local experts in social welfare law, we have been working with local organisations to train and upskill their staff, most recently supporting newer advisors to gain the skills and knowledge to gain higher OISC accreditation. In the last 12 months we have successfully recruited and trained 4 new advisors for our Organisation who are now fully operational; we continue to mentor and train 1 volunteers (currently on maternity leave) and one paid member of staff to gain OISC accreditation.

Training Location: 49-53 Hazelwood Road, Northampton, NN1 1LG

The Trainee Solicitor will be supervised by our highly experienced Solicitor who has longstanding experience in Housing and Immigration law, they will also undertake a tailored training programme utilising in-house and external resources.

The Trainee can expect a fully supported mentoring process working closely with our solicitor; they will work in 4 different departments in 6 month blocks. Initially they will shadow client appointments and court hearings to build the knowledge and skills to start casework support and ultimately will provide advice and casework to clients and hold a caseload themselves, under close supervision. As well as gaining practical on the job experience, more formal training sessions will be delivered to the Trainee internally, as well as external training being arranged as appropriate. The trainee will gain significant experience of client interviews and the most effective strategies and interview techniques to use with clients. Alongside this, court hearings in respect of Housing Law will be observed to develop procedural knowledge.

There will be a regular allocation of time ringfenced for the Trainee to plan and work on an independent project, supported by the Solicitor and a Community Law Service Trustee who is an experienced, recently retired solicitor and former Community Law Service employee.

The Trainee will work in CLS’s Housing Department, then Welfare Benefits, Debt and Immigration departments every 6 months, with a named mentor within each department. This will build a solid and broad knowledge base of social welfare law.

The Trainee will be based at our head office in Northampton, hybrid working is possible on a regular basis after successful completion of probation period and once more independent working is possible.

Main Responsibilities & Duties

• To actively participate in Community Law Service’s training and mentoring programme including observing client appointments, becoming proficient at using Advice Pro, Community Law Service’s case management system.
• To become familiar with Community Law Service’s Office Manual, containing all Service policies and procedures.
• Undertake administrative tasks as required, including scanning documents and uploading these onto the case management system.
• Provide casework support to advice staff, including legal research, effective drafting of advice letters and documents, obtaining progress updates from existing clients, obtaining documents or information from clients and obtaining evidence in support of client applications.
• Under close supervision manage and maintain an independent case load providing a full casework service; conducting client interviews face to face, over the telephone or via Zoom, to take instructions, obtain information, check and confirm facts and explain options, strategies and solutions available to the client.
• Prepare for and attend court hearings and provide advocacy for clients when appropriate, in particular with regard to Housing possession /eviction proceedings, in and out of court.
• Keep up to date with relevant legislation and case law via training courses, reading journals and utilising on-line resources.
• Make referrals either internally or externally to other agencies as appropriate.
• To use Advice Pro to accurately maintain client data and case files to meet the Lexcel Quality Mark standards.
• To use Advice Pro’s diary function to prioritise, plan and manage work activities.
• To use the SRA’s Training Template to regularly record details of qualifying work experience.
• Comply with all Community Law Service’s monitoring requirements.
• Attend and contribute to both internal and external meetings and events as required.
• To attend and participate in monthly supervision meetings with the Solicitor.
• To participate in Justice First Fellowship’s programme of events.
• Provide cover and undertake any other tasks as required by Community Law Service to ensure the Organisation meets all service delivery obligations.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Holds undergraduate degree and passed Part 1 of The Solicitors Qualifying Exam or have passed the Legal Practice Certificate.
• A commitment to social justice and supporting vulnerable individuals.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• An ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds, treating all equally and respectfully.
• A commitment to providing high quality legal advice, casework and client care.
• The ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and targets.
• The ability to work flexibly.
• Excellent IT skills and experience of working with a range of IT applications including Word and Excel
• Willingness to travel out of the office to community venues and courts (expenses reimbursed).
  Legally entitled to work in the UK

This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Desirable

• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals.
• Experience of community-based work.
• An understanding of the broad issues faced by those seeking advice.
• Driving Licence and use of a car.

Organisational Benefits:

• 26 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave per annum (rising to 31 days plus BH after 5 years’ service)
• Flexible working hours (within core hours)
• Hybrid working (after probation period)
• 5% pension contribution
• Contractual sick pay
• Supportive working environment  

Starting Salary: £26,210

Contact for Enquiries: Claire Garner

Contact Email: enquiries@communitylawservice.org.uk

Organisation Website: https://www.communitylawservice.org.uk/

Interview Dates: Friday 31st January and Tuesday 4th February 2025