Justice First Fellowship Trainee Solicitor

Derbyshire Law Centre are a leading Law Centre providing specialist legal advice to communities across Derbyshire.  We are adaptive, innovative and energetic, with a collective management structure and multiple funding streams.

2024 Justice First Fellowship Opportunity as a Trainee Solicitor.

This role must be applied to externally through the JFF website.

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

  • The post holder will be provided with training, guidance and experience necessary to enable the development of the key skills necessary to become a solicitor.
  • The post holder will provide legal advice, information and representation to individuals and groups across the catchment area of the Law Centre. The work will be at a level suited to the post holder’s particular abilities, experience and knowledge.
  • The post holder will specialise in agreed areas of law to include Housing, Debt, Immigration, Discrimination and Employment, business needs allowing.
  • In line with the other team members, the post holder will be flexible and prepared to take on work in other areas of law should the need and opportunity arise

For a full outline of the Duties of the Post, please visit the JFF website.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

  • Law Degree or equivalent
  • Successful completion of Law Society Legal Practice Course or SQE
  • Good academic knowledge of the law
  • Commitment to undertake further training to qualify as a solicitor
  • Be prepared to be flexible about work areas
  • Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice.
  • Self-motivated
  • Commitment to and understanding of the Law Centre’s aims
  • Honest and reliable
  • Able to maintain confidentiality
  • Demonstrable interest in social justice and social welfare law
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to analyse problems and advise on a range of solutions in specialist areas of law.
  • Ability to work with and advise the public by phone, in person and in writing
  • Ability to present legal issues in a clear and easily understandable way
  • Ability to organise and undertake own administration
  • Ability to work as part of team
  • Excellent computer literacy
  • Willingness to desk share

Desirable:

  • Recent work experience of advising on issues relating to social welfare law
  • Knowledge of legal aid system
  • Understanding of issues affecting not for profit agencies
  • Ability to organise a caseload
  • Prepared to work some unsocial hours
  • Able to drive or organise own transport around the catchment area

Starting Salary: £24,320

HOURS AND PLACE OF WORK:

  • The post holder will be based at the main premises in Chesterfield or at any other Law Centre premises within the catchment area.
  • The post is full time (35 hours pw).
  • 32 days holiday per year in addition to bank holidays
  • The post is suitable for hybrid working under our Hybrid Working Policy.

The Justice First Fellowship (JFF) is a scheme offering two, year fully funded legal training positions and wider development opportunities for the next generation of social justice lawyers. Established by the Legal Education Foundation, since 2014 JFF has supported 125 Fellows to qualify, with the vast majority still working in social justice law.

As a JFF Fellow at the Derbyshire Law Centre, you’ll complete your legal training with us and the cost of undertaking any mandatory training to qualify will be covered as well. You’ll also develop a project in collaboration with the Derbyshire Law Centre, and benefit from professional development and wider skills training via JFF alongside wellbeing support. And you’ll become part of the JFF network, a movement of lawyers using the law for social justice.

Apply now on the JFF website