Legal Casework volunteering roles
Volunteers have always been central to SYRLJ's work. We wouldn't be here today without the dedication, skills and time that so many people have provided through volunteering with us over the years.
Volunteers help us to provide vital legal support to more of those to need it, whilst also bringing new skills and fresh perspectives which help us to reflect on and develop our service. In return we aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment and give our volunteers real practical insight into the world of immigration law as well as access to training and the opportunity to develop key skills to support their future careers.
Our volunteers undertake a wide variety of tasks including legal research and drafting, assisting with casework, shadowing client appointments, office and legal administration, and assisting at our busy drop-in advice sessions.
We are looking for people with a good level of IT literacy, excellent written and spoken English and ideally some experience of working in an office environment. We do not expect volunteers to have legal knowledge or experience, but we value an interest in human rights law and a commitment to social and migrant justice.
Reflections from our volunteers:
"When I joined, I was looking for an opportunity to apply the law beyond the classroom. What I found was a deeper understanding of what it means to use the law to make a real difference to people's lives. An experience that has reinforced the kind of lawyer I aspire to become: one who is committed, compassionate, and client-focused."
Trustee Roles
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (SYRLJ) are looking for new trustees. Could you support and shape our vital work providing legal services to people seeking sanctuary in South Yorkshire? We welcome enquiries and applications from all interested individuals, but we are particularly interested in those who can help us fill the following skills/knowledge gaps:
The role of a Board Of Trustees is to make sure that Charities such as SYRLJ are accountable to the communities they serve. The Board hold ultimate responsibility more making sure that SYRLJ is a well run organisation that uses its funds and resources in line with it's charitable objectives (the things the organisation has said it exists to do). A well functioning board is absolutely critical to the success of organisations like SYRLJ.
Becoming a member of SYRLJ's board is a fantastic way to become part of a dedicated team, fighting for access to justice for migrants in the UK. You can gain insight into how our organisation runs and use your skills, experience and perspectives to help us improve and build on the work we do.
We are open to applications on an ongoing basis. For more information please contact info@syrlj.org.uk.
Becoming an IAA Qualified Legal Adviser
We are authorised to provide immigration legal advice and representation by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). All of our legal advisers are IAA accredited and we also support volunteers who wish to pursue these qualifications.
You can find more information about becoming an IAA legal adviser here.
Becoming a qualified Solicitor
If you have studied law and are planning to pursue a career in legal practice you may need to undertake ‘Qualifying Work Experience’ - part of the competencies required to qualify as a solicitor.
Any time you spend volunteering or working with us can be counted towards the work experience you need to become a qualified solicitor.
You can find further information about this route to qualifying as a solicitor here.
