Volunteer caseworker and researcher

Intervene Project prison law pro bono opportunities: Volunteer caseworker and researcher

Who are we?

Mistreatment, abuse and neglect plague UK prisons. We are a legal charity established by Kesar & Co Solicitors in 2013, in response to the reduction in legal aid available to prisoners following LASPO 2012. We provide free legal advice and representation to UK prisoners in matters in which they no longer qualify for legal aid, but previously would have done. Our clients contact us on a daily basis reporting the abuses they have suffered, and for many, we are their only source of support. In the past six months, our caseload has more than doubled, and we now represent over 200 clients. The number of prisoners requiring our service is exponentially increasing, and whilst we provide 4000 hours of pro bono work per year, we still cannot meet demand. We need your help to ensure that we can help as many clients facing abuse during their sentence as possible.

What work do we do?

We provide representation in a wide array of matters, covering discrimination, human rights, clinical negligence, prison law, criminal law, data protection, property, community care and appeals. We correspond with potential defendants, send letters before action, and issue county court claims. We have secured many positive outcomes for our clients including: formal apologies; investigations into abuse and negligent conditions; improved health and mental health treatment; improved access to employment, education and rehabilitative resources; transfers that have vastly improved quality of life; the removal of restrictions on contacting family and legal representatives; the dismissal of adjudications; and many sums of compensation, including one in excess of £20,000.

What opportunities do we offer?

We offer two volunteering opportunities. Our positions are aimed at aspiring lawyers who have commenced legal studies.

Caseworker:

You will be working from Kesar & Co’s office, gaining direct experience of a busy legal aid solicitors’ firm and receiving guidance from successful practitioners in your areas of interest. You will have an unparalleled opportunity to assist with all stages of the legal process, from initial conversations with clients to trial hearings. We will give you the tools to help you protect amongst the most vulnerable people in our society, and you’ll be given the responsibility to handle their cases at every stage. This opportunity is ideal for aspiring barristers and solicitors looking for the essential practical legal work experience they need to build successful legal aid careers. We recruit for our caseworker positions on a rolling basis.

Commitment: One full weekday per week

Location: In person, Bromley

Researcher:

We have launched a novel research project in collaboration with The University of Law, and thus, are pleased to offer research opportunities. You will be placed at the forefront of identifying ways that the legal aid budget can be better spent to improve access to justice. Your research will be self-guided, and you will have the freedom to approach the sources you feel are most appropriate. You will be placed within a wider research team, and will collaborate to draft a research paper suitable for publication.

Commitment: Three hours weekly average

Location: Remote

Why volunteer with us?

These roles are ideal for you if you are supportive of prisoners' rights and prison reform; sharing our belief that everyone, including prisoners, deserves access to justice and to have their human rights protected. Further, working with us is ideal for any law students with ambitions to practice in any of the legal aid areas mentioned above. The devastating impact of legal aid cuts on training providers is no secret, and we understand that it is increasingly harder to stay committed to your ambition to successfully practise in legal aid areas. Thus, volunteering with us will enable you to gain the highly sought-after training you need to thrive, despite the difficult financial climate.

Application Process:

We will typically recruit based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrable interest and motivation in our areas of work;
• Academic achievement (usually demonstrated through LLB, GDL, LLM, LPC or BPC results);
• Relevant skills (for casework, ensure you have emphasised your interpersonal skills, for research, ensure you have emphasised your research skills).

To apply to us, please submit an updated CV (of no more than two pages, font size 12) and cover letter (of no more than 500 words (outlining your motivation and interest in our work)). Please send applications to [email protected].

Use ‘Volunteer caseworker application’ as the subject heading for caseworker applications. Use ‘Volunteer researcher application’ as the subheading for researcher applications. You may apply to both. If you are applying for both roles, state this in your subject heading, and be sure to state your preference in the covering email, if you have a preference.

Please note, it may be some time before we are able to respond to you, and before we have availability to accommodate you. However, we do not reject by silence.

Website: https://www.interveneproject.org/

Twitter: @intervenepro

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intervene-project