Trainee solicitor

Organisation Detail

Ealing contains substantial pockets of deprivation. There is a growing demand for immigration, housing, welfare benefits and debt advice in Ealing; these increased after April 2013 when many areas of immigration and social welfare law went out of legal aid scope, leaving the most disadvantaged with nowhere to turn for help. The Law Centre is a unique resource within the borough of Ealing.

Ealing Law Centre provide free specialist legal advice and representation for the Ealing community across all areas of social welfare law. We want to help to overcome the obstacles faced by disadvantaged people who need access to the legal system.

We aim to take legal advice services into the community and to maximise the accessibility of our services. We work in partnership with other local groups to build social capital, and ensure our services are responsive, accountable, and embedded within our local community.

Ealing Law Centre is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes diversity.

For further information, visit our website.

Any questions regarding this organisation or the position should be directed to [email protected]

Job Description

Purpose of job

• Under supervision, take responsibility for the provision of legal advice and representation regarding housing and immigration law and practice and related welfare law.
• To be responsible for the delivery of advice, casework, support and representation for clients from the London Borough of Ealing and neighbouring boroughs.
• To work in partnership with community venues, advice agencies and other agencies to ensure the needs of local people are met and that social policy work is co-ordinated to prevent problems occurring wherever possible.
• To undertake the Justice First Fellowship project to increase access to justice.

Responsibilities

1. To offer advice and representation in housing and immigration matters.
2. To take on associated casework, to make applications for public funding as required.
3. To provide advice on our Housing Advice line.
4. To provide representation at the Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes.
5. To represent clients at the County Court as required.
6. To liaise with landlord’s representatives, solicitors, Home Office, Immigration service and other agencies and groups as required.
7. To interview and advise clients regarding housing and immigration law and practice.
8. To undertake outreach work, including liaising with local communities, delivering talks and presentations to groups, and visiting other groups and centres as appropriate. Work from various locations as reasonably required by the Board.
9. To keep up-to-date at all time with changes in housing law by reading, attending training events and using computer for reference purposes.
10. To complete any other records in connection with casework in order to meet Law Centre requirements, maintain statistics and update client files, using manual or computerised systems as appropriate and as required by the organisation.
11. To prepare reports on own work for the information of the Trustee Board, funders and other stakeholders, as required.
12. To carry out a share of administrative tasks including those detailed in the Law Centre`s Quality Manual.
13. To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Board.
14. To ensure that their work conforms to SRA, SQM and the LAA Quality Assurance standards and other Ealing Law Centre approved policies and procedures.
15. To work within the spirit of our Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.
16. To Take due care of their own Health and Safety and that of others in their working environment.

For more information and to apply, please visit The Legal Education Foundation website.