Solicitor/barrister – criminal appeals supervisor (women-only*)

Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) is seeking a feminist criminal lawyer with experience in criminal appeals and Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) reviews. This is a new position within CWJ, and will involve working with our CEO, Harriet Wistrich, on potential miscarriages of justice relating to women who have offended in response to male violence. Cases will range from convictions arising from coerced offending, counter allegations, victims of trafficking and grooming gangs, to advising on appeals by those convicted of murder or manslaughter at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division and CCRC.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any queries.

*Women-only: we deal directly with victims of sexual violence, therefore it's a genuine requirement that this is role is carried out by women only – Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work; Exceptions), Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies.

About us

CWJ is a thriving and rapidly expanding legal charity that has undertaken a wide range of highly publicised strategic legal challenges and collaborative projects through partnerships with women’s sector organisations.

Our mission is to hold the state to account to challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls.

Our work covers a number of areas:

• Strategic litigation: we bring legal challenges which have the potential to effect broader changes in society.
• Training and empowering frontline women’s sector organisations: we improve confidence and legal knowledge of those working directly with survivors of male violence.
• Facilitating access to justice: working collaboratively with women’s sector organisations and lawyers with expertise in violence against women.
• Monitoring and challenging trends in policy, practice and men’s use of the law as it impacts on violence against women and girls.
• Raising awareness: we have fast become the go-to organisation for advice and media comment on legal issues around male violence.

CWJ is a registered charity 1169213.

Values

We believe that:

• all women have an equal right to access justice and to be safe;
• male violence isn't inevitable: it can be eradicated;
• women resist male violence but are blamed for it;
• all women and girls can be subject to male violence regardless of their socio-economic and cultural position; and
• male violence may take different forms in different contexts, so opportunities for resistance may differ. 

Several key principles underly our approach:

• Work with the client not for the client, by listening and responding to each woman’s individual experience.
• Work collaboratively with frontline organisations and campaigns.
• Commit to anti-oppression politics.

Role purpose

As criminal appeals supervisor, you'll lead and potentially supervise legal work challenging the criminalisation of women who've been prosecuted for offences that have arisen as a result of male violence, coercion or abuse. The role will provide expert oversight of complex criminal appeals and review cases, ensuring that women’s experiences are properly recognised within the legal process and that cases are progressed to the highest professional standard using a feminist, trauma‑informed approach.

Key responsibilities

Legal casework responsibilites include:

• maintaining (or applying for, where required) Legal Aid Agency (LAA) criminal appeals and reviews supervisor status, and ensuring compliance with the LAA's Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) requirements (depending on qualification);
• managing an active caseload of strategic criminal appeals and review cases;
• taking responsibility for client care, including sensitive and trauma‑informed client contact, and the day‑to‑day conduct of own cases;
• undertaking file reviews in accordance with LAA contract requirements (depending on qualification);
• apply for public funding where available and ensure publicly funded cases are run efficiently and in full compliance with LAA standards;
• identifying and pursuing alternative funding routes and cost‑management approaches (including, for example, litigation grants or crowd‑funding)(where appropriate);
• ensuring efficient financial administration of cases, including time‑recording, management of client monies and billing and receipt of funds;
• maintaining accurate, complete and well‑organised case files in line with professional and contractual obligations;
• keeping up to date with relevant developments in criminal law, procedure and policy, including legislation and case law, and share relevant updates with colleagues (where appropriate);
• working collaboratively with the CEO, director of finance and operations and other fee earners to ensure that legal aid and other billing is carried out accurately and in a timely manner, and to identify and pursue opportunities for fee income and other funding;
• supervising, training and supporting junior members of the legal team (including paralegals, trainees and interns), ensuring high‑quality casework and supporting their professional development;
• potentially line‑managing one or two junior staff members at any one time;
• contributing to the development and delivery of CWJ’s litigation strategy and report on case progress to the board (where required); and
• providing occasional advice (subject to capacity) on first and second‑tier legal enquiries, usually in collaboration with CWJ’s enquiries team, and assisting with signposting (where appropriate).

Development, policy and public work responsibilities include:

• building and maintaining strong relationships with partner organisations, lawyers and other stakeholders, in order to monitor relevant issues, identify potential strategic cases, and collaborate on joint projects and campaigns;
• contributing to the management of partnership work with external lawyers and experts involved in strategic litigation;
• assisting in the design and delivery of advice and training for other lawyers and frontline advocates working on violence against women (where required);
• drafting press releases, identifying media opportunities and engage with the media in relation to own cases or wider issues relevant to CWJ’s work, including occasional media work outside usual working hours;
• representing CWJ at conferences, events and meetings, using these opportunities to raise awareness of CWJ’s work and contribute to sector‑wide discussions;
• contributing to the drafting of reports, briefings, submissions and consultation responses to government, public authorities and other bodies, usually in collaboration with CWJ colleagues and partners;
• attending sector and stakeholder meetings as required, particularly where relevant to CWJ’s strategic objectives, and reporting back to colleagues;
• supporting fundraising activity, including contributing to grant and litigation funding applications, to help sustain and develop CWJ’s casework and core functions;
• maintaining effective working relationships with funders and ensure compliance with reporting requirements (as appropriate); and
• undertaking any other duties reasonably required and appropriate to the role.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience include:

• a minimum of three years’ post‑qualification experience, holding a current practising certificate as a solicitor or barrister, in England and Wales for at least three years;
• experience of, and a strong understanding of, criminal law practice, including appeals against conviction and sentence;
• a clear understanding of, and commitment to, the aims, values and feminist approach of the CWJ;
• the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, to a range of audiences including lawyers, voluntary sector organisations and individual clients;
• strong self‑management skills, including the ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and work effectively under pressure;
• the ability to work independently and flexibly within a small, collaborative team;
• willingness and ability to contribute to the long‑term strategic direction of CWJ, including translating ideas into practical and workable projects;
• commitment to challenging injustice and supporting individuals subject to state neglect and abuse;
• commitment to equal opportunities, with an understanding of the experiences of disadvantaged and marginalised groups and the ability to apply this understanding in practice; and
• awareness of current political, social and legal issues relating to violence against women and girls.

Desirable additional attributes include:

• meeting (or is able to meet) the LAA criteria for a criminal appeals and reviews supervisor, in accordance with LAA specifications; and
• experience of legal aid supervisory work, including overseeing legally aided casework.

How to apply

Complete our online application form and upload your CV and covering letter by midnight on Sunday 7 June 2026.