About LawWorks

What we do

LawWorks is the operating name of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group. We are a charity, and our

aim is to enable access to justice through supporting and developing the contribution of legal

pro bono.

With support from the Law Society of England and Wales, we encourage, facilitate and

celebrate pro bono across the solicitor profession and at law schools in England and Wales.

Who we work with

We work primarily with solicitors (firms and in-house teams), and also with law schools and

law students, and other legal and non-legal volunteers and organisations.

LawWorks has around 150 member organisations including some of the largest City firms

and international firms with an office in London, national, regional and local firms, in-house

teams, law schools and charities.

Who we are

LawWorks is a relatively small organisation with 18 members of staff (5 full-time) and a small

team of volunteers and interns. We operate a flexible working policy, with several members

of staff working hybrid, or where appropriate, from home.

We are a busy and (for our size) complex charity, with a friendly team, a positive ethos and a

commitment to doing all we can to ensure LawWorks is a strong and efficient organisation

and a great place to work.

Our projects

There are a number of key strands to our work to support and facilitate pro bono:

• we support a growing network of around 300 local independent pro bono advice

clinics across England and Wales. We work with lawyers, advice agencies, charities

and others to establish or develop new clinics, and provide ongoing information and

support, training and resources, for clinic volunteers and coordinators;

• our Not-for-Profits Programme facilitates the provision of free legal advice for smaller

charities and not-for-profit organisations, supported by volunteer lawyers from

LawWorks’ members;

• our Secondary Specialisation Programme supports the development of more ‘in-

depth’ pro bono in areas of social welfare law. This currently includes an unpaid

wages project and ‘Voices for Families’, with the charity Together for Short Lives,

supporting parents and carers of children with life-limiting conditions;

• we support collaborative projects including: Pro Bono Connect: a project which

facilitates barristers and solicitors working together on pro bono cases; the Domestic

Abuse Response Alliance and IP Pro Bono.

• we have launched new online tools and digital platforms including a website called

‘Free Legal Answers’ and the Pro Bono Portal UK (with Justice Connect, an

Australian access to justice charity).

In addition to encouraging and supporting pro bono delivery, we also work to address

barriers to justice and to provide a ‘policy voice’ for pro bono - for example, working to

address regulatory and other barriers to pro bono volunteering, and working with our

members and others to influence policy on legal aid and other aspects of access to justice.

The role

Our experience in the different regions in England and Wales has shown the value

of having staff based locally to support pro bono initiatives, develop new pro bono

opportunities and to increase engagement from the local legal profession.

This role will include helping to develop and support your own set of clinics, building on

existing relationships in the Southwest or North of England. You will work with our members

and the local advice sector to support the development of new pro bono clinics to meet

unmet legal needs. We take an innovative, tailored approach to the support we provide, and

you will provide one-to one support for individual clinics, allowing you to identify and address

need, providing help with insurance, regulatory queries, finding volunteers and access to

online tools.

A small part of the role (1 day per week) will involve working closely with the part-time

Engagement & Training Officer (Wales) focusing on expanding stakeholder engagement to

increase the number of independent legal advice clinics in Wales and promote pro bono

involvement by the legal profession. You will work to identify and engage new stakeholders,

develop training sessions and support impact monitoring. This role will also work closely with

the Clinic Support and Development Officer (Wales), who acts as the first point of contact for

guidance and support for clinics in Wales.

Key priorities for this role will be:

• To provide guidance and support to independent pro bono clinics registered with the

LawWorks Clinics Network in the Southwest or North of England;

• To increase the number of individuals in Southwest or North England provided with

free legal advice at clinics in the LawWorks Clinics Network by identifying

opportunities for new pro bono advice clinics, supporting local stakeholders to

develop new services to meet unmet legal needs in their area;

• To support and grow pro bono volunteering and LawWorks’ membership (e.g., law

firms and in-house legal teams);

• To identify the training needs of LawWorks’ members, clinics and their volunteers in

Southwest or North England, working with colleagues to arrange regional training

and other events.

• To support the Engagement & Training Officer (Wales) with the delivery of the

training plan in Wales.

• To lead on communications with LawWorks’ members, clinics and their volunteers in

Southwest or North England.

We are looking for a confident networker who is able to identify opportunities and

establish new partnerships. All of LawWorks’ work is delivered through partnerships

so it is essential that the candidate is personable, collaborative and an effective

communicator.

A background in the legal or advice sector will be an advantage, but not essential -

training and support will be provided for someone from another sector who is

passionate about pro bono and access to justice and willing to learn. Experience of

managing multiple projects and seeing them through to completion will also be an

advantage.

The role offers variety, autonomy, the opportunity to help develop new initiatives

from idea to launch, and a chance to support local communities and volunteer lawyers.

The position will be predominantly home based, with some travel throughout the Southwest

or North of England, and occasional travel to LawWorks’ office in central

London.

Primary purpose of role

To increase the amount and quality of pro bono legal advice being delivered in the

Southwest or North of England and Wales through legal advice clinics, working with the local

legal profession, law schools, advice agencies and other stakeholders, to identify new pro

bono opportunities and ways in which LawWorks can better support the delivery of pro bono.

Key task areas and duties

• To develop relationships with law firms, legal teams, free legal advice clinics and

other relevant stakeholders to identify their needs, plans and priorities in relation to

pro bono.

• To facilitate sharing between stakeholders in the region to identify best practice, local

opportunities for collaborative working and local training and support needs, and to

assist in taking these forward.

• Support LawWorks’ clinic development work in the region, in line with annual support

and development targets.

• As the first point of contact for our stakeholders in the Southwest or North, support

clinics and members with troubleshooting queries, accessing resources and ensuring

that contact information and website content related to their services is kept up to

date.

• To work with the wider LawWorks team to support member recruitment and the

delivery of local engagement events.

• To work with clinics in the region to support data collection, evaluation and impact

assessment for internal and donor purposes and to inform policy.

• To contribute to the overall development and running of LawWorks, undertaking any

other tasks which may from time to time be required.

How to apply

Please submit a CV and a covering letter outlining why you are interested in the role and

your suitability, including how your skills, knowledge and experience reflect the person

specification above.

(Please address as much of the person specification as you can. We recognise that

applicants may be much stronger on some of the requirements for the role than others).

Please apply by midnight on Sunday 3 November 2024.

Please submit your application to applications@lawworks.org.uk citing ‘Clinic Support &

Development Officer’ in the subject line.

Interviews for shortlisted applicants are planned for week commencing 11th November.

For an informal conversation about the role (in confidence) please contact Rebecca Howell,

Head of Clinics Programme, at rebecca.howell@lawworks.org.uk

LawWorks is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications irrespective of

race, religion, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability or age.