Legal Adviser

Are you driven by social justice issues? Do you want to help people people disenfranchised and stigmatised as a result of their circumstances?Have you completed your LLB, GDL, or SQE1, and have at least 06 months’ experience in providing social welfare legal advice and casework in crime, housing, benefits or debt. then maybe this role is for you!

We are looking for a Legal Adviser to join our social justice legal team and will be required to deliver a minimum of 2 services through our in-person and ‘virtual’ legal services to clients attending alcohol/drug treatment centres, homeless day centres, and sexual health clinics. The legal advice, assistance and representation we provide has a particular focus on debt, housing including homelessness, and welfare benefits. The post holder will also be required (after a period of induction and/or training) to provide advice on Release’s national legal helpline pertaining to the criminal law and the criminal justice system related to drugs offences, and broader legal advice through our new Harm Reduction Hub drop-in service. In addition to the delivery of legal services, the postholder will also be required to assist with the policy work undertaken by the organisation.

We are also developing an immigration service which will be available from early 2025 and will be available to a limited number of host services initially. We have been successful in tendering for legal aid contracts for Community Care and Public Law from September 2024, and there may be opportunities for the post holder to work within these in the future.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

• To deliver, under supervision, high quality legal services to clients at centres in the London area, and with training deliver our 'virtual' legal outreach service to clients.
• To provide advice, casework and (where appropriate) representation in the category of welfare benefits, housing and debt.
• To provide legal advice on the national helpline and through the Harm Reduction Hub to those impacted upon by the drug laws or have legal problems due to their drug use.

If you think you have the drive and enthusiasm then this could be for you!