Opportunities and Advice

Volunteers wanted for Rights of Women’s new Sexual Harassment at Work<br /> Free Legal Advice Line

Volunteers wanted for Rights of Women’s new Sexual Harassment at Work Free Legal Advice Line

1 in 2 women and nearly two thirds of women aged 18 to 24 said they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace (TUC and Everyday Sexism Survey 2016).

We are seeking qualified women employment solicitor, barrister or legal executive volunteers to provide legal advice on our free evening or daytime sexual harassment law advice line based in our offices Old Street.

Rights of Women is a registered charity which aims to increase women’s understanding of their legal rights and improve their access to justice.

This advice line has been made possible through TIME’S UP UK Justice and Equality Fund, managed by ROSA and inspired by the #MeToo movement.

Volunteers must hold a current practising certificate and we ask for a minimum commitment of 2-hours a month.

Please apply on their website directly: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

Family Court Journalist and Legal Bloggers

Family Court Journalist and Legal Bloggers

The Transparency Project is a registered charity that help make family justice clearer to the public.

They have made a request to join their Family Court Reporting Watch team…

“We are a small team of volunteers with various backgrounds, and we depend upon a small core of practising lawyers who can write authoritatively with an understanding of family law and court practice / process for our Family Court Reporting Watch. Depending on practising lawyers with a court based practice and other volunteers means we can’t always cover everything we would like, and want to be able to cover more cases, and with more diversity of voice. We need to increase the pool of lawyers who can contribute to our Family Court Reporting Watch project.

We know that life in family law is busy and demanding, perhaps more so than ever. But if you would like to join the Family Court Reporting Watch team we’d be thrilled to hear from you. You don’t need to commit to a particular number or frequency of posts and you don’t need to be ‘pro open courts’ to write for us – you just need to see the value in explaining family law and family courts to the public.

We are also always keen to host guest blog posts if there is a burning topic you want to write about or who have attended a hearing under the legal bloggers pilot.

Even if you don’t have time to write for us it would be really helpful if let us know if you see cases that need explanation, or news reports that require correction or clarification which we can try and tackle – and if you could follow us and share and retweet our posts so that they can reach a wider general audience (find us on twitter @seethrujustice and Facebook).

If you think you can contribute to the work of The Transparency Project or if you would just like more information, we can be contacted directly at info@transparencyproject.org.uk or via twitter.”

Women Returners launches new initiative in partnership with the Law Society

Women Returners launches new initiative in partnership with the Law Society

Women Returners has launched a new Law Returners initiative, in partnership with the Law Society, to bring legal professionals back into mid to senior level roles following an extended career break. The pilot cross-company ‘returnship’ will be run in Manchester and Leeds with funding from the UK Government Equalities Office Returners Fund. The programme will run for 6 months from February 2019 with up to 40 participants.

Women Returners is looking to partner with legal employers in or near Manchester or Leeds, who recognise the benefits of diversity and who are interested in accessing this relatively untapped talent pool of returning professionals. If you are interested, find more here and contact Hazel@womenreturners.com as soon as possible. There is a limited number of places still available, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you are a legal professional with a career break of 12 months or more, register your interest in the programme by contacting Hazel@womenreturners.com and join Women Returners at their launch events in Manchester and Leeds in November. Find out more information here.

Returners

The Reignite Academy

The Reignite Academy is a new initiative promoting women lawyers returning to a City law firm practice. It formed out of a collaboration between CMS, Macfarlanes, Orrick, Reed Smith, Sidley and White & Case.

LawWorks

LawWorks

LawWorks is a charity based in the National Pro Bono Centre on Chancery Lane which is itself a “hub” for pro bono charities in the legal sector.

LawWorks believes in the power of pro bono legal advice to help improve the lives of people in need.

LawWorks operates the Choices Project for qualified solicitors. This project is designed to enable unemployed solicitors and those on a career break to take part in pro bono work whilst seeking permanent employment. To find out more, visit the LawWorks website.

Visit LawWorks

Mentoring

The University of Law (formerly The College of Law) arranges mentors for a limited number of students. There are never enough mentors to match the numbers of students applying, so if anyone is interested, please have a look at the FAQs. You’ll see that the time commitment is a minimum of four sessions, during the academic year, and there is no expectation, that you would provide any work experience, for the mentee. If you would like an informal chat with a member of the AWS committee, who is already a mentor, please contact Jessica Standley at jessica.standley@slatergordon.co.uk

If you have any other queries or would like to apply please email careersmentoring@law.ac.uk

Please indicate on the form or in a covering e mail that you are a member of AWS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would you be interested in mentoring GDL or LPC students? Whatever level of qualification and experience you have, it could be of great benefit to the student and to you.

What is the time commitment?

The time commitment is a minimum of four contacts with the mentees: one of these contacts should be a face-to-face meeting, but the others could be via e-mail or telephone. If mentors are able to offer more than a minimum commitment and/or include a short period of work shadowing, then this benefits the student further, however, this is at the discretion of the mentor and is not expected by the student.

Do I need to provide work experience?

No, in fact, students are given specific guidance on the limits of the mentoring relationship, and are asked not to approach you about work experience at your firm. It is recognised that this would not be possible for many mentors, either because they are fairly recently qualified and do not have this influence, or because of the firm’s recruitment policies etc.

Who would I be matched with?

If you indicate that you are from the Association of Women solicitors, then a female student will be matched with you. There is a reception, facilitated by the University, in November each year to which all mentors and mentees are invited and you will be introduced to your mentee at that event.

Why do solicitors mentor?

Many mentors find it personally satisfying to guide a student through the myriad issues which arise. It is also a worthwhile addition to your own CV and, by attending the November reception for mentors and mentees, it is an opportunity to expand your network of legal contacts.

More Information: What Is Mentoring?

If you would like to find out more please read the attached ‘What is Mentoring?’ document. If you have any queries please contact careersmentoring@law.ac.uk

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I would like to become a mentor

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please complete the attached ‘New Mentors Details Form’ and return it to careersmentoring@law.ac.uk

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Law Society Careers Event