5 Legal research jobs

RCJ Advice is an independent charity tackling inequality and poverty by ensuring fair access to legal support. Our vision is a world where people are able to access justice to resolve the problems and challenges they face. Our mission is to empower people to assert their individual rights, by giving them information, advice, and support; help people access justice through the legal and court systems; and improve services and impact through evidence, influence, and forging resilient partnerships.

RCJ Advice is the only free legal advice service based at the Royal Courts of Justice. We exist to provide access to essential legal support and information to ensure people, when faced with court, can resolve the issues that affect their lives. We’re also a key national charity providing emergency legal help to people facing domestic abuse; support for victims of miscarriages of justice; and we run the UK’s only court-based child contact centre.

Job Description:

Job Purpose
– Undertake supervised legal casework across family and civil law, gaining broad practical experience across a range of legal matters and client groups.
– Provide high-quality legal advice, assistance and support to clients, within the limits of the trainee’s competence and under appropriate supervision.
– Develop the knowledge, skills and professional competencies required to practise as a solicitor, in line with the SRA Statement of Solicitor Competence.
– Gain practical experience of client interviewing, legal research, drafting, case preparation, legal advice, triage and, where appropriate, court work.
– Work collaboratively with solicitors and the wider team while taking increasing responsibility for casework and managing their own workload as their skills and experience develop.
– Actively engage in supervision, feedback and professional development, using the breadth of experience available across the organisation to support their progression towards qualification.

Casework Duties and Responsibilities
1. Family Law and Domestic Abuse
As part of their training and development, the Trainee Solicitor will have the opportunity to gain experience within the organisation’s family law and domestic abuse services. This may include:
– Providing support through the FLOWS telephone and email service, including providing legal information and advice to frontline advice providers and individual survivors regarding available legal remedies and options.
– Providing legal advice to clients through FLOWS legal advice appointments in relation to domestic abuse remedies.
– Reviewing and, under appropriate supervision, verifying CourtNav applications for Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders for survivors who do not have access to legal aid.
– Providing advice to FLOWS clients, including frontline workers and individual survivors, in relation to domestic abuse remedies through FLOWS appointments and the FLOWS advice line.
– Providing advice and assistance on other family law matters, including divorce, children and related housing issues, through the main advice rota.
– Developing an understanding of the legal and practical issues affecting survivors of domestic abuse, including the interaction between family, housing and other areas of civil law.

2. Civil Law
As part of their training and development, the Trainee Solicitor will have the opportunity to gain experience within the organisation’s civil law services. This may include:
– Assisting civil solicitors with the provision of legal advice, initial assessment and client triage.
– Observing advice appointments and developing practical interviewing and client communication skills.
– Assisting with initial interviews, case preparation and the gathering and assessment of relevant information and documentation.
– Assisting with the triage of clients in person and by telephone and identifying appropriate sources of advice, assistance or referral.
– Undertaking legal research and assisting with drafting correspondence, legal documents and other casework materials.
– Supporting client onboarding and document gathering.
– Observing the Housing Duty Possession Scheme at court and, where appropriate, assisting the duty solicitor on the day.
– Developing an understanding of housing and other civil law issues encountered through the service and how these may interact with family and domestic abuse matters.
– Undertaking any other appropriate civil law tasks that reasonably contribute to the trainee’s development and are within their level of competence and supervision.

The Trainee solicitor will be expected to:
– Ensure that all advice, assistance and representation complies with relevant legal, regulatory and organisational requirements and the organisation’s quality standards.
– Keep accurate case records and use the appropriate case management systems
– Participate in regular casework supervision, file reviews, feedback and appraisal, using these opportunities to reflect on their practice and identify learning and development needs.
– Manage their own workload effectively, prioritising tasks and meeting agreed deadlines while recognising when matters require escalation or additional support.
– Work collaboratively as part of the wider team, including with solicitors, other staff and volunteer legal assistants.
– Participate in staff, team and service meetings and contribute appropriately to the development of the service.

Training & Development
– Undertake training programme which includes observation, undertaking supervised activities, following learning modules and training sessions
– Maintain awareness of developments in relevant law, procedure and practice and undertake appropriate legal research and professional development.
– Learn to work within the policies of the Bureau including the Equality and Diversity policy, confidentiality and data security and be familiar with key components of legal advice work
– Undertake other duties as may be identified and which are generally compatible with the functions of the post.

Trainee Areas of Law: Housing Law; Family Law; Civil Law

Person Specification:

1. Have a relevant qualification which is either – complete and pass the Legal Practice Course (LPC) by 14 March 2027 or have an undergraduate degree and complete and pass SQE Part 1 by 14 March 2027.
2. Experience of working with people in a legal context either voluntary or paid environment.
3. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team, encourage effective team work and maintain effective working relations with other teams.
4. Ability to communicate effectively on the phone, through email and in person.
5. Commitment to deliver advice services to our service users.
6. Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and safeguarding responsibilities at all times.
7. MS Word (or equivalent) and IT skills to use the case management system and willingness and ability to undertake data entry.
8. Understanding of and commitment to professional advice standards including conflict of interest and client confidentiality.
9.Commitment to the organisation’s values and policies.