Solicitor Trustee

You know what it's like to practice as a solicitor. You've navigated the pressures, the culture, and the unspoken expectations. Now, imagine using that hard-won understanding to create meaningful change for neurodivergent colleagues who are struggling to find their place in our profession.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor who gets it - someone who can help us build programmes and campaigns that will work because they're grounded in the reality of solicitor practice.

Why does this role need to be solicitor-only?

We need someone who understands the culture, systems, and pressures of solicitor life from the inside. The work involves shaping strategy, influencing decision-makers, and ensuring our programmes reflect the real experiences of neurodivergent solicitors. A qualified solicitor brings both lived experience and professional standing, which helps build trust and makes our work more effective. This isn't about hierarchy, but about grounding the role in practical, credible experience that resonates with the people we're trying to help.

What we're looking for

We need a qualified solicitor who can be our eyes and ears within the profession - someone who understands not just the law, but the culture that surrounds it.

Your background might include:

• Current qualification as a solicitor (England and Wales)

• Real experience working in or with solicitor firms and organisations

• Understanding of how solicitor practice works - the good, the challenging, and everything in between

• Genuine commitment to making the profession more inclusive for neurodivergent colleagues

• The ability to communicate with everyone from trainees to senior partners

What would be brilliant (but not essential):

• Experience across different types of solicitor practice - private practice, in-house, government, legal aid

• Personal understanding of neurodiversity challenges in professional settings

• A network of contacts within the solicitor profession

• Background in training, mentoring, or professional development

• Experience in charity/not-for-profit law, employment law, or disability rights

What you'll be doing

This isn't about sitting in meetings talking theory. You'll be:

Being our solicitor reality-check:

• Sharing insights about profession culture, challenges, and opportunities that only an insider would know

• Helping us identify the real barriers neurodivergent solicitors face and practical solutions that might work

• Ensuring our initiatives make sense in the context of how solicitor firms actually operate

Shaping our strategy:

• Contributing the solicitor's perspective to our programme development

• Advising on the best approaches for engaging with firms, training providers, and professional bodies

• Helping develop resources that work in real solicitor practice environments

Being our face in the profession:

• Representing us at solicitor-focused events and networks

• Building relationships that open doors and create opportunities

• Speaking at events and contributing to professional discussions where your voice carries weight

Developing what matters:

• Advising on training and support programmes that solicitors will actually use

• Helping create career guidance that reflects modern solicitor pathways

• Supporting research and policy work that affects how solicitors practice

The need-to-know

Time commitment: Around 4-8 hours per month - one monthly trustee meeting plus the solicitor-specific work, and the occasional extra task that crops up. 

Term: We're looking for a minimum 2-year commitment initially, which then becomes a rolling 1-year term subject to the constitutional requirements. 

When we meet: We will be setting our meeting dates at the start of the organisation's year (October 2025) so everyone can plan ahead. 

Next steps:

• Applications close: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

• Interview dates: TBC - dependent on application numbers

• Next board meeting: TBC

Why this role matters

The legal profession is slowly waking up to neurodiversity, but too often the conversation happens without the people who actually understand day-to-day practice. We've seen well-meaning initiatives fail because they don't reflect the reality of billable hours, client demands, and firm hierarchies.

Your perspective as a practising solicitor isn't just valuable - it's essential. You know which ideas will work and which ones will gather dust in the diversity folder. You understand the language that resonates with partners and the approaches that will actually make a change. 

What we offer in return

• Real influence: Your insights directly shape our strategy and programmes

• Professional development: Gain charity governance experience and expand your network

• Meaningful impact: See your profession become more inclusive for future generations

• Supportive environment: Work with a committed team that respects both your time and expertise

• Flexibility: We’re a team of working professionals and always work around professional commitments

• Recognition: References, recommendations, and opportunities to speak on topics you care about

• Expenses covered: We reimburse reasonable costs related to your trustee work

We're committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to our application process, just let us know.

Application deadline: 5 September 2025 at 17:00