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About the Project:
Legal Action for Women (LAW) is a grassroots anti-sexist, anti-racist, trans inclusive legal service for all women based at the Crossroads Women鈥檚 Centre in London, England.听LAW provides free advice and support to low-income women and their families who have least access to justice because of discrimination on grounds of sex, race, class, disability, transphobia, income, sexual preference, occupation, etc. LAW is run entirely by unwaged volunteers and is unique in combining access to a network of sympathetic lawyers, with the experience of lay workers from similar backgrounds to the women who use its services.听 We work with the mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and other relatives and friends who are fighting for justice for their loved ones.听
LAW provides advice and support on legal issues; carries out research and holds conferences, workshops and听 discussions on about women鈥檚 legal rights, provides training to new volunteers on a wide range of legal issues including welfare benefits, child custody, compensation, immigration and asylum, sexism, racism and other discrimination, rape and domestic violence.听听听
LAW also co-ordinates Support Not Separation, a coalition to end the unwarranted and damaging separation of children from their mother or other primary carer. LAW听is also part of Global Women Against Deportations, a coalition of anti-deportation groups at the Crossroads Women鈥檚 Centre.
How does it work?
We are actively seeking one or two student volunteers to assist our efforts. Volunteers will assist with two key aspects of LAW's work:
1. Support Not Separation Coalition (SNS): SNS works with mothers who have been or are still in family court proceedings and/or involved with Children's Services. We have a monthly self help meeting for mothers (online and in-person) where we discuss their cases on the basis of collective self-help. Mothers are in charge of their own cases, and can exchange experiences and information with others in similar situations.
2. Global Women Against Deportation (GWAD): GWAD works with women who are going through the process of claiming asylum, or appealing against refusal of asylum, and with those who have status fighting for family reunion. The All African Women's Group is integral to this work and holds bi monthly self-help meeting which discuss cases on the basis of collective self-help.听
Student volunteers will take part in all the self-help meetings, record decisions, be involved in follow up work e.g. writing up case summaries, letters, helping fill out court forms and doing research that would benefit cases.听
Time Commitment:
One full day in person per week.听GWAD volunteers will come in on Tuesdays and SNS Volunteers will volunteer on听Thursdays.
Training and Qualification:听
Selected candidates will undergo comprehensive induction training covering the areas of law involved in the advocacy, essentials such as safeguarding and GDPR, advocacy role play and multidisciplinary training from the other team members. Volunteer recruits will also receive an听introduction to the collective self-help basis on which Crossroads Women's Centre operates, as well as access to an online lecture series that explains key legal concepts before undertaking casework.听
All students will also receive the CAJ Mandatory Volunteer training, which covers data protection and confidentiality, working with vulnerable clients, professional conduct and regulation, self-care, and our expectations of CAJ volunteers.
Pro Bono Skills Development Framework 听听
The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in听extra-curricular听pro bono听the opportunity to participate in the听Pro听Bono听Skills听Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the听skills听gained during your placement, aligned with the听听Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to听Pro听Bono, acknowledging your dedication and skill development. Your participation will help you document and showcase the valuable competencies you've developed, however, please note that participation in the PBSDF scheme is entirely voluntary and will not affect your placement in any way.听
How to apply
To apply, please complete the .听Applications for this opportunity will open in September 2024.听
When applying, please make sure you have completed the听.听You only need to complete this once per academic year.听
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Annika Melwani at annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.