Employment Law Advice Line Volunteer

What will you be doing?

Role Description

We are seeking women solicitors, barristers and legal executives qualified in employment, discrimination and harassment law in England and Wales to provide legal advice on our sexual harassment at work advice line. All volunteering is done remotely and you must be qualified in England and Wales.

Our free telephone advice lines provide vital legal advice for women experiencing sexual harassment at work. We offer a safe space for women to talk about their situation and receive expert legal advice to enable them to make important decisions about their future. 

We particularly welcome applications from Black and minoritised women, trans women and older and disabled women.

A feminist perspective on the law and the issues we advise on is essential.

We ask our volunteers to:

• Provide advice on our advice lines for one 2-hour session a month (minimum);
• Attend the induction training session provided by Rights of Women;
• Give clear and accurate legal advice to callers;
• Be non-judgemental and non-discriminatory in their approach;
• Follow our procedures for making records of calls and obtaining monitoring information;
• Keep up to date with the law for the relevant advice lines;
• Attend all agreed advice line sessions (remotely);
• Inform us as soon as possible if they are unable to attend an agreed session;
• Abide by Rights of Women’s procedures, standards and policies, including equal opportunities and confidentiality in relation to staff, volunteers and users.

What are we looking for?

What qualifications and skills will you need?

The qualifications and skills we look for in a volunteer are:

• A woman solicitor, barrister or CILEx member;
• A current practicing certificate;
• Ability to work remotely with adequate internet access and a private space;
• Good communication skills;
• The ability to deliver advice clearly and calmly;
• An empathetic, non-judgemental and non-discriminatory manner;
• A working knowledge of the relevant area of law for their advice line;
• Commitment to equal opportunities;
• Commitment to the aims and objectives of Rights of Women.

What difference will you make?

Rights of Women’s vision is to achieve equality, justice and safety in the law for all women

Our mission is to advise, educate and empower women by:

• Providing women with free, confidential legal advice by specialist women solicitors and barristers
• Enabling women to understand and benefit from their legal rights through accessible and timely publications and training
• Campaigning to ensure that women’s voices are heard and law and policy meets all women’s needs

We asked Clare, who has been a volunteer since August 2019, what advice she’d give to others considering applying, she said:

“Do it! There are women all over the country that need our help and will benefit hugely from it. Volunteering is not an onerous commitment – one 2 hour a month session from your home or office and the IT is very easy to use. It is also great to be part of this volunteer community.”

Before you apply

Please apply with a message demonstrating your interest in the volunteering position. We will then send you documentation for you to complete as part of the application process. You must have a current practising certificate for England and Wales to apply for this role. The application process will involve references and an informal interview.