Funding Social Justice Solicitors

We are proud to announce the first round of grants from the Supporting Social Justice Solicitors Fund. We’ve used this fund to compliment and amplify the impact of existing work done by the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualifying Fund ensuring aspiring lawyers employed by free legal advice charities have the best chance of developing a successful long-term career dedicated to supporting the people, places, and communities most in need of legal help for generations to come.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the legal community, we’ve awarded £114,000 in funding to 15 organisations across the UK who will receive a two-year grant of up to support 19 students and secure the future of social welfare advice.

A workforce in crisis

Frontline free legal advice charities are facing a critical challenge in recruiting and retaining talented solicitors to serve the people, places, and communities most in need. This workforce crisis is having a devastating impact on the availability and quality of essential legal services.

The social welfare law sector remains one of the least secure and poorest paid areas of legal practice. In addition to facing intense demand for services, and increasingly complex and emotive legal issues, frontline advice organisations simply cannot match the salaries, benefits, and support offered by commercial firms or the public sector.

As a result, talented and passionate lawyers are being forced to leave, moving to better paid roles as they struggle to meet the intense demands of studying for the SQE exams, maintaining their wellbeing, and serving their communities.

Empowering social welfare solicitors of the future

This expertise exodus is devastating, not only for frontline organisations struggling to meet demand, but for the communities that rely on these services.

Dedicated social justice solicitors play a vital role, providing life-changing advice and support to vulnerable individuals and families struggling with issues like domestic violence, housing, and employment. Their work is a literal lifeline, keeping families safe, with a roof over their heads, and much more.

This funding is vital in our endeavour to be a supportive organisation that has the career of colleagues and the development of the sector at its heart. This is made possible and more tangible by The Access to Justice Foundation understanding the need for more Social Welfare Law solicitors and providing funding provided to deliver this objective.

Franck Kiangala, Solicitor and Director of North Kensington Law Centre

We need dedicated solicitors helping people in some of the most deprived communities to tackle social justice issues such as domestic abuse, housing, debt and employment if we want a fairer society. This is challenging, as these sectors simply do not have the same opportunities as the private sector.

We must act now to safeguard the future of social welfare advice. By contributing the Supporting Social Justice Solicitors Fund, we can provide the vital resources advice charities need to retain and develop and retain their specialist teams. This will ensure aspiring social justice lawyers get the stability, flexibility, and support to succeed – and keep providing their essential services to the communities that need them most.

More funding partners are needed to truly transform the landscape and improve access to justice nationwide.

Will you join us in securing the future of frontline legal advice?

Help us increase access to justice for the people, places, and communities most in need by supporting a second round of the Supporting Social Justice Solicitors Fund, find out how here.

Our funded partners

Access Social Care
Specialising in community care law, employees will be supported with a dedicated wellbeing programme, people policy, and counselling support thanks to this grant. In addition, it will offer more paid leave to their students, and compensate for childcare and travel costs incurred while taking the SQE evaluation
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Central England Law Centre
Funding will cover the costs of and time spent revising and preparing for exams as well as any costs directly incurred for the exam. This will also the support paralegals in the team, allowing them to continue to defend and enforce the rights of clients, and advocate for people in marginalised communities during study leave periods.
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Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Working in immigration and asylum law is demanding and emotional, often dealing with distressed and traumatised clients who have experienced human rights abuses. To ensure they can focus on their studies and increase their confidence in the work students will benefit from increased supervision, support and study leave.
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Greater Manchester Law Centre
This specialist advice agency will be able to support two students in their housing and human rights and welfare rights teams. These students started their careers as community volunteers, this grant will enable them to develop their skills and continue representing and advocating for the needs of their communities using the law.
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North East Law Centre
Thanks to this funding the team will receive training on vicarious trauma which is particularly relevant to those working to support people affected by trauma. The training will highlight how vicarious trauma may impact staff and support them to develop practical everyday coping mechanisms, a crucial step in preventing burnout.
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North Kensington Law Centre
Working in social welfare law is challenging and involves supporting highly vulnerable clients with complex needs. The funding will provide comprehensive training and support, ensuring the staff team have the resources and time needed to thrive in their professional development.
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Public Interest Law Centre
This funding will provide essential paid study leave for students ensuring they maximise their potential for exam success alongside continuing to deliver consistent, high-quality service delivery to marginalised users who depend on their support.
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Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex & London (RAMFEL)
Funding will cover exam leave costs for two student caseworkers completing their qualifications. The grant will also support essential case management during their absence, strengthening the organisation's capacity to maintain quality service delivery while supporting staff development.
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Shelter England
There is a long legacy of training legal and paralegal staff at Shelter. This funding will enable the current students to take paid study leave, pay for expenses related to the exam, and allow the organisation to continue supporting and training new people to work in the sector.
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South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice
This funding will be uses to support a staff member continue their personal development who previously worked as a paralegal and through practical training, support, and hard work, has obtained an OISC qualification. Now on a promising path to becoming a Legal Adviser, they will get increased hours and pay, so that half a day a week can be protected for study time.
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Southwark Law Centre
Once a paralegal in the immigration team, the student supported through this funding is now on a trajectory to become a Senior Caseworker. This grant will continue supporting this student with paid and unpaid study leave and reflective practice sessions to better support beneficiaries with their legal issues.
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Canolfan Gyfraith Speakeasy Law Centre
Study leave is essential to ensuring the success and continuity of a future social welfare legal workforce, but when staff go on leave, their existing caseload is often put on standby putting potentially vulnerable users in jeopardy. This funding will provide cover ensuring study leave does not impact the beneficiaries who need help the most.
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Suffolk Law Centre
Social welfare law is demanding, and requires intense work with very vulnerable clients who often need additional support. This funding will ensure staff get increased support and training to further their career, and time away form the coal face to excel in exams.
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Vauxhall Community Law & Information Centre
Students gaining qualifying work experience at frontline organisations are often directly delivering services, as in this organisation where their student is delivering outreach work to aid migrants and asylum seekers. This funding will maximise the support available to students and offer them the best chance to qualify.
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Wiltshire Law Centre
To help with staff retention and training, this funding will allow this free and low-cost specialist legal advice agency to raise the salary of their student and support wider organisational needs.
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