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Applications for this opportunity are open.
INQUEST
INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, advice and support agencies, the media and parliamentarians. Our specialist casework includes deaths in police and prison custody, immigration detention, mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question. This includes work around the Hillsborough football disaster and the Grenfell Tower fire
INQUEST has agreed to train and place 2 volunteers in its casework team. This would be a varied role providing general administrative support to the team, undertaking legal research, triaging and responding to initial enquiries via telephone and email, updating case records, assisting with event organising and occasional attendance at inquest hearings.
Please note that this voluntary work involves working with the families bereaved following a state related death, often in quite distressing and traumatic ways. It may be triggering for some people and students should consider whether they will feel comfortable with the emotional challenges of the nature of this work.
What will students gain from this scheme?
This is a unique opportunity to work on groundbreaking and significant cases in a nationally recognised charity.
- The volunteering placements help to develop interpersonal and client management skills, whilst gaining knowledge of inquests and working in the not-for-profit sector.
Assisting with casework improves drafting, case management and advocacy abilities.
Training
INQUEST's structured training will equip students to work as volunteers, provide them with the skills for practice and develop their practical knowledge of legal processes. It provides students with the confidence they need to get the most out of their placement
- All students will 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.
Time commitment
1 day per week in person at the INQUEST office until the end of March plus attendance at monthly clinical supervision.
The casework team are all in the office on Wednesdays and that would be the preferred date for volunteers.
Pro Bono Skills Development Framework
The Centre for Access to Justice now offers all students engaged in voluntary pro bono the opportunity to participate in the Pro Bono Skills Development Framework. This framework allows you to reflect on the skills gained during your placement, aligned with the Aurora Competence Framework. Completing it earns you a Certificate of Commitment to Pro 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.
Who can apply
- LLB students in Year 3 and 4
- LLM students.
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity are open.
The deadline for submitting an application is 14 October 2024 at 11:59PM. Interviews will occur on 18th October. Please apply via the online application form.
When applying, please make sure you have completed the CAJ Equality and Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire. You only need to complete this once per academic year.
Should you have any questions, please contact Annika Melwani at annika.melwani@ucl.ac.uk.