Vacancies in the Legal Aid Sector

North & West Kent Citizens Advice and Kent Law Centre is expanding its specialist housing legal team — and they are looking for a committed Housing Solicitor who shares their passion for social justice.

This is an exciting moment to join them. They support over 19,000 clients each year across North and West Kent, and their new Law Centre status (November 2025) marks the beginning of an ambitious journey to strengthen free, high‑quality legal advice in their communities.  If you’re motivated, client‑focused and ready for a role where you can genuinely change lives, they’d love to hear from you.          

To express your interest, please send your CV to:  ann.starke@nwkent.cab.org.uk

There is no closing date — they are accepting applications until the position is filled. Early applications are encouraged.

Shelter is looking for a dedicated Solicitor with specialist knowledge in housing and homelessness law, and a strong commitment to addressing the housing crisis. You will ensure you deliver high quality legal services through casework and ensuring Legal aid contract requirements and performance targets are met. You will be able to identify test case opportunities to address systemic bad practice and so achieve change for a greater number of people and will work closely with the Managing Solicitor and the HUB.

Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything. They need ambitious, passionate people to join them. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change they are striving to achieve. Their enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency.

ATLEU is recruiting an immigration lawyer to take up the exciting new role of Community Lawyer. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering their community lawyering strategy to bring about meaningful change with and for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. The community lawyer will build relationships and work alongside community and survivor led organisations.

ATLEU is the only UK charity that provides dedicated, holistic legal support to survivors of trafficking and slavery

MJC Law are recruiting a Paralegal to be based at their Nottingham (Edwalton) office, supporting more senior lawyers with the administration and progression of legal casework, primarily within Court of Protection health and welfare and related publicly funded work. The role combines hands-on legal work with strong compliance and client care responsibilities. You will help ensure files are progressed efficiently, clients are supported sensitively, and Legal Aid Agency and regulatory requirements are met.

MJC Law is a specialist firm who provide expert advice in Court of Protection (health and welfare), mental health and community care law. They hold Legal Aid Civil Contracts in Mental Health and Community Care and operate from offices in Nottingham and Leeds.

Release ir recruiting a Legal Adviser who sees law as part of a wider movement for justice to join their social justice legal team in London. You’ll work alongside people harmed by drug criminalisation, poverty, and inequality — delivering outreach advice and casework in benefits, housing, and debt, while contributing to policy and advocacy that strengthens communities and challenges harm at its roots. If you believe legal work should build power, shift systems, and stand in solidarity with those most affected — this could be the role for you.

Release is the UK’s centre of expertise on drugs and drug laws. They provide legal support, representation and drugs advice to people with a history of drug use or who are impacted by drug laws. They also campaign for evidence-based drug policies founded on principles of public health and human rights, seeking to reduce the harms faced by people who use drugs.

Release is recruiting one senior leadership role, and they are intentionally keeping it open. Depending on your experience, they will appoint either a Legal Director or a Joint Head of Legal Services – Legal Aid. If you’re a senior legal aid practitioner with strong experience in public law, housing and/or community care law, and you’ve used the law strategically to challenge injustice and push for change, we’d love you to apply for the Legal Director role.

They also want this opportunity to be open to lawyers who are committed to social justice and the rights of marginalised communities, with substantial legal aid experience in housing, public and/or community care law, but who may not yet have had the chance to build a body of strategic litigation work. If that sounds like you, and you meet the criteria for Joint Head of Legal Services – Legal Aid, please apply.

Release is the UK’s centre of expertise on drugs and drug laws. They provide legal support, representation and drugs advice to people with a history of drug use or who are impacted by drug laws. They also campaign for evidence-based drug policies founded on principles of public health and human rights, seeking to reduce the harms faced by people who use drugs.

Child Poverty Action Group is recruiting someone who is passionate about using the law to advocate for the rights of, and directly improve the lives of, families in poverty. The ideal candidate will be a solicitor (E&W qualified) with experience of conducting public law litigation and legal aid (publicly funded) work. You will be able to supervise the casework of colleagues, such as CPAG’s junior or trainee solicitor(s) and welfare benefit advisers. You may have experience of working with clients in vulnerable situations or with additional needs, for example, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, disabled people or children and young people.

Child Poverty Action Group works on behalf of the more than one in four children in the UK growing up in poverty.

Shelter is looking for a Managing Housing solicitor in Sheffield. You will ensure you and your team will deliver high quality legal services and manage their Legal Aid Contract, with your main focus being on your own caseload and to manage and supervise the legal teams who are advocating for clients with housing issues, as well as bringing about systemic change. You will be dealing with personnel issues, providing professional support and supervision to your team, including but not limited to, independent file reviews (IFRs), time recording and good case management, as well as carrying your own caseload of housing litigation.

Shelter exists to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything. They need ambitious, passionate people to join them. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change they are striving to achieve. Their enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency.

Watkins Solicitors are recruiting a Family Paralegal to join their dynamic Family Department in Hereford. This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated individual seeking a challenging yet rewarding role, who is looking to take the next step on their legal career path.

Watkins Solicitors is a multi-award-winning firm, nationally recognised for its expertise in family, education, human rights, property, and wills and probate law.
In 2025 they were named Regional Law Firm of the Year at the Bristol Legal Awards, alongside wins for Team of the Year and Rising Star. They were also proud recipients of the 2025 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for outstanding work in family legal aid, including children’s rights. In the previous year, they were shortlisted for two national honours at the LexisNexis UK Family Law Awards for Family Law Firm of the Year – South and the Community Interaction Award. These accolades reflect their legal excellence, compassionate service, and commitment to community-focused practice.