Volunteering if you are not a lawyer
This page provides information if you wish to volunteer at Richmond Legal Advice Service (RLAS) but you are not a qualified lawyer (what is meant by a “qualified lawyer”).The information on this page provides answers to questions that are commonly asked of RLAS. RLAS receives a number of enquiries from people wanting to gain practical legal experience and RLAS encourages these enquiries.
If I am not a qualified lawyer can I interview clients and provide advice?
No. RLAS aim is that legal advice and assistance is only provided by qualified lawyers. This is how RLAS it makes it service known to clients (that clients will able to gain access to a legally qualified adviser). Also the terms on which we have professional indemnity insurance is that advice only be given by qualified lawyers (as we have defined them).If you have a legal qualification can you interview clients and provide advice?
No. If you have the following types of legal qualification- a law degree, or
- have finished the LPC but do have not have training contract, or
- have finished the BVC but have not been called to the Bar
you will still not be able to interview clients and provide advice, as these qualifications do not come within the RLAS meaning of a “qualified lawyer”.
What does volunteering involve if you are not a qualified lawyer?
If you are not a qualified volunteer you may not be able to provide advice or conduct interviews, but you will be able to- sit on interviews
- take notes
- carry out any follow up research (where required)
- draft letters, court documents etc, and
- otherwise help with the running of RLAS sessions (meeting clients, helping clients fill in the RLAS client contact forms etc).
How extensive is the legal experience that RLAS can offer?
Because of RLAS' limited opening time and focus on providing initial and basic legal advice, RLAS cannot offer practical experience in some areas. For example RLAS does not:- take on cases in the way that a firm of solicitors or a law centre might;
- undertake litigation (in any court or tribunal) on behalf of clients or any advocacy;
- not enage in (extensive) correspondence or (extensive) written representative work on behalf of clients .
Are there any areas of law that RLAS does not handle?: In principle RLAS has no restrictions on what types of law it can deal with. But in practice there are some areas which rarely occur at our advice sessions. These are immigration law, social housing law, criminal law and debt advice and assistance.
If I become a volunteer at RLAS how often will I need to attend?
Volunteers are put on a rota and are normally required to attend 1 week in 4 on average.Important Note: In June and July 2009 many people have contacted us to volunteer as non-qualified lawyers. It will take 2 to 3 months just to see all of them. If you are considering volunteering it will be some time before you can start the process of becoming a volunteer at RLAS (not before September 2009).
If RLAS is not for you, where else can you gain legal (type) experience?
If you have legal qualifications and require more "full-on" practical (legal) experience than RLAS can offer you should consider organisations such as:- LawWorks ,
- a law centre ,
- the Free Representation Unit
- a college/university-run free advice clinic (if you are student at the college/university)
If you do not have any legal qualification and you wish to gain experience of providing advice which will involve using and applying the law and interviewing and dealing with clients, Richmond and other Citizens Advice Bureau should be considered.
Last modified: 31 July 2009