Volunteering opportunity
BPP Enterprise Clinic are currently seeking volunteer solicitors or barristers with a commercial or specialist background within the clinic’s practice areas (i.e. Intellectual property, commercial property, dispute resolution, financial regulation) to help meet the extremely high demand for the clinic’s services.
Volunteer solicitors carry out a supervisory role and are allocated a case alongside two student advisers. The student advisers: draft questions to be reviewed by the supervisor in advance of the client appointment, conduct a one-hour client interview under the supervisor’s guidance (no advice is given during the appointment), research the legal issues, and draft a letter of advice.
Following the appointment the volunteer solicitor will review the draft advice letter, suggesting any amendments before it is approved by the clinic manager and sent to the client (within 14 days of the appointment).
Case details and conflict information are provided beforehand, allowing volunteer solicitors to select matters that match their interests or area of expertise.
All volunteering is conducted remotely.
Professional indemnity insurance is provided by the clinic.
Person specification
Solicitors or barristers with a commercial or specialist background within the clinic’s practice areas (i.e. Intellectual property, commercial property, dispute resolution, financial regulation) with a minimum of 2 years’ PQE, however, the clinic can accept lawyers from other practice areas.
The clinic also accepts trainees and junior lawyers (under 2 years PQE), provided they are supervised internally by somebody who is at least 2 years PQE.
Time commitment
The time commitment for supervising solicitors is approximately 3 hours per case (subject to the type of case):
- Review of prepared questions (30 mins)
- Clinic appointment (1 to 1 ½ hours)
- Review of advice letter and making amendments (1 to 1 ½ hours)
Volunteer solicitors can volunteer for as many cases as they want. There is no commitment to a supervise a specific number of cases.
Next steps
If you would be interested in supporting BPP Enterprise Clinic, please contact Rebecca Howell, Head of Clinics Programme at LawWorks: rebecca.howell@lawworks.org.uk