Welfare Rights Paralegal
SOUTH WEST LONDON LAW CENTRES Legal Action for Local Communities
JOB DESCRIPTION
| POST: | Welfare Rights Paralegal |
| Reports to: | Economic Justice Manager (Economic Justice Co-ordinator) |
| Line Manages: | Volunteers assigned to the project. |
| Functional Links: | Board of Trustees, CEO, Senior Management Team,, Team Leaders, Branch Administrators |
| Hours: | Full-time 35 hours a week |
| Term: | June 2026 – June 2028 |
| Based at: | SWLLC's Croydon Ofice with outreach to our other offices and community locations across South London |
Purpose of Role
To provide a targeted welfare rights based casework and representation service through a mix of appointment types including face to face at office or outreach locations, telephone, video, email, web access, outreach. Some appointments will involve home visits.
The beneficiaries of the service will be those living within South West London primarily the Boroughs of Croydon, Merton, Wandsworth, Sutton, Kingston and Richmond, focusing on maximising income for clients by carrying out benefit checks, assisting them to apply for benefits they are entitled to, and where appropriate representing at tribunals.
Key Tasks
1 To provide specialist welfare benefit advice, casework and representation across all benefit types, ranging from one-off benefit checks to Upper Tier Tribunals.
2 To manage and support volunteers and apprentices by providing training and mentorship to enable them to deliver welfare benefits advice themselves.
3 To be responsible for your own case management including using our online case management system AdvicePro, Word and Outlook.
4 To be able to deliver talks/training/webinars to internal and external bodies and the public.
5 To be flexible about delivery methods for the service and able to innovate to improve client engagement.
Duties & Responsibilities
6 To ensure that all advice, assistance and representation comply with the requirements of our Lexcel quality mark and accreditation.
7 To regularly participate in team and staff meetings
8 To carry out file reviews in accordance with Lexcel requirements.
9 To provide training and talks to Law Centre staff, volunteers and to front line advice agency staff within the Law Centre’s catchment area at least once per month.
10 To represent the service at partnership meetings.
11 To provide cover for colleagues during absences as appropriate.
Advice & Casework
12 Provide the full range of advice activities to assist clients with welfare rights advice. This is to include interviewing clients, advising them of their rights and responsibilities, assessing suitability and effectiveness of alternative courses of action, advising on legal procedures
13 To assist other teams in the Law Centre in helping clients resolve any benefits matters.
14 To assist clients in liaising with other people and organisations to resolve their benefits problems where possible.
15 To prepare and represent clients at Tribunals including the necessary preparation and research as well as assisting clients who are selfrepresenting.
16 Keep abreast of changes in legislation, practice and caselaw.
17 Keep accurate and detailed case records.
Project Record Keeping and Reporting
18 Maintain relevant client databases and produce returns to Economic Justice Manager and Economic Justice Co-ordinator so we can provide grant monitoring reports to funders.
19 Search for and collect missing data to enable complete monitoring returns
20 Work with the Economic Justice Manager and Economic Justice Co-ordinator to provide case studies and client voices.
21 Assist with the development and maintenance of a database of standard documents and paragraphs to aid in the efficiency of delivery of welfare rights advice
Training and professional development
22 Attend relevant training courses and appropriate internal and external meetings, to enhance skills as a specialist welfare rights caseworker.
23 Undertake a range of matters and courses to maintain sufficient expertise to fulfil the old Legal Service Commission supervisor standard.
24 Consult relevant colleagues to ensure that working practice is consistently of a high quality.
25 Keep up to date with all relevant current legislation and policy and share knowledge with colleagues
26 Provide feedback to trainers, team members and Manager on the effectiveness of informal and formal learning activities
27 Take part in regular supervision meetings with Manager and other caseworkers and obtain informal support as necessary.
28 To be appraised regularly and to engage fully in this process to further personal development and maximise your contribution to SWLLC.
Supervision and Support
29 Participate in supervision of volunteers and file/peer review of colleagues, volunteers and apprentices
30 Oversee and monitor volunteer advice sessions to provide welfare rights advice given by volunteers or apprentices
31 Assist with the Operations Manager in maintaining a cadre of volunteers to assist with all aspects of welfare rights advice and including the administration of this project.
32 Train and oversee volunteers and apprentices work so that they gain skills in appropriate case management and file maintenance practises including the use of our AdvicePro case management system.
33 Train volunteers in welfare rights law, practices and procedures to deliver the service and make use of external help and resources in delivering this.
Social Policy and Service Development
34 To be alert at all times to the social policy implications of issues presented by clients.
35 To take appropriate action to influence social policy in regard to these issues.
36 Take part in service planning activities
Equal Opportunities
37 To have regard at all times in the planning and execution of duties to SWLLC’s Equality and Diversity Policy.
Other Duties
38 Play a full role in the organisation supporting colleagues to maximise their effectiveness.
39 Travel to meetings and other events across SW London as required.
40 In addition to the tasks and duties listed in this job description to undertake such duties as may be identified and which are generally compatible with the functions of the post.
Working Hours
41 This post may require some evening working providing advice at events or occasional evening advice sessions for workers. You may also work with our partner organisations providing outreach in their offices. You may also be required to work the occasional weekend for one off events
Location
42 South West London Law Centres is made up of 3 branches based in Wandsworth, Croydon, and Merton. Your main office base will be Croydon
Person Specification
About You
You’ll be someone who:
• Has experience (or strong interest) in welfare benefits advice and casework
• Is confident working directly with clients, including vulnerable individuals
• Can manage a caseload and maintain accurate records
• Is organised, adaptable, and able to work across different settings
• Enjoys supporting others - including mentoring volunteers
• Is committed to social justice and improving access to advice
What We Offer
• The opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives
• A supportive and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing training and development
Potential qualifying work experience to be gained for SWE for successful candidates
• Flexible working approaches including outreach and community engagement
Additional Information
• Some evening or occasional weekend work may be required
• Travel across South West London will be part of the role
Home visits may occasionally be required
Apply Now
Join us and be part of a team delivering high-quality legal advice to those who need it most.
Email your CV and cover letter to recruitment@swllc.org.