Family Law Advice Line Volunteers

Organisation overview 

Rights of Women’s vision is to achieve equality, justice and safety in the law for all women. 2025 is our 50th anniversary!

Our mission is to advise, educate and empower women by:

• Providing women with free, confidential legal advice by specialist women solicitors and barristers
• Enabling women to understand and benefit from their legal rights through accessible and timely publications and training
• Campaigning to ensure that women’s voices are heard and law and policy meets all women’s need
• We asked Clare, who has been a volunteer since August 2019, what advice she’d give to others considering applying, she said:

“Do it! There are women all over the country that need our help and will benefit hugely from it. Volunteering is not an onerous commitment – one 2 hour a month session from your home or office and the IT is very easy to use. It is also great to be part of this volunteer community.”

Role description

Rights of Women are seeking women solicitors, barristers and legal executives qualified in family law in England and Wales to provide legal advice on our family law advice line. All volunteering is done remotely and you must be qualified in England and Wales.

For 50 years our free telephone advice lines have provided vital legal advice for women experiencing difficulties regarding domestic abuse, issues around child arrangements, finances and divorce or separation. We continue to offer a safe space for women to talk about their situation and receive expert legal advice to enable them to make important decisions about their future. 

A feminist perspective on the law and the issues we advise on is essential.

We ask our volunteers to:

• Provide advice on our advice lines for one 2-hour session a month (minimum);
• Attend the induction training session provided by Rights of Women;
• Give clear and accurate legal advice to callers;
• Be non-judgemental and non-discriminatory in their approach;
• Follow our procedures for making records of calls and obtaining monitoring information;
• Keep up to date with the law for the relevant advice lines;
• Attend all agreed advice line sessions (remotely);
• Inform us as soon as possible if they are unable to attend an agreed session;
• Abide by Rights of Women’s procedures, standards and policies, including equal opportunities and confidentiality in relation to staff, volunteers and users.

What are we looking for?

The qualifications and skills we look for in a volunteer are:

• A woman solicitor, barrister or CILEx member;
• A current practicing certificate;
• Ability to work remotely with adequate internet access and a private space;
• Good communication skills;
• The ability to deliver advice clearly and calmly;
• An empathetic, non-judgemental and non-discriminatory manner;
• A working knowledge of the relevant area of law for their advice line;
• Commitment to equal opportunities;
• Commitment to the aims and objectives of Rights of Women.

Time commitment: 0-5 hours a month

Attendance: Remote

This opportunity is available through Reach Volunteering - please  apply here