Release – Supervising Solicitor (London)

• • Job Title: Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid

• • Location: Spitalfields London E1 5LJ – Hybrid – FTE/ PT applicants welcomed (For FT min. 3days in office/2 days working from home/Part-time to be agreed)

• • Salary FTE: £39,000 – £45,000 plus 5% pension contribution/pro rota part-time

• • Holidays: 29 days + public holidays/ Pro rota

• Contract Type: Permanent / Part or Full-time

Release is seeking to appoint a Supervising Solicitor — with genuine flexibility for part‑time or full‑time working — to help shape and expand our legal services at the intersection of social justice, housing/public/community care law, and harm reduction.

This role is particularly well‑suited to candidates seeking reduced hours, portfolio careers, or a position that allows for balance alongside caring responsibilities, studies, or other commitments. The successful candidate will join a values‑driven organisation delivering high‑quality casework, innovative community‑based legal services, and strategic litigation aimed at systemic change.

We also want to ensure this opportunity is open to people who are strongly committed to social justice and the legal rights of marginalised communities, and who have substantial experience of legal aid in housing, public and/or community care law. If this is you, and you meet the minimum criteria for the Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid role, but you may not yet have built up a body of work, please do apply. 

Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £15,000–£25,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 4 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
• Minimum 3 years + substantial experience in legal aid casework, supervision and/or compliance, and
• Minimum 1 year + experience of supervising others, and
• Experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law within legal aid practice, and
• Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.
• Approved legal aid supervisor with the Legal Aid Agency

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or non-profit organisation.
• Experience supporting or contributing to strategic litigation or test case work.
• Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
• Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding-linked delivery models.

About the Role

The Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid is a key role in shaping and strengthening Release’s legal services. Working closely with the Joint Head of Legal Services and Executive Director, and in collaboration with other colleagues, you will supervise the delivery of high-quality legal advice and representation, supporting the growth of legal aid practice whilst ensuring Release continues to train and develop social justice lawyers for the future. 
We are looking for an experienced legal aid practitioner who is strongly committed to social justice and the legal rights of marginalised communities, and who wants to build leadership experience in a movement-led organisation. The role will combine hands-on practice, leadership, supervision and compliance responsibilities.

As Supervising Solicitor – Legal Aid, you will:

• Support Strategic Development: Contribute to developing the direction and priorities of Release’s legal services, including expanding legal aid work and strengthening access to justice.
• Provide Practice Supervision: Support a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers and volunteers to deliver excellent, trauma-informed legal support. Support and mentor team members on how to adhere to legal aid file compliance, time recording and CCMS applications.
• Ensure Quality and Compliance: Help ensure consistent regulatory compliance and quality assurance across legal casework, including legal aid requirements.
• Strengthen and Grow Services: Help develop and improve legal service delivery models, including responding to emerging needs and client priorities.
• Contribute to Systemic Change: Support Release’s wider mission by helping connect legal services with policy, research, and advocacy work.

This role is ideal for someone with legal aid expertise and management potential, who wants to take a meaningful step into leadership whilst continuing to centre client care, justice and harm reduction.

What We Offer

• A values-driven, collaborative environment.
• Opportunities to grow leadership skills within a movement-led legal services team.
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Training in trauma-informed leadership and harm reduction approaches.
• The opportunity to directly support systemic change and improve access to justice for marginalised communities.
• Opportunities for overseas travel.

Apply

Closing date for applications: Monday 30 March 2026 at 5pm.

Interviews: Commencing the week Monday 6 April 2026