South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) – Justice First Fellowship Trainee Solicitor

Organisation Description:

SYRLJ is a grassroots legal charity based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. We offer specialist and person-centred legal representation to people who have been refused asylum and are ‘Appeal Rights Exhausted’. We prepare and submit fresh claims, represent our clients through the appeals process and also support with further leave applications where clients cannot afford private legal services.

We work with clients to explore all available legal options, enable them to have a good understanding of their case and make informed decisions about their future. We have a legal aid contract as of September 2024 and have a mixed caseload of legal aid and non-legal aid cases.

We also provide one off legal advice at community drop-centres across South Yorkshire to any migrants with human rights related immigration issues. We work in close partnership with organisations providing other types of support such as housing, therapeutic services and move-on support. Our legal casework is focused on securing status for our clients and their families and enabling them to move on with their lives in the UK. We work with people who often have complex needs running alongside their legal issues. Our service is therefore designed to be compassionate and accessible, and to understand the daily difficulties our clients face. We are tenacious as well as trauma informed and our clients know that we are in their corner.

Training Location: Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield, S1 2EW

Job Title: JFF Trainee Solicitor

Job Description:

JOB PURPOSE
To contribute to the provision of free, high quality legal advice and representation to people seeking sanctuary in South Yorkshire.
To contribute to SYRLJ’s mission to increase access to justice
To work with the rest of the team to maintain the ethos of SYRLJ and to develop its work to improve asylum legal representation in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
Equal opportunities:
To actively promote the aims, core values and equal opportunities practice of SYRLJ.
Legal casework :
To develop and maintain a small caseload of cases under supervision from a senior legal colleague.
To establish action plans for each case;
To support Legal Advice Volunteers in their work assisting on client’s cases;
To liaise with third parties and facilitate referrals to other services where appropriate/required;
To liaise with partner organisations about individual cases;
To assist in drafting instructions to counsel and experts as needed;
To interview clients and take instructions;
To keep up to date with relevant changes in legislation, case law and policy.
To attend drop-in advice sessions and provide administrative support to legal advisers
Organisational:
In collaboration with the rest of the staff team, to develop and maintain a humane, inclusive and supportive working environment for clients, staff and volunteers.
To support and assist volunteers in their duties where needed
To engage with and feed into the development and improvement of organisational policies, procedures and structures
Administration
Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity, information retrieval, monitoring and reporting;
To be administratively self-servicing.
Professional development:
To attend management supervision, appraisal meetings and clinical supervision;
To keep up to date and meet identified learning and development needs as appropriate, including maintaining professional standards and working towards IAA/IAAS accreditation.
General
To attend team meetings as required.
To undertake any other duties that are compatible with the functions of the post.

Trainee Areas of Law: Immigration / Asylum

Person Specification:

Essential:

  • Complete and pass the Legal Practice Course (LPC) by 14 March 2026 or have an undergraduate degree and complete and pass SQE Part 1 by 14 March 2026.
  • A commitment to the aims, principles and policies of SYRLJ.
  • Experience of working with people in vulnerable and complex situations.
  • An understanding of the wider issues and challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
  • The ability to respond sensitively to clients with complex mental health and social support issues.
  • The ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
  • The ability to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and with different levels of English.
  • The ability to use IT effectively including Office applications and case management systems.
  • The ability to work in a resource limited environment.
  • The ability to work collaboratively as part of a small team, take initiative and support other colleagues where required.
  • The ability and motivation to work towards and achieve legal qualifications.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of UK immigration law and the asylum process.
  • Experience of working with interpreters.
  • Experience of working with volunteers.

Organisational Benefits:

28 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holiday
6% employer pension contributions
Regular access to internal and external training and CPD
Paid time for legal studies and exams
Generous wellbeing, sickness and family related policies

Starting Salary: £28,297

Contact for Enquiries: Tara Topteagarden

Contact Email: tara.topteagarden@syrlj.org.uk

Organisation Website: https://www.syrlj.org.uk

Interview Dates: Wednesday 4th February 2026, Thursday 5th February 2026

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