Case study: Vauxhall Law Centre

Vauxhall Law Centre have hosted two Justice First Fellows since 2022 and are currently recruiting their third. They are based in the heart of their community in Liverpool, where they provide free legal advice on issues like housing, welfare benefits and debt. Their main goal is to tackle inequality, to help people understand their rights and have the confidence to use them so that no one falls through the cracks when it comes to legal support.

Being part of the Justice First Fellowship has been such a positive experience for us. The fellows bring real enthusiasm and fresh ideas; they care deeply about social justice, and that energy is infectious. Over the past few years, we’ve seen how valuable it is to have new lawyers coming in who are so passionate about making a difference.

The fellows have definitely helped us build capacity, but beyond that, they’ve added so much to our culture: they ask great questions, challenge us in the best possible way, and remind us why we do this work. They bring in new ways of thinking via their social justice projects. It’s created a lovely mentoring culture at Vauxhall Law Centre. People are more reflective and open to learning from one another.

It’s changed how we think about developing people. Having fellows has encouraged us to be more intentional about training, supervision and career progression, not just for them but for all our junior staff.

Our current Housing Supervising Solicitor actually came through the JFF scheme himself, and his experience – what worked well, what could be improved – has helped us shape how we support new fellows.

It’s been amazing to watch the growth of the fellows we’ve hosted. When they start there’s always that mix of excitement and nerves, but over time you see their confidence just soar. They learn to handle complex cases, work with vulnerable clients and navigate the legal aid system with real professionalism.

The social justice projects are a great way for fellows to learn by trying out ideas in real-life situations, not just on paper, and adapt as their projects evolve. All of this helps prepare fellows for their future careers in this sector.

What’s great is that they leave with not just technical skills, but a deep sense of purpose. Many go on to secure permanent roles in the sector, and you can see how the fellowship has given them the foundation and belief to build a long-term career in social justice law.

For example, our fellow this year ran a judicial review case. With Counsel’s help, they successfully secured an interim injunction in the Administrative Court requiring a council to secure accommodation for their client pending the full hearing. In practice, this meant the client had a safe place to stay and enough breathing space to find longer-term housing. The case was later settled before a full hearing. That experience gave our fellow real confidence that they can run complex, high-stakes cases, and they gained recognition from the Chambers involved.

The sector has struggled for a long time with attracting and retaining new lawyers. The fellowship has really helped bridge that gap and we’re incredibly proud to have supported new solicitors into social welfare law. It’s building a network of people who are not only skilled but deeply committed to access to justice.

You can feel the ripple effect. Fellows are connecting across organisations, sharing ideas, and supporting one another. It’s strengthening the sector as a whole and helping to keep that sense of community and shared purpose alive in legal aid work. It’s also connected us more closely with other organisations in the fellowship network, leading to more collaboration and sharing of best practice.

If you’re considering applying, absolutely do it. It’s genuinely one of the most rewarding things we’ve done as an organisation and a real investment, not just in one person, but in the future of your organisation and the wider social justice sector.

Be ready to give time and proper support. Supervision and mentoring are key, but you’ll get so much back in return. Let fellows bring their ideas and take ownership of projects that excite them; you’ll be amazed at how much they contribute.