About the fellowship
“‘The absolute best way to qualify as a social welfare lawyer.’”
— Justice First Fellow, 2020 cohort
The Justice First Fellowship is your route to a rewarding career in social justice law, helping those with little or no access to justice. Our fellows go on to become leaders in their field and important advocates for equality and human rights.
Social justice law is a broad term covering areas such as debt, housing, employment, welfare benefits, community care, education, immigration and asylum. Leaving these types of legal problems unresolved contributes to a range of adverse consequences and often more complex legal issues further down the line.
LEF aims to improve this situation by supporting the next generation of social justice lawyers through our Justice First Fellowship.
host organisations since we began
of fellows are using the law for public good
Applications to become a fellow normally open in autumn and successful fellows generally begin their two-year training period (two and a half years in Northern Ireland) in the following April. Our hosts are based across the UK.
We give the fellowship grant to your host, and you are employed directly by them, not LEF. During this time, you will:
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Receive free legal and skills training. You will be supported during your fellowship to complete any mandatory legal training you need to qualify in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Your wider training will include topics such as project management, professional development and fundraising as well as our wellbeing sessions, designed to help you to cope with stress and avoid burnout.
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Develop a project with your host. These vary hugely but will give you the opportunity to broaden your skill set beyond the law to find new ways to support communities and increase the impact of your host’s work.
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Gain wider support. The relationships you build with other fellows are an important part of the programme. You’ll build a vital network of support with your cohort through this process, supported by a range of optional training and networking sessions, including the annual fellowship residential, which is open to all current and alumni fellows.
Eligibility
To become a fellow, you need to:
- Have a relevant qualification.
England and Wales: 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.
Scotland: complete and pass the Diploma in Legal Practice/Professional Legal Practice (DLP/DPLP) by 14 March 2026.
Northern Ireland: have an undergraduate law degree, and be admitted by March 2026 to the solicitors apprenticeship scheme at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (Queen’s University Belfast) commencing in September 2026. - Have the right to work in the UK.
- Be willing and able to commit to working for two years as a fellow from April 2026.
- Demonstrate a commitment to social justice, this can include voluntary work or lived experience.
Please note that if you do not meet all of the above eligibility criteria, you will not be able to apply to the scheme. If you have any questions about your eligibility for the fellowship, you can contact us.