Centre for Women’s Justice: Recruitment Pack
Job Title: Solicitor/Barrister (Criminal Appeals Supervisor) (women-only*)
Salary: £45,000 – £51,000 (depending on PQE)
Location: Hybrid working (work from home and in CWJ office, Bethnal Green, London)
Reports to: CEO
Contract details: Permanent, 30–37.5 hours per week
Benefits: 25 days annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays and three additional days off over the Christmas period; 5% employers pension contribution.
Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 7 June 2026
Centre for Women’s Justice is seeking a feminist criminal lawyer with experience in criminal appeals and CCRC reviews. This is a new position within CWJ, and will involve working with our CEO, Harriet Wistrich, on potential miscarriages of justice relating to women who have offended in response to male violence. Cases will range from convictions arising from coerced offending, counter allegations, victims of trafficking and grooming gangs, to advising on appeals by those convicted of murder or manslaughter at the CACD and CCRC.
This is a hybrid role, based between home and our Bethnal Green office.
We would consider the role at 30 hours per week.
Please contact n.mainwood@centreforwomensjustice.org.uk if you have any queries.
*Women-only: We deal directly with victims of sexual violence, therefore it is a genuine requirement that this is role is carried out by women only - Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work; Exceptions), Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies.
About Us:
Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) is a thriving and rapidly expanding legal charity which has undertaken a wide range of highly publicised strategic legal challenges and collaborative projects through partnerships with women’s sector organisations.
Our Mission: To hold the state to account to challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls.
Our areas of work include:
- Strategic litigation – we bring legal challenges which have the potential to effect broader changes in society
- Training and empowering frontline women’s sector organisations – we improve confidence and legal knowledge of those working directly with survivors of male violence
- Facilitating access to justice – working collaboratively with women’s sector organisations and lawyers with expertise in violence against women
- Monitoring and challenging trends in policy, practice and men’s use of the law as it impacts on violence against women and girls.
- Raising awareness – we have fast become the go-to organisation for advice and media comment on legal issues around male violence
CWJ is a registered charity 1169213.
Values:
We believe that:
- All women have an equal right to access justice and to be safe
- Male violence is not inevitable: it can be eradicated
- Women resist male violence but are blamed for it
- All women and girls can be subject to male violence regardless of their socio-economic and cultural position
- Male violence may take different forms in different contexts, so opportunities for resistance may differ
Key principles underlying our approach:
- Work with the client not for the client, by listening and responding to each woman’s individual experience
- Work collaboratively with frontline organisations and campaigns
- A commitment to anti-oppression politics
Role Purpose
To lead and potentially supervise legal work challenging the criminalisation of women who have been prosecuted for offences that have arisen as a result of male violence, coercion or abuse. The role will provide expert oversight of complex criminal appeals and review cases, ensuring that women’s experiences are properly recognised within the legal process and that cases are progressed to the highest professional standard using a feminist, trauma‑informed approach.
Key Responsibilities
Legal casework:
- Depending on qualification - maintain (or apply for, where required) Legal Aid Agency criminal appeals and reviews supervisor status, and ensure compliance with the LAA’s Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) requirements.
- Manage an active caseload of strategic criminal appeals and review cases.
- Take responsibility for client care, including sensitive and trauma‑informed client contact, and the day‑to‑day conduct of own cases.
- Depending on qualification - Undertake file reviews in accordance with Legal Aid Agency contract requirements.
- Apply for public funding where available and ensure publicly funded cases are run efficiently and in full compliance with LAA standards.
- Where appropriate, identify and pursue alternative funding routes and cost‑management approaches (including, for example, litigation grants or crowd‑funding).
- Ensure efficient financial administration of cases, including time‑recording, management of client monies, and billing and receipt of funds.
- Maintain accurate, complete, and well‑organised case files in line with professional and contractual obligations.
- Keep up to date with relevant developments in criminal law, procedure, and policy, including legislation and case law, and share relevant updates with colleagues where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with the CEO, Director of Finance and Operations, and other fee earners to ensure that legal aid and other billing is carried out accurately and in a timely manner, and to identify and pursue opportunities for fee income and other funding.
- Supervise, train and support junior members of the legal team (including paralegals, trainees and interns), ensuring high‑quality casework and supporting their professional development. This is likely to include line‑management of one or two junior staff members at any one time.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of CWJ’s litigation strategy, and report on case progress to the Board as required.
- Provide occasional advice (subject to capacity) on first‑ and second‑tier legal enquiries, usually in collaboration with CWJ’s Enquiries Team, and assist with signposting where appropriate.
Related development, policy and public work
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organisations, lawyers and other stakeholders, in order to monitor relevant issues, identify potential strategic cases, and collaborate on joint projects and campaigns.
- Contribute to the management of partnership work with external lawyers and experts involved in strategic litigation.
- Assist in the design and delivery of advice and training for other lawyers and frontline advocates working on violence against women, where required.
- Draft press releases, identify media opportunities, and engage with the media in relation to own cases or wider issues relevant to CWJ’s work, including occasional media work outside usual working hours.
- Represent CWJ at conferences, events and meetings, using these opportunities to raise awareness of CWJ’s work and contribute to sector‑wide discussions.
- Contribute to the drafting of reports, briefings, submissions and consultation responses to government, public authorities and other bodies, usually in collaboration with CWJ colleagues and partners.
- Attend sector and stakeholder meetings as required, particularly where relevant to CWJ’s strategic objectives, and report back to colleagues.
- Support fundraising activity, including contributing to grant and litigation funding applications, to help sustain and develop CWJ’s casework and core functions.
- Maintain effective working relationships with funders and ensure compliance with reporting requirements, as appropriate.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required and appropriate to the role.
Person Specification
Essential
- A minimum of three years’ post‑qualification experience, holding a current practising certificate as a solicitor, or barrister, in England and Wales for at least three years.
- Experience of, and a strong understanding of, criminal law practice, including appeals against conviction and sentence.
- A clear understanding of, and commitment to, the aims, values and feminist approach of the Centre for Women’s Justice.
- Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, to a range of audiences including lawyers, voluntary sector organisations and individual clients.
- Strong self‑management skills, including the ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to work independently and flexibly within a small, collaborative team.
- Willingness and ability to contribute to the long‑term strategic direction of CWJ, including translating ideas into practical and workable projects.
- Commitment to challenging injustice and supporting individuals subject to state neglect and abuse.
- Commitment to equal opportunities, with an understanding of the experiences of disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and the ability to apply this understanding in practice.
- Awareness of current political, social and legal issues relating to violence against women and girls.
Desirable
- Meets (or is able to meet) the Legal Aid Agency criteria for a criminal appeals and reviews supervisor, in accordance with LAA specifications
- Experience of legal aid supervisory work, including overseeing legally aided casework.
How to apply:
Complete our online application form and upload your CV and covering letter by midnight on Sunday 7 June 2026.
A preview of the all the application questions are on the following page.
Criminal Appeals Supervisor Application Form [PREVIEW]
- First name
- Last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Do you have the legal right to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship? Y/N
Please note: CWJ is unable to sponsor work visas for this role.
- Have you held, or will you have held by September 2026, a valid practising certificate as a solicitor, or barrister, in England and Wales for a minimum of three years? Y/N – if Y, please provide your SRA/BSB number
- Please tell us whether you currently meet the Legal Aid Agency criteria for a criminal appeals and reviews supervisor, in accordance with LAA specifications
- Please upload your CV and covering letter [choose file]
