Centre for Women’s Justice

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. Continue Reading Centre for Women’s Justice

The role:

CWJ is offering a unique opportunity for a Justice First Fellow to work in a specialist field, working on novel, strategic litigation challenging violence against women and girls. Our cases are of national significance and are often featured in mainstream as well as specialist media.

The post would suit an enthusiastic feminist with a keen interest in challenging discrimination in the justice system and gaining experience in actions against public authorities.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minoritised individuals, and/or people with disabilities

The post-holder will have seats with three of the CWJ solicitors. Two seats will involve contentious litigation, including civil claims against public authorities, public law and some criminal appeal work. The third will be a non-contentious seat, advising frontline services on legal remedies for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence they assist. All seats will include opportunities to learn and undertake the full range of practice skills standards. We also expect to be able to offer the opportunity for the trainee to spend some time with a partnership organisation to allow them to experience another area of law and the work of another organisation.

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 and to challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls.

We believe to achieve this; we must improve access to justice and empower survivors to exercise and secure their rights.

Our areas of work include:

1. Strategic litigation – we bring legal challenges which have the potential to effect broader changes in society
2. Training and empowering frontline women’s sector organisations – we improve confidence and legal knowledge of those working directly with survivors of male violence
3. Facilitating access to justice – working collaboratively with women’s sector organisations and lawyers with expertise in violence against women
4. Raising awareness – we have fast become the go-to organisation for advice and media comment on legal issues around male violence

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

For further information, visit our website.