The Justice First Fellowship is a 2-year training contract funded by the Legal Education Foundation.
We were lucky enough to receive this prestigious fellowship focused on Children’s Rights in 2022 and you can read more about our excellent current Fellow – Elisa Jenkins – here
The aim of the Fellowship is to create social justice lawyers of the future, with Fellows going on to become leaders in their field and important advocates for access to justice and the rule of law.
The Fellowship is made up of four integrated parts:
- Training contract: a two year fully funded training contract in any UK nation, and a free place on the Professional Skills Course at BPP campuses or equivalent compulsory training in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- Project: Fellows develop a project with the support and input of their host organisation. Projects help advance access to justice and can potentially provide a future income stream for the host organisation.
- Extra support: Fellows and hosts attend regular sessions on developing their project, professional development skills, additional training e.g. marketing and fundraising, well-being support provided by Claiming Space, and access to useful networks.
- Joining a cohort: Fellows build important relationships with their cohort which gives them essential peer support throughout their training contract. They continue to be part of the JFF alumni following qualification. Hosts join a national network of organisations committed to supporting the next generation of social welfare lawyers.
Our Justice First Fellow has a specific focus on children’s rights and has been, or will be going on, placements with prominent law firms such as Watkins and Gunn and Cameron, Jones, Hussell and Howe, third sector advice projects such as KIN Cymru and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. To hear about the experience of this placement in her own words check out Elisa’s Blog Series.