Vacancy: Legal Adviser

Minimum requirements: Completion of LLB, GDL, or SQE1 and minimum six months’ experience in legal advice and casework in areas such as crime, housing, benefits, or debt.

Since Release’s inception in 1967, the organisation has continuously and actively advocated for open access to justice for all individuals with a specific emphasis on substance misuse and dependency. By addressing the legal needs of people who use drugs and those in recovery, the consequences can have a profound and positive effect not only for the individual but also for those who live, support and work with them. Reducing health and income inequalities significantly improves a person’s life chances and integration back into their community. Whilst legal services are available to the public via other sources, our client group will often be unable to access such services because of fear of stigma or discrimination.

We also operate a national drugs and legal helpline, and produce a number of free informative publications for the public, and specialist guidance material aimed at professionals in the substance misuse and dependency field.

We invite applicants for the Legal Adviser post to join our social justice legal team who share our commitment to supporting the legal and human rights of people whose lives are affected by drug use and drug policy.

Key Details

  • Salary: £30,160 + 5% pension
  • Contract: Permanent, 35 hours/week
  • Holidays: 29 days + public holidays
  • Location: Hybrid – Spitalfields, London / Remote
  • Closing Date: 5:00 pm, 20 November 2026
  • Interviews: Week commencing 23 November 2026
  • Start Date: As soon as possible

We are unable to provide feedback to those who are not shortlisted.

Overview

This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) working a minimum of 3 days a week from our office in Spitalfields, London with the remaining 2 days working from home, if desired. The working hours are 10am – 6pm Monday to Friday with a one-hour lunch break.

The post holder will join our social justice legal team and will be required to deliver a minimum of 2 services through our in-person and ‘virtual’ legal services to clients attending alcohol/drug treatment centres, homeless day centres, and sexual health clinics. The legal advice, assistance and representation we provide has a particular focus on debt, housing including homelessness, and welfare benefits. The post holder will also be required (after a period of induction and/or training) to provide advice on Release’s national legal helpline pertaining to the criminal law and the criminal justice system related to drugs offences, and broader legal advice through our Harm Reduction Hub drop-in service. In addition to the delivery of legal services, the post holder will also be required to assist with the policy work undertaken by the organisation.

We have a legal aid Public Law contract and there may be opportunities for the post holder to work within this area.

As a member of our dynamic social justice legal team, based in London, your responsibilities will include:

  • Delivering a minimum of 2 legal outreach services at alcohol/drug treatment centres, homeless day centres and sexual health clinics in the London area, and with training deliver our expanding ‘virtual’ legal outreach services to clients elsewhere in the country;
  • Completing casework resulting from our legal outreach services on issues including welfare benefits, housing, and debt;
  • Providing advice to the public and professionals about legal issues connected with drug use (training will be provided);
  • Updating our specialist publications;
  • Contributing to our local and national policy commentary/response on drugs, and all associated legislation;
  • Assisting with the development of our website and other IT-related service initiatives and their legal compliance.

How to Apply

If you think you can make a difference as a Legal Adviser for Release, please download and read the job description and person specification together with the application guidelines below:

📄 Download Job Description & Application Pack (PDF) →

The successful candidate will have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check upon appointment.

For an informal discussion, contact:

Applications should be sent quoting reference LA1126 to recruitment@release.org.uk (attachments should be clearly denoted with the applicant’s name, and should not collectively exceed 5MB).

Important Notice: For this job, Release will only consider applications from those who already have the right to live and work in the UK.

Application Checklist

Please note: Total documents NOT to exceed six A4 sides.

  1. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Covering Letter (Supporting Statement) – Your opportunity to explain, based upon your current skills and qualifications, why you want this opportunity.