LawWorks is the leading solicitor’s pro bono charity in England & Wales; we are looking for a new Chair to start in June 2024 to support its next phase of growth as we approach our 30th Birthday in June 2027. The new Chair will provide leadership and direction to LawWorks’ board of trustees, enabling the board to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.
The new Chair of LawWorks will join an innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking charity with a commitment to expanding access to justice through professional legal volunteering.
In particular, you will bring:
• Strategic knowledge and influence in the law and how it works at a system level.
• Exceptional ambassador skills.
• Excellent Chairing skills, an inclusive style, and a deep understanding of good governance.
• Understanding of funding sustainability challenges and how to support these as a board.
• The time commitment for this role will be the equivalent of 2 days per month, including chairing quarterly board meetings, supporting the CEO and attending events as representative of LawWorks.
• You will be someone who can bring legal credibility, insights and connections from the legal community and use these to support and grow LawWorks’ positive impact.
We seek someone passionate about the power of pro bono to improve access to justice, and who shares our commitment to working with the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors to strengthen the rule of law and civil society. You will be motivated by LawWorks’ vision of expanding access to justice through the use of solicitor pro bono, with a strategic approach and the networks to support and empower the wider board and the executive to expand our impact and reach.
While you may not previously have held a chair position, you will bring a sophisticated understanding of how high-performing non-executive leaders in our sector work effectively with CEOs to ensure strong governance.
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.
Chair of Trustees Role Description
Role: Chair of the board of trustees
Hours: Variable, the equivalent of two days per month
Four board meetings per year, with annual board away day.
Monthly 1:1 with CEO and regular communication as required
Trustee 1:1s as required
Salary: Unremunerated. Reasonable expenses will be paid.
Term of Office: Three year term, renewable with a maximum of nine years.
Location: Board meetings are usually online with an in-person trustee away day in London.
Individual meetings with trustees, the CEO and key stakeholders can be carried out online, in person or by phone, as most convenient.
Overview
The new Chair of LawWorks will join an innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking charity with a commitment to expanding access to justice through professional legal volunteering.
In particular, you will bring:
• Strategic knowledge and influence in the law and how it works at a system level.
• Exceptional ambassador skills.
• Excellent Chairing skills, an inclusive style, and a deep understanding of good governance.
• Understanding of funding sustainability challenges and how to support these as a board.
• The time commitment for this role will be the equivalent of 2 days per month.
• You will be someone who can bring legal credibility, insights and connections from the legal community and use these to support and grow LawWorks’ positive impact.
We seek someone passionate about volunteering and access to justice, who is motivated by LawWorks’ vision of expanding access to justice through the use of solicitor pro bono, with a strategic approach and the networks to support and empower the wider board and the executive to expand our impact and reach.
Additionally, you will be exceptional at inspiring strategic growth and able to work flexibly and imaginatively with partners for the greater good.
About LawWorks
LawWorks is the trading name for the Solicitors Pro Bono Group, and is a registered charity (charity number: 1064274) with the primary object enabling access to justice through free legal advice. We believe in the power of pro bono legal advice to help improve the lives of people in need. We work to achieve this in two ways:
We have a membership of over 150 law firms, in house legal teams and law schools, and work with stakeholders from across the justice sector. You can read our 2023 annual report here: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/cy/charity-search/-/charity-details/3040113/accounts-and-annual-returns
About the Role
The role of the chair is to provide leadership and direction to LawWorks’ board of trustees, enabling the board to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.
Under LawWorks’ scheme of delegation, the chair holds delegated authority for oversight of the CEO’s performance. The chair also holds primary responsibility on behalf of the board for building and maintaining a successful relationship with the CEO and senior team. They hold delegated authority to deal with any urgent matter regarding reputation, safety or finance which requires an immediate decision without time to convene the full board.
LawWorks holds a high profile within the legal sector, particularly the solicitors’ branch of the profession, and candidates must already have - or be able to rapidly develop - credibility with our members and external stakeholders. Equally, the chair may, on occasions, be invited to take on speaking opportunities or to represent LawWorks with key stakeholders. The chair is not required to hold any operational management of the organisation, to play a primary role in fundraising and income generation, or to deal with media or stakeholder engagement on a routine basis but supporting fundraising initiatives would be required.
We are looking to appoint someone who can build on the achievements of the past few years and continue to strengthen our place in the access to justice sector in England and Wales. Candidates must have a legal background, and you will need to have a strong track record of working effectively at a senior level. An early task will be to oversee and support the development and implementation of our new strategic plan which we will be launching in 2027.
We seek someone passionate about the power of pro bono to improve access to justice, and who shares our commitment to working with the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors to strengthen the rule of law and civil society. You will be motivated by LawWorks’ vision of expanding access to justice through the use of solicitor pro bono, with a strategic approach and the networks to support and empower the wider board and the executive to expand our impact and reach.
While you may not previously have held a chair position, you will bring a sophisticated understanding of how high-performing non-executive leaders in our sector work effectively with CEOs to ensure strong governance.
Duties of the Chair
In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, duties of the chair include the following.
• Providing leadership to the organisation and the board. Ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes to provide greater public benefit.
• Chairing and facilitating board meetings.
• Directing board policymaking.
• Checking that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
• Representing the organisation at functions and meetings. Acting as a spokesperson as appropriate.
• Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making.
With the chief executive
• Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required. For example, the annual general meeting.
• Setting agendas for board meetings and other general meetings.
• Developing the board of trustees. This includes induction, training, appraisal and succession planning.
• Addressing conflict within the board and the organisation.
With employed staff
• Liaising with the chief executive to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs. Providing support as appropriate.
• Leading the chief executive appraisal process and providing support where needed.
• Sitting on appointment and disciplinary panels.
Governance and decision-making
• Ensure LawWorks operates at the highest standards of governance, and its systems and processes adhere to the Charity Governance Code.
• Model and champion a values driven and learning culture amongst the board of trustees.
• Ensure a regular review of board structure, role and effectiveness including chair and trustee appraisal.
• Ensure board meetings are focused, meaningful and reflect the responsibility of the trustees.
• Ensure that trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best long-term interests of LawWorks.
• Ensure that the board reaches clear, consensus driven decisions while ensuring that individual voices are inclusively facilitated to contribute.
• Ensure that the board’s overall risk appetite is understood and applied in strategic decision making.
• Lead recruitment of future trustees as necessary, maintaining LawWorks’ commitment to ensuring an equitable, diverse and inclusive board and ensuring the board of trustees has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to operate effectively.
Organisational
• Work closely with the chief executive and senior team on the development and implementation of the organisation strategy.
• Provide support, guidance and challenge as required to the chief executive and senior team.
• Under delegated authority from the board, appraise and support the performance of the chief executive.
• Lead the recruitment, when necessary, of the chief executive.
• Ensure that the board as a whole works in partnership with the executive team.
External
• Represent and speak for LawWorks at meetings and events as required.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Be an ambassador and champion for LawWorks and its work in all contexts.
Person Specification
Skills and Experience
Candidates should:
• Have strong and demonstrable leadership skills.
• Have strategic knowledge and influence in the law and how it works at a system level.
• Have a background in the law or the legal sector; either as a senior member of a law firm, an in-house team, the GLD, or an advise body.
• Have excellent Chairing skills, an inclusive style, and a deep understanding of good governance; prior experience of having been a chair, committee chair or equivalent would be desirable but not essential.
• Have a strong understanding of the dynamic between chair and CEO and between trustees and executive, and the ability to navigate and effectively manage those relationships.
• Understand the responsibility of the board of trustees for the proper governance of the charity and the legal obligations of a board of trustees.
• Actively support and champion the principles of antiracism, equity, diversity and inclusion
• Have a commitment to access to justice and the rule of law; and a keen interest in the legal advice sector ecosystem and a good understanding of the current and potential challenges facing the sector.
• Have exceptional ambassador skills and be confident in public speaking and stakeholder relationship building when required.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively influence others and hold them to account.
• Understanding of funding sustainability challenges and how to support these as a board.
Personal Attributes
Candidates should:
• Have a genuine desire to chair LawWorks, with a personal commitment to supporting access to justice and professional volunteering.
• Have or be able to quickly develop an understanding of the role LawWorks holds within our membership and the wider legal advice sector’s ecosystem.
• Have or be able to quickly gain credibility with our members, our stakeholders and the legal sector at large.
• Have confidence in leading an experienced board.
• Have a demonstrable personal commitment to antiracism, equity, diversity and inclusion and to supporting, encouraging and constructively challenging LawWorks on its continuing journey in this area.
• Be able to think strategically and lead LawWorks into the next decade.
• Understand and appreciate that LawWorks is a national body with a commitment to support its members and clients across England and Wales.
How to Apply
• The deadline to apply is 11pm on Sunday 27th April 2025.
• Please apply with a CV and a cover letter.
• Interviews will be held in the week commencing 5th May.
• LawWorks is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications irrespective of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.
For a conversation about this role please contact Rebecca Wilkinson rebecca.wilkinson@lawworks.org.uk