This is why you should volunteer

As an undergraduate student studying Law LLB (Hons), my passion for social justice and advocacy comes naturally. Alongside my studies, I've had the opportunity to volunteer with Citizens Advice as a general advisor for the last three months. This blog will explore why I would highly recommend you volunteer alongside your studies, and the impact it has on you as a person.

Why I chose to volunteer

As a Law student, volunteering at Citizens Advice was a great opportunity to apply my legal knowledge outside the lecture hall. The organisation interested me because of their passion for providing pro bono (free of charge) advice to those facing legal, financial, and social problems. I wanted to gain experience working with clients while exploring areas of law like immigration, debt, and housing.

My role at Citizens Advice

As a general advisor, I met with clients from all walks of life, assessing each individual's situation to provide tailored advice. The advice was based on helping people with visa refusals, benefits, and appealing to housing disputes. Each client was different and came with new challenges that required critical thinking, legal research and an empathetic approach.

One of my main responsibilities was empowering clients to take informed next steps, helping them understand their rights and access available resources. The training I received was invaluable – I learned how to navigate complicated case management systems, break down legal terminology into simple, actionable advice and communicate effectively.  

Key highlights

A particularly memorable case was helping a young man facing deportation from the country. I helped him draft his appeal to the Home Office and access legal help, which ultimately led to his deportation being quashed. Witnessing his relief was a reminder of how a little push can lead to better outcomes.

Lesson learned

Volunteering at Citizens Advice taught me key skills that will benefit my legal career. I'm better at understanding people from different backgrounds and assessing clients' needs. I also improved my research abilities, especially when faced with complex and urgent cases, alongside my active listening and critical reasoning skills.

Moreover, I learned how to handle emotionally driven circumstances while maintaining professional integrity – an essential skill for any career.

Impact on my studies and career goals

This experience gave me a passion for immigration and housing law, inspiring me to choose related modules in my degree. It also shaped my ambition to pursue a career in advocacy where I can empower vulnerable individuals through my legal work. 

Volunteering complemented my studies, enhancing my analytical approach to assignments and boosting my confidence in handling real-life legal problems.

Conclusion

Volunteering with Citizens Advice has been revolutionary. It's given me practical experience and the chance to make a difference. I've grown a lot as a person. It's given me a clearer outlook on my future career goals and reinforced my commitment to social justice. 

For any student, no matter what career you want, volunteering experience is valuable – I highly recommend it!

Discover more about the volunteering opportunities available to our students on our volunteering page.