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Getting involved in the Citizens Advice Bureau

How good do you think becoming a trainee adviser with the CBA would look in relation to pupillage applications? Is it something which would be a big help in getting called for interviews?

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I applied to volunteer for CAB last year. With a 2.1 from Bristol, the BVC and pupillage in the bag I was told I 'did not meet their selection criteria' and that 'there are no suitable positions for you at present'.

Mmmmm.

OP

LuverlyLawyer

I applied to volunteer for CAB last year. With a 2.1 from Bristol, the BVC and pupillage in the bag I was told I 'did not meet their selection criteria' and that 'there are no suitable positions for you at present'.

Mmmmm.

That is surprising. Do you think it would be a very good thing to have on the CV come pupillage applications? I've had a chat wiht my local CAB and they seemed happy to let me train to be an adviser. I'm not sure how much of a bonus it would be.

Yes it will good on your CV. I THINK it may have been an admin error - the letter was addressed to 'unknown' - all v odd!!!

I'm sure any kind of experience like that will look good on your CV, especially as it is difficult to get work experience for law. Working for the CAB would involve using skills that relate very well to the skills needed in a legal career, particularly things like good communication, advising and possibly advocacy, probably a lot more so than your average part-time job, and gives you something else to talk about, so go for it!

Or perhaps they saw that you had pupillage and would therefore be leaving in the near(ish) future and only want to train people who are in for at least the semi-long haul since it must be quite expensive to train people.

Well I applied August last year so would have been able to commit almost 15 months. I have no idea - in the end I was relieved as I started an LLM and paralegalling so probably wouldnt have had the time anyway. Can't deny I was a little bit hurt to be snubbed by the CAB!! :wink:

:wink:

Out of interest, what does the training involve to become an adviser? Does it take a long time?

OP

Thanks, i'm going to go for it. They said that after training which can be 12 months but less if I can give more time I could do advocacy at tribunals which would be great.

OP

slothie

Out of interest, what does the training involve to become an adviser? Does it take a long time?

12-18 months. It involves obersving others at first, learning how to research with their files and systems, going on a short course and than you get to take your own interviews.

FRU is also a great one to do and if you do the employment one you can go to the employment tribunal and pretty much take on your own caseload. You need to go to a day long lecture and then write two opinions. Maybe something to consider for the future?

OP

LuverlyLawyer

FRU is also a great one to do and if you do the employment one you can go to the employment tribunal and pretty much take on your own caseload. You need to go to a day long lecture and then write two opinions. Maybe something to consider for the future?

I'd be very interested in that but I heard you have to visit their office at least 2 times a week to check mail. Not good for me as I don't live anywhere near London anymore. It's a shame that the need to just check mail should prevent people from doing something really quite useful.

I've been volunteering there for a little while. While it does equip you with some decent skills most of the cases you will see (unless my bureau is exceptional, which I don't think it is) will be fairly bog standard debts or benefits. You may have the opportunity to attend tribunals and so forth if your bureau is one of the larger ones that offer that service. If you take the opportunity to get involved in as much as you can it could be a rewarding experience and there is the chance it will be something that will make you stand out a bit from the other candidates, but I wouldn't say it would be something to rely upon.

Sorry for bringing up an old thread but just wondering if working at any of the other roles in CAB will still be looked at favourably for a legal career? The problem is I only have 4 months in the summer while at uni and can't really commit 12-18months training as an adviser. I'm still more than happy though of carrying out another role especially for the community but it would be nice to get some kind of benefit when applying for VS/TC.

Linkster

Sorry for bringing up an old thread but just wondering if working at any of the other roles in CAB will still be looked at favourably for a legal career? The problem is I only have 4 months in the summer while at uni and can't really commit 12-18months training as an adviser. I'm still more than happy though of carrying out another role especially for the community but it would be nice to get some kind of benefit when applying for VS/TC.

I worked as a receptionist and social policy advisor at the CAB last year, but unfortunately I had to move back for uni, so the roles didn't last long. I found that whilst people were waiting to see advisers, they would chat to you about their legal problems, and I would try to reassure them, so my role wasn't completely admin based. I believe such experience will be looked upon favourably by legal recruiters as any legal experience is worthwhile. And tell them that you couldn't be an adviser because of the time commitment, it makes perfect sense to concentrate on your studies. :smile:

:smile:

That's great hearing from someone who's been through it. Hopefully I'll get a decent role, thanks for the input. :smile:

:smile:

It's fine.

just out of curiosity, is there anyone out there whose had the experience of being a volunteer adviser at the bureau while studying for their degree. If so, was it worth the time commitment in terms of beefing up your CV for pupillage applications?

i work at the cab having graduated in law..for those looking for roles other than the 'basic' advice role, i'd thoroughly recommend becoming an ''assistant to the LSC caseworker''...i do this one day a week and am training for my generalist advice certificate the other...the former i think would look great for pupillage apps (which is what i wanted to do when i joined cab) as you undertake research, drafting to client and authorities etc, as well as getting an excellent reference from your caseworker...

there are a number of current students there who do 2 days a week, and they seem to find it all fairly do-able..you have to remember as well that as you're a volunteer, if the work gets heavy then you can take time off as and when, or at least thats the case at our one in london!

hope this is of some help

mashing

i work at the cab having graduated in law..for those looking for roles other than the 'basic' advice role, i'd thoroughly recommend becoming an ''assistant to the LSC caseworker''...i do this one day a week and am training for my generalist advice certificate the other...the former i think would look great for pupillage apps (which is what i wanted to do when i joined cab) as you undertake research, drafting to client and authorities etc, as well as getting an excellent reference from your caseworker...

there are a number of current students there who do 2 days a week, and they seem to find it all fairly do-able..you have to remember as well that as you're a volunteer, if the work gets heavy then you can take time off as and when, or at least thats the case at our one in london!

hope this is of some help

I have come across a piece of information on CAB website which states that it is possible to get 6 months of a TC if you train as an adviser at the Bureaux. How does that work in practice though?

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