Welfare Rights (PIP Clinic) 2026/27

Warwick Law in the Community

LinC Student Opportunities 2025/26

Applications now open for the Welfare Rights (Personal Independence Payment) Clinic

Warwick Law in the Community (LinC) is pleased to collaborate with Coventry Independent Advice Service(CIAS) to offer Warwick Law School students the opportunity to volunteer during the 2026/27 academic year.

Students can learn more about this year’s opportunities by attending the online LinC information session' Link opens in a new windowon Tuesday, 19 May, 2pm - 3pm.

To join the LinC information session:

Please register your attendance:
LinC Intro Session (Online) – Fill in form
Join the meeting by clicking here.

If you are unable to attend, you can find all the information you'll need to apply on this webpage. If you have any questions about the opportunities, please email WarwickLinC@warwick.ac.uk

About the Welfare Rights (PIP) Clinic

CIAS is a small, independent local advice agency, helping people in our local community by providing free and confidential information, advice and support.

They help people to identify and claim benefits, deal with problem debts, access charitable support for life’s essentials and a range of other things that help make life a little bit easier for people who may be struggling. Their mission is to advance the welfare of Coventry residents, predominantly by providing information, advice and support, thereby reducing inequality and improving quality of life within the city.

The Welfare Rights (PIP) Clinic is designed to help clients with all aspects of claiming Personal Independence Payment - a benefit designed to help with the extra costs associated with being disabled or having a long-term health condition. This includes new claims, review forms, and challenging decisions. Clients are seen at face-to-face appointments at our community venue in Foleshill. Clients may also ‘drop in’ for advice. We aim to identify other issues linked to ill-health and disability, such as council tax discounts and exemptions that are widely underclaimed, and raise awareness of other help, for example, the right for carers to request a carer’s assessment.

Students will work alongside our advisers to complete claims for PIP, mandatory reconsideration requests and appeals. They will also help identify other client-related issues, and provide initial information, signposting and support to access these. For example, signing clients up to the Priority Services Register, referring to Adult Social Care or applying for council tax discounts and exemptions. They will make notes of all client contact using a web-based case management system, Advicepro.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email  WarwickLinC@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

What's Involved?

Students will volunteer for all of terms 1 and 2. Students are expected to be available for their weekly volunteering session at Foleshill Community Centre during term time, including reading week. Sessions will likely be on Wednesdays either 10-1 or 1-4 (exact date and time TBC). There may be opportunities to support other advice sessions run by CIAS in the city on other days.

Students will also be expected to carry out administrative and research tasks outside of the clinic hours, but they will not be expected to spend more than 5 hours a week volunteering in total each week.

Training will be provided by CIAS and qualified advisors will supervise your volunteer work.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to all current Warwick law students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, who will be enrolled next year. This includes PPL students.

As the opportunities will take place during the 2026/27 academic year, applicants must be available to participate for the full duration of the programme.

We are planning to recruit 8-10 student volunteers for this clinic. We are looking for students with the following skills and attributes:

Empathy, ability to relate to and talk to people from a range of different backgrounds and circumstances.
Good communication skills.
Confidence to interview clients sensitively but also help them to focus
Someone who understands the need for confidentiality.
An interest in a career in social welfare law

How to apply

Students should submit their CV along with a cover letter (of no more than 300 words) in one PDF document to WarwickLinC@warwick.ac.uk

Students should clearly state in their email which opportunity they are applying for.

If you are interested in more than one opportunity, separate applications should be submitted.

A preference for one can be expressed in your email when submitting the application. Please note that those applying for more than one opportunity can only be accepted into one. Do let us know in your application if you have a preference.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, Sunday 14 June, 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be informed by Friday, 19 June 2026.
Online interviews to be held on Friday, 26 June 2026.
Training to take place for successful candidates on (exact time and date TBC).