Becoming a volunteer

To volunteer for FRU you must:

• Attend a training day
• Pass a test to assess your competence 
• Observe a tribunal
• Attend an office induction

You must take out your first case within one year of attending a training day. This is to make sure that your training is up-to-date.

Volunteering

Volunteers remain at the heart of FRU's work.

Some social security and most employment cases are still being heard remotely. However, particularly in social security, cases are being heard in person and so all reps need to be able to attend the hearing venue if needed.

If you are interested in training as a volunteer please see information on attending a training day.

If you are a current volunteer and want to take on a case you should look at the FRU Online system to see the available cases and then contact the legal officers by emailing cases@thefru.org.uk to express an interest in taking out the case.

Volunteering in both social security and employment

We welcome volunteers who want to volunteer in both areas. You will need to attend both training days, but only need to pass one test.

The one year deadline applies, separately, to both areas. If you attend a Social Security training day in June 2021 and an employment training day in October 2021 you must take on a Social Security case before June 2022 and a employment one before October 2022.

Waiver

If you are a qualified lawyer or have significant experience of representing clients in the relevant tribunal we may waive part of the normal training process. Academic study is not usually sufficient. To apply for a waiver, please contact us by e-mail detailing your experience and which area of law you would like to volunteer for.

Becoming a FRU volunteer

You become a FRU volunteer once you take on your first case. Until then please do not hold yourself as one of our volunteers.