Centre For Women's Justice

What Centre For Women's Justice does

Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ) is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity No. 1169213), founded in 2016 and headquartered at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London. It undertakes strategic litigation, legal training, and advocacy to hold the state accountable for failures to protect women and girls from male violence, operating across England and Wales. CWJ combines direct casework, second-tier legal advice to frontline women's sector workers, free training programmes (with free provision to organisations run by and for Black, Asian and minoritised women), and high-profile advocacy campaigns including the Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse super-complaint, Stop Criminalising Survivors, HOPE, Women Who Kill and Double Standard.

The organisation's service portfolio comprises a Legal Reference Panel delivering pro bono legal advice, the Azra Kemal paid legal internship programme, a mentoring scheme that has supported over 100 Black, Asian and minoritised women, and the annual Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. Sub-brands include the SistersInLaw blog and the International Feminist Legal Network (IFLN). Underlying technology is limited to cloud-based case management, electronic file storage, and standard payment/analytics integrations (PayPal, Stripe, CrowdJustice, JustGiving, Donorfy, Donr, Enthuse, Easy fundraising, CAF Bank, Google Analytics) — there is no proprietary technology platform or AI component.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining Legal Aid Agency contracts for legal advice work, donations and fundraising (including CrowdJustice crowdfunding for case-specific appeals), paid training and consultancy to non-minoritised organisations, and grants. Services are free at the point of delivery to survivors, and the go-to-market motion is referral-led, with the majority of assisted women coming through frontline women's sector organisations such as Women's Aid, Rape Crisis, Southall Black Sisters and the Imkaan network of 12 member organisations. As of February 2025, CWJ employed 16 staff and operated with an 8-trustee board under CEO Harriet Wistrich and Chair Sasha Deepwell.

Name

Centre For Women's Justice

Legal name

Centre for Women's Justice

Website

https://centreforwomensjustice.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre for Women's Justice is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation that undertakes strategic litigation, legal training, and advocacy to hold the state accountable for failures to protect women and girls from male violence, serving survivors and frontline women's sector organisations across England and Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Legal Advocacy Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services (BPAIAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Strategic litigation
• Women's rights advocacy
• Domestic abuse support
• Criminal justice reform

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Aid Funding: CWJ contracts with the Legal Aid Agency to provide legal advice services, representing a core funding stream for the organisation's legal work.
2. Donations and Fundraising: CWJ receives donations from individuals and organisations, runs fundraising campaigns, and accepts legacy gifts. They use platforms including CrowdJustice, JustGiving, and CAF Bank for processing donations.
3. Training and Consultancy Services: CWJ provides training for frontline women's sector organisations, with free training offered to organisations run by and for Black, Asian and minoritised women. Paid training and consultancy services are also provided to other organisations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Centre for Women's Justice provides free specialist legal advice and representation to women survivors of male violence, undertakes strategic litigation against state agencies (including police, CPS, and courts), delivers training to frontline women's sector organisations, runs mentoring and internship programmes to diversify the legal profession, and conducts policy advocacy and campaigns for criminal justice reform. Services are delivered primarily through referral partnerships with frontline organisations and a volunteer Legal Reference Panel of solicitors and barristers across England and Wales.

Product overview

Centre for Women's Justice is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity No. 1169213) offering a portfolio of legal advocacy services, training programs, and advocacy campaigns focused on holding the state accountable for violence against women and girls. The core offerings include: pro bono legal advice services delivered through a Legal Reference Panel of volunteer solicitors and barristers; training programs for frontline women's sector workers; the Azra Kemal Legal Internship Programme for minoritised women; and a mentoring scheme for aspiring legal professionals. Major advocacy campaigns include the Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse project (including a national super-complaint), the Stop Criminalising Survivors campaign, the Women Who Kill research initiative, and the HOPE Campaign for expunging unjust convictions. The organization also publishes policy research and maintains the SistersInLaw blog for commentary on justice issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SistersInLaw Blog: Blog platform for the organisation covering legal issues affecting women
• Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize
• The Azra Kemal Legal Internship Programme
• International Feminist Legal Network (IFLN)

Products and services

• Pro Bono Legal Advice Service Second-tier legal advice service provided by CWJ lawyers and external lawyers on the Legal Reference Panel to frontline support workers assisting survivors of violence against women and girls. Provides specialist legal expertise to frontline women's sector organisations across England and Wales.
• CWJ Training for Frontline Women's Sector Free domestic and sexual abuse advocacy training delivered to frontline women's sector organisations, prioritising 'by and for' Black, Asian and minoritised women's organisations across England and Wales. Paid training and consultancy services are provided to other organisations.
• The Azra Kemal Legal Internship Programme Paid paralegal internship programme for women from minoritised backgrounds to assist in diversifying the legal workforce, providing opportunities to work with lawyers and campaigners seeking justice for women's rights. Launched as part of CWJ's Anti-Racism Strategy in 2021.
• Mentoring Scheme Mentorship programme for Black, Asian and minoritised women seeking to enter the legal profession or those already in the profession seeking external mentorship. Supported by volunteer solicitors and barristers on the Legal Reference Panel.
• Policy & Research Policy research and publications on violence against women and girls, criminal justice system failures, and systemic discrimination in the legal system. Outputs include the CWJ Manifesto, 'Women Who Kill' report, and other research briefings used as evidence bases for advocacy and policy influencing.
• Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse (PPDA) Project Strategic litigation and advocacy project addressing domestic abuse and violence perpetrated by police officers against women, including a national super-complaint lodged with the police super-complaints system in 2019 and ongoing collective action. The project has resulted in approximately 160 women coming forward with similar experiences of police perpetrated abuse.

Quantifiable outcome

• Landmark Supreme Court judgment in DSD and NBV v Commissioner of Police establishing police duty to investigate serious crimes under Article 3 ECHR
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AdviceUKminorOthersCWJ is a member of AdviceUK, a network for social welfare legal advice providers. This membership indicates alignment with quality standards in advice provision.
• CAF Bank LtdcoreOthersCWJ's financial accounts are held with CAF Bank Ltd. All donations made by bank transfer or cheque are processed by CAF Bank in accordance with its privacy policy and UK law.
• Women's AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor national domestic abuse charity. CWJ works with Women's Aid organisations across the country as a key referral pathway and source of evidence on trends and systemic failings in criminal justice response to domestic abuse.
• Rape CrisiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity providing support to survivors of sexual violence. CWJ collaborates with Rape Crisis centres across England and Wales as referral partners and source of evidence on criminal justice failures in rape cases.
• ImkaancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organisation for Black and minoritised women's organisations. CWJ has provided free domestic and sexual abuse advocacy training to 12 Imkaan member organisations across England and Wales since November 2020.
• Southall Black SisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist 'by and for' organisation supporting Black and minoritised women. Key referral partner for CWJ's services to survivors from diverse backgrounds.
• Apna HaqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotherham-based specialist 'by and for' group supporting women escaping violence. Provided witness evidence to IICSA facilitated by CWJ on experiences of minoritised survivors.
• Angelou CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth East-based specialist women's organisation. Provided evidence on racist policing and criminalisation of Black girls experiencing sexual exploitation, facilitated by CWJ's involvement in IICSA.
• We Can't Consent To ThisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign group. CWJ worked with this group to prepare evidence to intervene in criminal appeal court hearings on sentencing for male violence against women.
• Police Spies Out of LivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign group of women who were victims of undercover police officers. CWJ has featured their work on the undercover police scandal and long road to justice.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Refuge: Major UK charity providing specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse; comparable as a frontline VAWG organisation with overlapping referral pathways and survivor support remit, although Refuge focuses more on direct service delivery than strategic litigation.
• Rights of Women: UK charity providing specialist legal advice to women on family law, criminal law, immigration and asylum; directly comparable as a women's-specialist legal charity offering free legal advice and second-tier sector support, overlapping closely with CWJ's Legal Reference Panel model.
• End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW): UK coalition of NGOs and specialists working to end violence against women; directly comparable as a coalition partner CWJ co-campaigned with in the historic legal challenge against the DPP on rape prosecutions, sharing policy advocacy remit.
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: National umbrella body for specialist sexual violence services in England and Wales; directly comparable as a referral partner and sector collaborator, sharing CWJ's focus on criminal justice system failures for rape survivors.
• Southall Black Sisters: Specialist 'by and for' Black and minoritised women's organisation providing advice, advocacy and casework; comparable as a referral partner and sector collaborator serving the same intersectional survivor population CWJ targets.
• Women's Aid Federation of England: National federation coordinating domestic abuse services in England; directly comparable as a UK women's sector organisation that refers survivors into CWJ and collaborates on criminal justice advocacy, sharing the same end-user population and policy goals.
• Imkaan: UK umbrella organisation for Black and minoritised women's specialist services addressing VAWG; directly comparable as a referral and training partner, with CWJ having trained 12 Imkaan member organisations since 2020, sharing a clear intersectional focus.

Others

• Women's Resource Centre: UK charity supporting women's organisations with capacity-building, training and policy advocacy; comparable as an enabling sector-support organisation that supports many of the same frontline organisations CWJ trains and partners with.

Emerging players

• Hibiscus Initiatives: UK charity supporting Black, minoritised and migrant women in contact with the criminal justice system; partially comparable as a specialist service for an overlapping intersectional population, with similar advocacy on the criminalisation of women.

Regional players

• Welsh Women's Aid: Federation of specialist domestic abuse services in Wales; comparable as a sector coordination body for VAWG services and a likely referral partner for CWJ's England and Wales footprint, although operating specifically for the Welsh devolved context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CWJustice
• Facebookfacebook.com/centreforwomensjustice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centreforwomensjustice
• Instagraminstagram.com/centreforwomensjustice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre For Women's Justice