pro bono Work

Working pro bono

I try to encourage law students to participate in volunteer work that will allow them to put some of their legal knowledge to use for the benefit of the greater community. This includes assisting with current initiatives as well as assisting students in developing their law volunteering opportunities that incorporate the use of legal skills. “PRO BONO” work is the term used to describe this kind of work. Students collaborate with non-profit organisations to offer legal services, research, and training to the public. This might be done via charitable organisations, schools, or legal aid clinics or law centres. It may be anything from working in a law clinic to doing legal research or giving a presentation to kids on a legal issue. It is important to distinguish pro bono work from job experience gained in a legal firm, although there may be instances in which the two are related.

As a result, pro bono encompasses a wide variety of volunteer opportunities with a legal focus. Unlike general community volunteering, which is accessible to all students and does not need legal expertise, this kind of volunteering is focused on a specific project. More possibilities to do so are available via your University Careers Centre and Skills Development, which offers a variety of programmes and services. This may be travelling to local schools or volunteering at a hospital in the community.

Why is pro bono important?

The most significant motivation to do pro bono work is to serve the community by making resources accessible that would otherwise be unavailable. Because you possess legal and other skills that are in low supply and in high demand, you are in high demand. The cost of expert legal services is quite expensive, putting them out of reach for many people. The current legal aid scheme is insufficient. Legal charities are also constantly on the lookout for volunteers who have a background in the legal field. Some of these include the following:

The National Pro Bono Centre

Citizens Advice

Free Representation Unit

Law Centres Network

A person's commitment to their pro bono job is essential in order to deliver a decent service. This implies that you should only become engaged if you are prepared to make a long-term commitment to the cause. While pro bono work is sometimes done to raise a student's profile in the job market, this should not take precedence over your main responsibility and study.

High-quality pro bono work will undoubtedly assist you in your development as a lawyer and as a person. Your client interaction, interviewing, and drafting abilities may be enhanced as a result of this opportunity. It might be a wonderful learning experience for you. It may open your eyes to fresh viewpoints on social and other cultural issues that are completely foreign to your own. This will be beneficial to you in your professional and personal life.

Pro bono experience that is related to your planned professional path may be of assistance in achieving your objectives. Consequently, students desiring to work in a field such as criminal law may discover that dealing with juvenile offenders is appealing to possible employers. To put it another way, high-quality pro bono work may reflect a commitment to justice, devotion, flexibility, teamwork, open-mindedness, organisational skills, and other traits and values that are desirable to potential chambers or firms. Namely, it will help you get that pupillage or training contract.

Pro bono or volunteering

It makes sense for students who want to pursue a legal profession to participate in pro bono projects. This will allow them to make the greatest use of their abilities and further their development as lawyers. There are only a limited number of opportunities available. It might be challenging to discover adequate roles that are compatible with one's academics, one's job, and other obligations. Some students might not intend to pursue a legal profession for a variety of reasons. As a result of all of these considerations, it is important to consider volunteering in a broader context. 

There are many of the same benefits to both the community and the student that can be obtained via pro bono work in this situation. There are much more general volunteering opportunities available than there are pro bono opportunities available. It is unquestionably preferable to volunteer rather than give up seeking, since there is no acceptable pro bono opportunity available. You should look at the volunteer possibilities posted in your local area. 

What type of pro bono work?

When it comes to choosing pro bono work, law students should consider a variety of considerations, including: There are certain activities that might be more appropriate for some pupils than others, and they are listed below. The following are the elements to take into consideration:

Undergraduates

There are several initiatives in which you might get engaged, and the number of options increases as you go through your degree. Starting with a Streetlaw presentation in your first or second year. Then it may be a good idea for you to consider progressing into organising arguing workshops using DebateMate. During your final year, you can explore advocacy activities with the Free Representation Unit. Due to the demand from providers for more experienced students, a few projects are allocated for post-graduates or senior undergraduates (second or third year).

Allocating Time for pro bono

You must be able to devote sufficient time to a project and you must be dependable. You should be cautious when choosing a project that may conflict with your education or paid work, if you are worried about a clash. Some initiatives may ask you to volunteer your time one day a week at a local charitable organisation. This requires a long-term commitment. Other pro bono work, such as advocacy for the Free Representation Unit, might be rarer, requiring you to take on cases when you are able. Lastly, certain jobs may need you to do research on your own time, maybe on weekends or in the evening. This is, once again, more customisable.

The Right Fit for you

Pro Bono work that is appropriate for your talents, abilities, and aspirations should be your first priority. More administrative work, such as assisting a lawyer at a law clinic, may be a good place for students who are less experienced to begin their legal careers. Those who seek to strengthen their advocacy skills should begin by giving talks in their law schools as part of a Streetlaw initiative. Students who want to put their advocacy skills into practise might then go on to giving free advocacy services. Other students may like to engage in research-based work that allows them to hone their writing and case-research abilities.

Your Interests and Experience

To the greatest extent possible, it is beneficial to build on your previous experience and interests. So you could be interested in environmental concerns, human rights, children's rights, refugees or criminal justice, to name a few areas of expertise. The most essential thing is to demonstrate a high degree of dedication to the project in which you desire to get part. If you have previously worked with a charitable organisation and would want to do so again, this is an excellent option. The fact that they have a legal component to their job makes it much more valuable. It's possible that you'll be able to construct such a project on your own after gaining the experience. While it is certainly worthwhile to look for pro bono work that is related to your professional goals, this is not a must.

Available pro bono opportunities

Many students struggle with how to find chances to undertake pro bono work because they lack the necessary connections. Many organisations do not publicise the existence of such activity. Other more well-known organisations, such as Amnesty International, have a high demand for their internship programmes, which they fill quickly. These often need three- to six-month full-time commitments and are thus not appropriate for full-time students. Small businesses and organisations often do not respond to unsolicited letters submitted to them by students. A little research and perseverance, though, will result in you landing the pro bono position you want.

As a result, I have been working on establishing collaborations with a variety of organisations in order to present my students with a more open door to participate in pro bono work opportunities. There are, however, a limited number of spots available. Please discuss this with me. For this reason, students should do extensive research on organisations in their local region and make direct contact with them. In suitable circumstances, I am able to provide a supporting reference. There are a number of local charities with whom I may be able to forge new partnerships in the future. I would be delighted to discuss this with pupils who have their own suggestions.

Developing pro bono student-led projects

We are in close proximity to a large number of charities and other non-governmental organisations in London, due to our geographic location. Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth are all within a mile of one other, which is a world-wide phenomenon. Aside from these larger organisations, there are hundreds of smaller organisations that need your support. You are in an excellent position to provide pro bono services. I would want to see an increase in the number of collaborations with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that grow into meaningful, long-term connections that help to strengthen the position of each law student in the broader society and the local community. Students will be essential in forging these ties, and I am are eager to assist you in establishing pro bono initiatives that you may then continue to develop further yourself.

Take UP Pro bono training

At the time of writing this article I did a quick Google search and found lots of free training being offered. This training will enable you to give advice. It gives you legal knowledge that you can use. Most of all, this training can all be listed on the CV. It is that essay!

upcoming training

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Book me if you need career advice or help getting a pro bono work. I am a legal skill tutor. I can help you build your CV with you making to an outstanding candidate for any legal job.