Three ILEX heroes bound for London

Three ILEX members who have been nominated as national 'Pro Bono Heroes' are bound for London to represent the Institute at celebrations to mark the start of the start of National Pro Bono Week.

The three have been selected because they have demonstrated total commitment to the ethos of pro bono within ILEX. They will join other ‘heroes’ from across England and Wales at a reception to be held at the House of Lords on 3 November, which will include many senior members of the legal profession and the judiciary, MP’s, members of the House of Lords and representatives of national charities.

They are:

• Sandra Barton – a past President of the Institute (2004 -2005), Sandra has been active in Pro Bono work for many years. She is a Trustee of the Access to Justice Foundation, the current Vice-Chair of the ILEX Pro Bono Forum and a Trustee of the ILEX Benevolent Fund. She is also a regular volunteer for LawCare and the Bournemouth and Poole Pro Bono (BPPB) of which she is also a Trustee.
• Kathy Shelton-Smith –Although still a student and yet to qualify, Kathy has shown remarkable dedication to pro bono. She has been involved in the ‘Bars in Their Eyes’ project where volunteers go into a host prison with the resettlement team and make a presentation of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Kathy was involved with HMP Camp Hill on the Isle of Wright until earlier this year. Kathy has since gone on to train as legal advisor for the Citizens Advice Bureau.
• Sarah Cleave - Sarah, a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) has been nominated as a Pro Bono Hero for her work as an active volunteer for the charity LawCare for almost four years. “These three members are shining examples of the massive amount of pro bono work legal executives and other lawyers do in the community every year without any reward or recognition,” says ILEX President, Judith Gordon-Nichols. “Our members expect no reward other than the satisfaction of helping others and the knowledge that their expertise and time have made a difference to those who are less fortunate and seek legal advice. They are all worthy of the title ‘Pro Bono Hero’.” Ends