Pro
Bono
What is Pro Bono?
The term 'pro bono' comes from the Latin phase 'pro
bono publico' which simply translated means 'for the public
good'.
Pro bono work is legal work lawyers undertake without receiving
payment. It can take the form of giving advice at drop in clinics,
helping a charity with a piece of legal work or agreeing to
represent someone in court. There are many other areas and types of
work where lawyers can help and there are also projects where
students can help too such as working in schools to introduce
pupils to the legal system.
Doing pro bono work offers lawyers and students alike many
different benefits. Besides giving you the opportunity to give
something back to your community, you can also develop your
legal skills and knowledge in your area of work, get involved in
new areas of work, participate in multi-disciplinary projects and
even travel abroad to work on international projects.
Listen
to the Attorney General's Pro Bono Envoy Michael Napier discuss pro
bono work.
A Pro Bono
Protocol has been developed to quality mark pro bono work and
ensure lawyers give an equal level of care, attention and priority
to pro bono work as would apply to paid work.
What about Legal
Aid?
Pro bono work is not a replacement for a properly funded legal
aid system. ILEX and IPB firmly believe that government has a
responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to good quality
legal advice and representation even if they cannot afford to pay
for it. Nevertheless there will always be some gaps and many
community and charitable organisations have limited resources which
would be better applied to their real aims rather than spent on
legal fees. Pro bono aims to fill those gaps while continuing to
campaign for a better legal aid system.
ILEX Pro Bono (IPB)
Council has recently renamed the ILEX Pro Bono Forum to ILEX Pro
Bono (IPB). IPB will be registering as a charity and will be
managed by a board of trustees. Please see the top of this page if
you are interested in volunteering as a trustee.
National Pro Bono
Centre
The National Pro Bono Centre opened in
October 2010. Located in Chancery Lane, London, this new charity
houses the profession’s national clearing houses for legal pro bono
work delivered in England and Wales: the Bar Pro Bono Unit,
LawWorks (the Solicitors’ Pro Bono Group) and IPB. The Centre
is designed to be a “hub” for pro bono charities in the sector.
For more information, please visit
www.nationalprobonocentre.org.uk.
Where do I
start?
If you would like to join the IPB mailing list please
contact the ILEX Pro Bono Co-ordinator at probono@ilex.org.uk
Joint ILEX Bar Scheme
(JIB)
IPB launched a joint pro bono scheme with the Bar Pro Bono
Unit (BPBU). The scheme, JIB, allocates a suitable ILEX
Fellow volunteer to work alongside a BPBU barrister, providing the
services needed for the case.
This may be as straightforward as sorting out material papers or
as demanding as conducting face-to-face negotiations.
ILEX offers all registered volunteers professional indemnity
insurance.
JIB is only currently available to Fellows of ILEX due to the
professional indemnity insurance policy.
For further information for JIB, click here. Please send the completed
registration forms
to the ILEX Pro Bono Co-ordinator at probono@ilex.org.uk
i-ProBono
i-ProBono is
an online network connecting organisations in need of legal
assistance with lawyers and students who want to use their skills
for the public good. ILEX members can sign up for free and connect
with great organisations easily and quickly. Go
to www.i-probono.com/ to
get involved in the growing pro bono community!
www.probonouk.net
Please visit
this website to find out up to date information on pro bono events
taking place throughout England and Wales as well as other
potential pro bono opportunities.
National Pro Bono
Week
National Pro Bono Week is a joint initiative of ILEX, the Law
Society, Bar Council, LawWorks (formally known as Solicitors Pro
Bono Group), the Bar Pro Bono Unit and IPB, and highlights a
range of volunteering opportunities in the pro bono community.
Assisting in free legal services for those who cannot afford to
pay has always been a fundamental part of the work of lawyers. In
recent years this work has become more organised and the number of
lawyers involved is increasing.
National Pro Bono
Week 2011 - November 7-11
National Pro Bono Week is celebrating its 10th Birthday in
2011!
National Pro Bono Week has been
established to:
- Celebrate the good work undertaken by lawyers across England
and Wales;
- Encourage lawyers not yet involved in pro bono work to see and
experience what is happening;
- Ask Questions and then commit to action;
- Ensure that those who need pro bono help know where to find it
and give voluntary organisations an opportunity to voice their
needs for assistance.
Useful Pro Bono links
:
Pro Bono Protocol
National Pro Bono
National Pro Bono
Week
LawWorks
The Bar Pro Bono Unit