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 the 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. ILEX is keen to encourage lawyers at all levels to get
involved with pro bono work, to help those who are already
doing pro bono work and to raise awareness of the positive
work being done.
What about Legal
Aid?
Pro bono work is not a replacement for a properly
funded legal aid system. ILEX firmly believes 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 Forum
The ILEX Pro Bono Forum was established in 2002 following an
ILEX National Conference pro bono workshop. The aim of the
ILEX Pro Bono Forum is to demonstrate and develop ILEX's commitment
to pro bono work. Members of the Forum consist of Council
Members and Members and Officers of ILEX. The Forum now works
closely with the other legal pro bono providers to
co-ordinate and complement the many different pro bono
projects which operate both nationally and internationally.
ILEX is also a joint sponsor of National Pro Bono Week
and the National Pro Bono Conference. National Pro Bono
Week promotes and highlights pro bono activities taking
place across the profession and the National Pro Bono Conference
brings together those in the pro bono community to discuss issues
within pro bono.
National Pro Bono
Centre
The end of summer 2010 will see the
opening of the new National Pro Bono Centre. Located in
Chancery Lane, London, this new charity will house 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 ILEX Pro Bono Forum. 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 receive more information on the ILEX Pro
Bono Forum or wish to join the Forum, please contact the ILEX
Pro Bono Co-ordinator at probono@ilex.org.uk
To access dedicated information for lawyers and legal
professionals you will need to complete the online registration
form. Registration will grant you access to information on:
- Different ways to get involved with pro bono
schemes
- Volunteering opportunities
- Details regarding National Pro Bono Week
- Legal journals and pro bono papers
- Pro bono research
- Pro bono organisations.
Joint ILEX Bar Scheme
(JIB)
The ILEX Pro Bono Forum launched a joint pro bono scheme with
the Bar Pro Bono Unit (BPBU). The scheme, JIB, will allocate
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.
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) and the Bar Pro Bono Unit and highlights a range of
volunteering opportunities.
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 2009 ran
from 9-13 November.
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