header-logo header-logo

31 January 2019 / Eleanor Campbell
Issue: 7826 / Categories: Features , Profession
printer mail-detail

Pro Bono Connect

Barristers & solicitors work together on fee-paid work, so why not provide the same service to pro bono clients, asks Eleanor Campbell

  • Pro Bono Connect is a scheme which aims to facilitate solicitors and barristers working together on pro bono cases in the same way as they would for fee-paying clients.
  • After a pilot in 2015 Pro Bono Connect was launched in 2016, and its network of participating firms and chambers continues to expand.
  • Taking on pro bono work in the litigation context can be daunting. For a barrister it means doing all the work a solicitor would do, in addition to advocacy. A solicitor may find themselves drafting pleadings and appearing at hearings, in addition to liaising with the lay client, preparing the case and conducting correspondence. These difficulties can mean that lawyers may be more reluctant to do pro bono work in the first place—at least where there is the prospect of litigation.

    This was the experience of Jamie Goldsmith, barrister at One Essex Court and founder of Pro

    If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
    If you are already a subscriber sign in
    ...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

    MOVERS & SHAKERS

    Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

    Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

    Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

    Ellisons—Samuel Flower

    Ellisons—Samuel Flower

    Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

    Sidley—Carl Hotton

    Sidley—Carl Hotton

    Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

    NEWS
    Consultant-led law firms should prepare for closer regulatory attention as oversight evolves
    Artificial intelligence may draft workplace grievances, but employers cannot treat them any differently from conventional complaints
    From dishonest claimants to judicial promotions and procedural skirmishes, the latest legal developments offer plenty for litigators to digest
    Fresh guidance is set to influence how courts decide whether hearings take place online or in person
    County Court judges remain divided over whether landlords can lawfully force entry to carry out essential safety inspections after tenants ignore access injunctions
    back-to-top-scroll