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The power of joining (pro bono) forces

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28 March 2025 / Emily Sherratt
Issue: 8110 / Categories: Features , Pro Bono , Expert Witness , Charities , Profession
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Emily Sherratt explains how the National Pro Bono Centre is closing the expert gap with the Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme

‘Before the legal team stepped in, our voices were being lost.’ This sentiment echoes the struggles of many vulnerable individuals who find themselves navigating the justice system without the necessary resources.

When Marie* took her own life, her family faced numerous unanswered questions, particularly around her medication and abusive partner. With limited resources and no medical expertise, they couldn’t pursue the answers on their own.

Fortunately, a pro bono legal team stepped in, but even they lacked the specialist knowledge required. They turned to the National Pro Bono Centre’s Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme (PBES) and were connected with a psychiatrist who volunteered her time and expertise. Her expert report was invaluable in clarifying complex medical issues, focusing the family’s investigation, and informing the coroner’s inquiry, enabling them to challenge the medical care Marie had received.

For the legal team, ‘the impact was massive’.

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