PRO BONO JOY

I am writing to applaud the comments made by Sara Chandler in her article (see [2001] Gazette, 15 February 15).

As a trainee solicitor who...I am writing to applaud the comments made by Sara Chandler in her article (see [2001] Gazette, 15 February 15).

As a trainee solicitor who has been helping to staff evening advice sessions at a local law centre for the last six months, I would like to echo her words of encouragement to those members of the profession who are considering becoming involved in pro bono work.

Aside from the general satisfaction that naturally comes from the feeling of giving something back, there are many other benefits to be gained from giving up a small amount of ones time to give advice to those unable to pay for legal representation.Law centre advice work gives relatively junior members of the profession the opportunity to conduct preliminary interviews on a one-to one basis.

This in turn helps to build confidence and develop important skills, such as the ability to think on your feet.

In addition, many of the problems that arise at the evening sessions involve matters to which trainee and newly qualified solicitors can truly relate.

As recent graduates, the prospect of dealing with, for example, an unscrupulous landlord may seem closer to home than assisting in a corporate re-organisation.

Pro bono work also gives people from the private sector the opportunity to work with, and develop understandings with, people employed in the voluntary sector an opportunity which might not otherwise arise throughout their careers.

From a personal point of view, I have found that the fulfilment which comes from the massive degree of appreciation shown by virtually all of the people to whom advice is given is almost sufficient alone to justify ones involvement within the programme.

Andrew Hart, Rooks Rider, London.