Reaching out

Suzy Bender takes a look at the important issues of recognition, further recruitment and raising public awareness that have spurred the forthcoming events of national pro bono week

The general public may alter its opinion of lawyers next week, as solicitors, barristers and legal executives join together to promote national pro bono week.

This will coincide with national volunteers week 2002.

Through articles in the press, the message is that there are many lawyers in all branches of the legal profession who regularly give their time and expertise free of charge to clients in need.

The Law Society, Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG), Bar Council and the Bar Pro Bono Unit are jointly organising this first national pro bono week.

And the recently created Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) Pro Bono Group is also keen to become involved.

The week is intended not only to promote the range of voluntary work undertaken by lawyers, but also to encourage more lawyers to discover the kind of pro bono work they could do and make sure any voluntary organisation or individual in need knows where to find help.

Attorney-General Lord Peter Goldsmith QC will attend the launch of the week at a pro bono exhibition in the Law Society on 10 June.

He emphasises the purpose of the week: 'Pro bono work has always formed part of the work of lawyers and has in recent years become more organised.

This week will highlight the excellent pro bono work lawyers are doing and encourage more to become involved.

But above all, it will help more voluntary organisations, community groups and individuals to find the assistance they need.'

The launch will also be attended by Law Society President David McIntosh and Bar Council chairman David Bean QC.

Together, with former Society President Michael Napier, the Attorney-General's newly appointed pro bono envoy, they will lend their support by attending several events.

During the week, exhibitions and receptions are being held around the country to give lawyers and voluntary organisations the opportunity to get together.

A way of encouraging pro bono work has been put forward to coincide with the week.

Belinda Lodge, co-ordinator for pro bono work at City firm Simmons & Simmons, explains: 'At the last SPBG meeting, it was suggested that each representative arranged for people doing pro bono work at their firm to be shadowed by another employee who does not do this work.

'I e-mailed round Simmons & Simmons telling people about the national pro bono week and explaining the shadowing idea, and I have had a positive response.

The intention is to make pro bono work spread throughout each firm.'

Sue Bucknall, SPBG chief executive, says this success will grow throughout the week, which she sees as having three 'R's as its aims: 'Recognising what is going on in pro bono, not only in the large London firms but in the country and in smaller towns.

Recruiting people who think about doing pro bono work but don't know how to go about it, perhaps through the shadowing scheme.

When you see how pro bono works, you usually want to do it.

And rewarding those who take on this work through two awards given during national pro bono week.

Students and lawyers recognise there is a need not always being met and that voluntary groups should get advice as and when they need it in the community.'

Since the Bar Pro Bono Unit was established six years ago, help has been given in more than 1,500 cases.

Chairman Robin Allen QC says the week is to promote and celebrate the extensive range of work being done, to launch the pro bono prize which rewards a barrister who has done exceptional work for the unit in the last year, and to encourage more barristers to register for this work.

But providing pro bono advice does cost money even if it does not go to the lawyers.

Ms Bucknall recognises there are administration costs involved.

And, as part of the final celebrations of the week, the SPBG is holding a major fundraising event.

On the evening of 13 June, it is hosting a summer ball and it has collected some attractive raffle prizes to encourage guests to part with their money.

With serious fundraising, Ms Bucknall says her group could really start to make an impact with more law clinics over the country.

She also agrees with ILEX president Andrew Weaver that there should be one united group offering pro bono advice to the public.

This could co-ordinate and promote free legal advice to people who need it most.

Ms Bucknall says this would provide a simple approach for people who cannot get public funding.

Is this a practical possibility? The Bar Pro Bono Unit says it is happy to work with anyone involved in serious pro bono work.

Mr Allen points out that the SPBG and the Bar Pro Bono Unit are already joined by the Community Legal Service's 'Just Ask' Web site (www.justask.org.uk), so there are already close links.

But the Bar contends that the work the unit and the SPBG do is very different.

Mr Weaver says: 'I know I was quoted as saying I wanted a united national pro bono organisation.

And I know that the Bar Council was less than enthusiastic over that.

But I think that if we did have one organisation, members of each branch of the profession would have a role to play.

Each branch would complement each other.'

He is not sure how many legal executives are currently doing pro bono work because the ILEX group was only formed last month.

He estimates that it is a significant number but that many probably do not even put that name to what they are doing.

They consider it as just work they are doing for the benefit of their local community and do not class it under the umbrella of 'pro bono'.

However, last year when ILEX was running its legal executive of the year award, Mr Weaver says that many of those nominated did pro bono work.

This highlighted the need for a pro bono group.

Sara Chandler, chairwoman of the Young Solicitors Group's pro bono committee, says the value of a pro bono week is to celebrate the work of unsung heroes and heroines in the legal profession.

She says: 'It is deliberately being held to coincide with national volunteers week and we hope that the public will realise that actually lawyers also do voluntary work.'

Of course, the week is also about recruitment.

Ms Chandler added: 'We have our own event organised with the Law Society's London regional office on the evening of the first day, a reception at the Law Society with the president and the Attorney-General.

There will be an opportunity for prospective volunteers to meet those experienced in pro bono work.

We will also be attending regional events up and down the country.'

The profession has much to shout about; now, perhaps, it is time it made people listen.

When asked what she thought would be gained from national pro bono week, Ms Bucknall says: 'It will show that lawyers do have a heart.'

Suzy Bender is a freelance journalist

National Pro Bono Week and Volunteers Week

10 -14 June 2002

Monday 10 June

LondonLaunch event, Law Society, 10.30-11am.Pro Bono Week 'market', Law Society, 9.30am-1pm.Reception for London lawyers, Law Society 6-7.30pm.

WalesPro bono display, National Assembly, Cardiff Bay, 9am-12pm (formal launch at 10.30am).

Tuesday 11 June

BristolLunch session to meet lawyers working for voluntary groups, the Watershed, 12-2pm.

Birmingham Lunch meeting of midlands co-ordinators group at offices of Mills & Reeve, Edgbaston, 12.45-2.15pm.

East Midlands Three events through the day with pro bono envoy Michael Napier as guest speaker:Voluntary Action, Newark Street, Leicester, 10-11.30am.Derby Law Centre, Market Hall, 3-4.30pm.Galleries of Justice, Nottingham, 5-7pm.

Thursday 13 June

LondonReview of week and presentation of the DLA Paul Nicholls memorial award, The President's House, Carey Street, 5-6pm.The SPBG Summer Ball, Law Society, 7.30pm-1am.

LeedsAll-day 'market place' of those involved in pro bono work, office of DLA, Princes Square.

NorwichReception, 5pm

For details of events, see: www.probonogroup.org.uk or tel: 020 7929 5601