Pro bono
Many barristers devote their time to pro bono work by:
- providing legal advice or representation for free to those in need
- volunteering their skills in another capacity e.g. careers advice in school
- acting as a trustee or even coaching teams of students for mock trial competitions
What pro bono advice and representation does and doesn't do
Pro bono work is intended to help people who aren't eligible for state-funded legal assistance. It helps prevent some people from falling through the holes in the legal aid safety net.
It is not a substitute for legal aid; there is wide support within the legal profession for an increase in legal aid provision for those in need.
Pro bono work does not undermine the basic and essential statutory provision.
Barristers: are you considering pro bono work?
To join 4,500 barristers who volunteer with Advocate, the pro bono charity of the Bar, fill in the registration form to join the panel.
Barristers (in chambers and employed) can sign up from second six all the way to KC. Pick cases that suit your interests and expand your knowledge and skillset, or take work in a new practice area.
- Find out how to volunteer for Advocate
- Apply to volunteer for Advocate
- Explore Advocate’s partner schemes
Bar in the Community: how and why to get involved
What is the Bar in the Community initiative? Learn about how it works, and why you should get involved.
The ups and downs of pro bono work
Family barrister Sarah Philimore writes about the difficulties of pro bono work, from keeping schemes afloat to lawyers’ objections and even hostility towards pro bono work.
Giving a voice to the voiceless: the benefits of pro bono and how to get involved
Barrister Karl Anderson discusses his experience of undertaking pro bono work, and urges colleagues to volunteer in what can be 'life changing' work, both for clients and for legal professionals themselves.
Pro Bono Week: How pro bono makes a real difference
Jo Brown, of 4PB, reveals that while undertaking pro bono work can be a ‘run of the mill’ small commitment, the impact for the client can be immeasurable.
Pro Bono Week: the power of pro bono
Frances Ridout, Director of Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, says there is still further that we can go as self-employed or employed barristers to contribute to the pro bono landscape.
Pro bono costs orders: An ‘easy and straightforward’ way to increase resources
As part of Pro Bono Week 2023, Davina Patel, the Senior Development Officer at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes about pro bono costs orders and how they can help secure access to justice for clients from marginalised communities.
The young Bar and the benefits of pro bono
As part of Pro Bono Week 2022, the Chair of the Young Barristers Committee Michael Polak explains his pro bono work and encourages colleagues to get involved and help.
Pro Bono Connect: new dimensions to Pro Bono collaboration
Pro Bono Connect enables litigants to be represented in the same way as fee-paying clients
Advocate: Created by the Bar, Sustained by the Bar - Justice Week 2022
It’s never too early, or too late, to start volunteering for Advocate, says Rebecca Wilkie
The importance of free legal representation for people who can’t afford it - Justice Week 2022
FRU represents hundreds of people each year when there are tens of thousands of people who need help
The Bar Council is proud to support Pro Bono Week (6-10 November 2023), where we celebrate the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK.
Find out more about Pro Bono week and the events on offer.
The Bar Council established a dedicated committee to support policy pro bono work in 2016. If you want to contact the committee with a policy issue related to pro bono please get in touch.
The Bar Council's Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Committee is responsible for:
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Collecting (and communicating) information about the Bar (and individual barrister's) pro bono and social responsibility activity
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Working with partners to support pro bono and social responsibility activity (and tackle any barriers faced by barristers interested in pro bono work)
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Supporting pro bono and social responsibility charities
To achieve these objectives, the committee works closely with Advocate: The pro bono charity of the Bar.
Nominations for the Pro Bono Awards 2024, taking place on Wednesday 8 May 2024, open in November 2023. Find out more about the Bar Pro Bono Awards and view the 2022 winners.
Categories
- Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
- Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
- Pro Bono KC of the Year
- International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year
- Pro Bono Chambers' Professional of the Year
- Pro Bono Chambers of the Year
- Pro Bono Initiative of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono, the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award
- John Collins Pro Bono Excellence Award (in partnership with the North-Eastern Circuit)
- Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year (in partnership with the Bar Council)
- Sustainability Initiative of the Year (in partnership with the Bar Council Sustainability Network)
Barristers provide pro bono support via different routes, including: Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit) and day schemes like CLIPS; an instructing solicitor; legal advice centres, and direct access.
In 2022, Advocate celebrated their 25th anniversary and ran a challenge asking barristers to commit to 25 hours of pro bono work for Advocate’s 25th year. The work could be undertaken with any pro bono scheme, not just through Advocate. As part of this:
- 356 individuals completed 25+ hours of pro bono, 52 of whom were KCs
- 125 different chambers took part, and
- Over 15,430 hours of pro bono were completed
As part of Advocate’s core service:
- 294 new barristers joined their panel of volunteers
- 21 requests for help were recieved every working day (420 requests a month), and
- 2 in 3 people (whose cases were accepted by their reviewing panel) were helped
Barristers' Working Lives 2023
The Bar Council commissions a survey of barristers’ working lives every two years, undertaken by the Institute for Employment Studies, building on previous surveys carried out in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
The survey was designed to explore the lived experience of working as a barrister in 2023, and asked various questions about views on aspects of wellbeing and work-life balance, working hours and patterns, experiences of bullying, harassment or discrimination, practice development and working practices, and Bar Council services. This included questions of issues relating to pro bono work.
Summary of results, taken from 3,237 respondents:
- 49 per cent of respondents had undertaken pro bono work in the last twelve months - up from 43 per cent reported in 2021.
- One in three barristers surveyed (35 per cent) had provided five or fewer days of pro bono work in the last year, seven per cent had undertaken 6-10 days, and seven per cent had provided more than ten days.
- When respondents were asked about the benefits of undertaking pro bono work, “making a difference by helping people or charities" (38%) as well as “finding the work interesting and professionally fulfilling" (26%) were the most reported benefits.
- If you're already a panel member, browse the members’ area of Advocate’s website for a full list of pro bono cases in all areas of law that is updated every day. If you're not a panel member, fill in this form to join.
- Receive mentoring on cases you take on with Advocate through the Collaborate mentoring scheme.
- Celebrate and recognise your pro bono work through the Pro Bono Pledge scheme and sign up to receive a logo for your pro bono work.
- Strengthen your chambers' commitment to access to justice through The Chambers Pro Bono Framework.
- Become a Pro Bono Champion for your chambers, and help share pro bono news and initiatives from Advocate.
- Chambers professionals: explore the Guide for Pro Bono in Chambers, made in partnership between Advocate, the IBC and the LPMA and full of ideas and resources on how to build a pro bono ethos in your chambers.
- Keep up with the latest developments: sign up to Advocate’s monthly newsletter, or browse the news section of their website.
- For retired lawyers: The National Pro Bono Centre with Advocate and LawWorks has put together practical information explaining how to do pro bono work in retirement, as well as ways to give your time. Read the information for retiring lawyers.
- For pupils and supervisors: The Pro bono guide for pupils and supervisors is for pupils and their supervisors on providing pupils with experience in pro bono work.
Pro Bono Guide for Pupils and Supervisors
Guidance for pupils and supervisors for providing pupils with pro bono experience.
Are you a member of the public looking for pro bono legal support?
We cannot assist with requests for pro bono services from members of the public, but we can advise that you:
- read the 'Guide to Pro Bono: free legal advice in England and Wales'
- contact the Advocate charity
- contact the Free Representation Unit (FRU)
Guide to Pro Bono: free legal advice in England and Wales
Published by the Bar Council in partnership with the Law Society and CILEx, this guide provides advice about how to obtain or provide free legal support in England and Wales. The advice in this guide is designed for individuals, advisors, charities and lawyers.
Contact the Advocate charity to find free legal assistance
Advocate finds free legal assistance from volunteer barristers. Visit Advocate's website to find out if a volunteer barrister may be available, or see their signposting to other sources of help.
Free Representation Unit (FRU)
For employment tribunals, benefit appeals, and criminal injury compensation, FRU provides free legal representation for members of the public based in London, the South East and Nottingham. Referral must be via an agency.