The Continued Importance of Pro Bono Work

Pro bono work was one of the reasons I wanted to become a legal professional in the first place. I’m currently a Solicitor Apprentice at Attwells Solicitors, but my passion for pro bono started much earlier, when I was a law student at the University of Essex and active member of the Essex Law Clinic.

One of the projects I became particularly involved with was the Beacon House Project, a partnership between the Essex Law Clinic and Beacon House, a Christian charity supporting homeless and marginalised people in Colchester. Through this project, the Clinic delivered regular information sessions at Beacon House, helping people who may otherwise struggle to access legal advice or understand their rights. During my time with the project, I assisted by taking part in these sessions, supporting the delivery of vital legal guidance to vulnerable individuals. This experience was both eye-opening and rewarding — it highlighted how meaningful even short conversations about legal rights can be for someone facing issues like homelessness.

From November 2023 to the present, I have continued my involvement with the Essex Law Clinic as an Early Career Alumni. In this role, I provide support and guidance to groups of current law clinic members. I am responsible for supervising practice client interviews, in which I take on the role of the client while the students act as the legal advisors. These mock interviews allow students to develop hands-on experience in essential client interviewing skills — from understanding how the clinic’s free and confidential service operates, to conducting effective fact-finding sessions, asking the right questions, demonstrating professionalism, and using both verbal and non-verbal communication to put clients at ease. After each session, I provide both verbal and written feedback, helping students reflect on their approach and refine their technique.

More recently, I have also begun volunteering with the Law Clinic as a pro bono advisor on housing and landlord-and-tenant matters. This allows me to use the legal knowledge and practical skills I have developed as a Solicitor Apprentice to help people experiencing housing issues. I firmly believe it is important for legal professionals, at all stages of their careers, to try and find time to engage in pro bono work. It offers an invaluable opportunity to give back to the community, using the years of training and experience to create a positive social impact.

I am extremely grateful to Attwells Solicitors for the invaluable training opportunities they provide, and for their support in my ongoing volunteering with the Essex Law Clinic. Initiatives such as these serve a dual purpose: they help those most in need, whilst also strengthening the knowledge, empathy, and skill set of those in the legal profession.