September 2010
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| Vol 6 Issue 7 | |
September 2010 |
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| Did you know that LawWorks…… provides insurance to participants in the Initial Electronic Advice project? Insurance cover is provided for queries answered via our online system, which assists not for profit groups and advice agencies with brief legal queries. |
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This is the start of what will be a particularly exciting autumn for LawWorks. The last couple of months have been very busy for us – after a great deal of hard work we are now settled in our new home at the National Pro Bono Centre in Chancery Lane. We are already reaping the benefits of the move which has allowed us to develop our close working relationships with the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the ILEX Pro Bono Forum. Many of you have already been to see the new office. If you haven’t, please get in touch as we would love to show you round. You can also find out more by looking at the website www.nationalprobonocentre.org.uk. We are particularly grateful for and overwhelmed by the support for the opening of the Centre – we have already raised close to 75% of fit-out costs through sponsorship. If you are interested in any of the opportunities remaining, please let me know as soon as possible. A launch event for the Centre is now planned for October 19th, comprising an opening ceremony at the Centre for sponsors and guests of honour and a larger event at the RCJ for all. Invitations will be sent out imminently and we hope to see you all there. In the more immediate future, we have a Forum at Sidley Austin on 14th September and I look forward to catching up with you then. Rebecca Hilsenrath |
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National Pro Bono Week To find out about all the other exciting events happening during the week, including the launch of LawWorks Seniors Project, please visit www.probonouk.net. From here you can also add any events that you might be holding to celebrate the week which is a great way for us to build up a picture of what is happening around the Country.
Clinics Training Sessions and Podcasts LawWorks has also had confirmation from the SRA that CPD points are available for listening to our podcasts. To listen to the podcasts, please go to our podcast section and select LawWorks Clinics Training Materials and Podcasts. To claim CPD points, please follow the instructions under Distance Learning. If you have any queries please contact Megan Pearson.
Staff Changes Individual Casework Choices & ALLIES Kathleen previously worked as a fundraiser and policy officer at Refugee and Migrant Justice, a charity that provided free legal advice and representation to asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants. Seeing the invaluable work that took place there spurred her to look at other charities that worked to improve access to justice. In her spare time, she enjoys meeting friends and travelling.
Member Firm of the Month - Holman Fenwick Willan LLP
What are the main areas of law practised at this firm? When did the organisation start carrying out pro bono work? How are staff encouraged to become involved in pro bono work? What type of pro bono work does the organisation carry out? The advice that a client at the drop-in centre requires can sometimes be provided at the session itself, however in some cases the HFW volunteer will need to research the issues and draft a full letter of advice a few days later. In some cases, the clients can be referred to local solicitors. There may also be cases, particularly in employment law matters, where a client can and should be referred to the Free Representation Unit (FRU), Bar Bro Bono Unit or LawWorks. It is also possible to ask the specialists of the South West London Law Centres for support in certain circumstances (for example, where a client is being evicted from their home). Please give details of a case that illustrates your organisation’s success with pro bono work Without the umbrella organisation of South West London Law Centres, we would be unable to operate our drop in legal advice centre. The drop-in legal advice centres operated by other City firms would also fall away, leaving some of the most vulnerable members of society exposed to claims and without access to justice. Immediate moves were made by HFW to lobby government to intervene to prevent such a disaster and we put together a rescue package, which included making an immediate donation of £10,000 to an emergency recovery fund. This rescue package resulted not only in other major organisations and law firms also contributing, but government also taking real steps to prevent the closure of the Law Centre and to carry out a wide-scale review of civil legal aid in the country. The rescue of this important law centre has received a great deal of media coverage in recent months, with HFW being mentioned as taking a lead role. Given the level of involvement from HFW lawyers, this initiative has gained a great deal of impetus and support from within the firm, with many people going to great lengths to ensure their session is adequately staffed – returning from overseas trips early, being a regular example. The project is run by Julian Clark, an Equity Partner in London and receives active support from the Charity Committee of the firm, on which sit the firm's Senior and Managing Partners. The initiative was chosen originally because we wanted to find a project that we could get actively involved with and in which we could provide direct and tangible advice to people who would otherwise not have access to legal support. Thus, it has been a great success, particularly with the required and vital rescue at the end of last year.
Pro Bono Coordinators Forum
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I hope you all had a wonderful summer and enjoyed the long weekend, and that the sun shone on you, wherever you were.
National Pro Bono Week kicks off this year on Monday 8 November and culminates with the LawWorks Student Pro Bono Conference at the College of Law, Birmingham on Saturday 13. The Conference is aimed at law students and academics wishing to exchange knowledge, ideas and information about pro bono activities.
