Why undertake pro bono work? Is it just for Training Contract Interviews?
There are various reasons that you might want to undertake pro bono work. Consider that it could increase your job satisfaction in the future; it could help to develop the skills that you have learnt during your law degree; it could broaden your ability to communicate with others across diverse backgrounds; it could make you better at developing relationships with others, and it could expand your network and help you to stand out from others. Generally, those who are most active in pro bono work are much more likely to excel in job interviews. It shows that you are proactive and driven, and that you are willing to do more than the ‘minimum’ as is set by your degree or current work. Crucially, it will help others. You have a responsibility as a trained lawyer to ensure that others can access high quality legal advice, even if they cannot afford to pay for it.Â
How can I undertake pro bono work?
Any legal work that you undertake could be done pro bono. Pro bono work could involve court appearances, advice sessions, working with charities, preparing documents, doing international work, or performing research. Whilst you’re at law school, there are many ways to get involved. Some universities have their own legal advice centres, spurred on by the recent closures of law centres. Other law schools offer pro bono programs through links to particular organisations, like Cardiff Law School, whose Innocence Project undertakes work on behalf of prisoners who maintain that they are innocent. There are even national prizes available to students who excel in pro bono work. Whilst an undergraduate is far from a practising lawyer, they can still provide advice to others assuming that they have a suitable support system in place to do so.