ATP: A small contribution making a big difference

Every Spring, barristers have the opportunity to make a real difference to our work. During the Authorisation to Practise (ATP) process on MyBar, you will see an option to support Advocate by donating £35 - a simple step that helps keep our service running. These donations make up over 40% of our annual income. Please support us if you can. Your donation will help us continue to connect people to expert representation that can change the course of their lives.

For 30 years our service has provided help for people who have nowhere else to turn. They cannot access legal aid. They cannot afford representation. Many are facing homelessness, family breakdown, loss of income, amongst other crises. Without pro bono assistance, they would be facing these crises alone.

Pro bono support can mean the difference between losing or keeping a home. Between vulnerability and safety. Between having no say and being heard. The stories of those we help show the life-changing impact of the Bar’s generosity, and barristers consistently tell us that pro bono work is among the most personally and professionally rewarding work they do. Mani Singh Basi of 4PB reflects:

“Whether it is through my role as a Case Reviewer, or as a barrister embarking upon cases directly for Advocate, I have seen time and time again the fundamental role they have in achieving justice for those that desperately need it. Advocate help those who really need it and make a meaningful and often life-changing difference to the individuals they help”.

We were created by the Bar, for the public good. For three decades, the Bar has not only given its time and expertise, but also its financial support, enabling us to connect thousands of people with specialist legal help. As one person we helped recently told us:

“Having access to guidance and representation at a time of real uncertainty made a meaningful difference to my experience and outcome, and I am very grateful for that support.”

How do I donate? 

The donation page is just before the checkout on the MyBar portal. Here you have the option to give an amount from a minimum of £35 to Advocate. Below are some examples of how your donation can help:

·       £35 can contribute to the cost of making an initial assessment of applications for help from people in desperate need of support.  

·       £95 can help to fund a caseworker for a day.  

·       £190 can enable us to set up and maintain on-the-day duty schemes over two days.  

·       £475 can fund a caseworker for a week, who provides hands-on help and seeks to make a real difference to people’s lives.  

Please also complete your address, which means we can claim gift aid from HMRC, making your donation worth an additional 25% to us, at no cost to you. 

Join this year's campaign 

If you are on LinkedIn, we would be grateful if you could encourage barristers to donate by liking and reposting our posts during the ATP renewal period. You may wish to show your support for us through a brief post tagging Advocate (@WeAreAdvocate on Bluesky and X) that explains why you support us during practising renewal, using the hashtag #ProBono35.

Thank you for helping us continue to give hope to people in need of free legal support. 

Read the message from our Chair, Sharif A. Shivji KC, about why he encourages barristers to donate when renewing their practising certificates.