Our week of Pro Bono in Action: Pro Bono Week 2025 highlights

At the Launch Event on Monday, the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, opened the week with this year’s theme, Pro Bono in Action. He described pro bono as the “lifeblood of the legal system.” At the Bar, we see that lifeblood every day - barristers stepping up to represent parents in family courts, workers in employment disputes, and individuals navigating complex tribunals. These may not be headline cases, but they do change lives. In the past year alone, Advocate has reported supporting around 1,500 cases through our core casework service, with hundreds more through duty schemes. We were pleased that our founder, Lord Goldsmith KC, also joined the Launch Event panel, and reminded us that pro bono allows the law to belong to everyone: “Pro bono is part of the profession as a lawyer: doing the job and helping people who need help.” 

(Picture: Pro Bono Week Launch Event)

On Tuesday we co-hosted the Young Lawyers Event for a second year running alongside Pro Bono Connect, the Junior London Solicitors Litigation Association, the London Young Lawyers Group, Middle Temple Young Barristers' Association, and the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee. Here we heard insights from young barristers and solicitors on how pro bono work benefitted the early stages of their legal careers. The Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves MP, gave a powerful keynote speech urging young lawyers to embrace pro bono as a way to shape a more open, diverse, and passionate profession: 

“Pro bono work will remind you of the passion that brought you here in the first place – so go out there and seize the opportunities.” 

(Picture: Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP speaking at the Young Lawyers Event)

Wednesday was an exciting day as we hosted two brand-new events: in the morning we held our first ever Clerks’ Breakfast, bringing together clerks and chambers professionals to celebrate their vital role in facilitating the Bar’s pro bono work. There were lively discussions throughout the morning, highlighting how clerks champion access to justice, embed pro bono into chambers culture, and support barristers to make a lasting impact.  

(Picture: Networking at our Clerks' Breakfast)

In the evening, we hosted our highly anticipated Comedy Night - Stand Up for Justice - a fundraising event that brought laughter to our Pro Bono Week celebrations. Held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), the night featured a brilliant line-up of comedians including Rich Wilson, Keith Farnan, Abigail Rolling, and Tevin Everett. A shout-out to Robert Jones, who not only served as MC but also played an integral role in helping us turn the idea of this event into a reality. Thanks to raffle ticket sales and generous donations from our guests, we were delighted to raise almost £900. 

(Picture: Comedian Abigail Rolling)

On Thursday, we shared Bryan’s story, a case where four panel members from Harcourt Chambers and Deans Court Chambers worked together to help a father restore contact with his child. Their pro bono efforts changed the course of a father and son’s future and highlighted the life-changing impact of pro bono. 

In the evening, our Northern Circuit Caseworker attended the second ever Manchester Pro Bono Awards organised by the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee. Many congratulations to all of this year’s deserved winners, especially Barrister of the Year Christian Weaver of Garden Court North Chambers for his important pro bono work helping in the implementation of Awaab’s Law, and Chambers of the Year 23 Essex Street, who have been instrumental in the success of the Manchester Chancery Litigant in Person Support Scheme. 

(Picture: Our Director of Casework, Zoe Chan, presenting the Chambers of the Year Award to 23 Essex Street at the Manchester Pro Bono Awards)

On Friday, our CEO Rebecca Wilkie and our Western Circuit Caseworker, Louis Helsby, attended the Western Circuit Women’s Forum Conference. Rebecca chaired the panel ‘Career Development Through Pro Bono’ which provided insights from barrister Zoe Bushby of Magdalen Chambers, Richard Khaldi, CEO of St John’s Chambers, and Mr Justice Linden, Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit. Louis provided an overview of how Circuit practitioners could get involved with Advocate and we are pleased to have already organised a chambers seminar as a result. 

In addition to a number of seminars in partnership with Chambers up and down the country, we were delighted to see some inspiring pro bono blogs featured by the Bar Council from panel members recognised on the Pro Bono Recognition List, including Hazel Samuriwo and Harrison Engler. 

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us with our events, and to everyone who has taken on pro bono work this year. This Pro Bono Week, we celebrate your commitment to ensuring that justice remains reachable for those who need it most.  

Check out our LinkedIn page to see all our posts and stories from throughout the week.