It’s the start of the new legal year and we are excited to welcome our new trustees and staff members from across England and Wales.
Our three new trustees, Michael Hayton KC, Natasha Bellinger and Richard Wheeler have a wealth of experience between them, and we are delighted they have joined our Board.
Michael Hayton KQ, Head of Deans Court Chambers in Manchester and former Leader of the Northern Circuit, has been a keen supporter of Advocate for many years. We are delighted to strengthen our ties with the Circuit with Michael’s appointment.
"I hope that I can do my part to increase the numbers of lawyers around the country offering some of their valuable time and great expertise to assist pro bono."
- Michael Hayton KQ, Head of Deans Court Chambers & Advocate Trustee
Natasha Bellinger, Head of the Civil Team at Magdalen Chambers in Exeter, also joins our Board. Natasha co-runs the Community Law Clinic at the University of Exeter, working predominantly in the Access to Justice Clinic delivering early legal advice provision via law students, supervised by employed and volunteer legal professionals. Regularly the clinic signposts clients to Advocate.
“I firmly believe that pro bono is not a substitute for a proper system of publicly funded legal services. I have a strong sense of social justice and a desire to give back to the community however I can. To me, undertaking pro bono work is part of a lawyer’s DNA.”
- Natasha Bellinger, Magdalen Chambers & Advocate Trustee
Richard Wheeler, a personal injury and clinical negligence barrister at 3PB, has been a long-standing member of the pro bono community recently dedicating over sixty hours to a pro bono case. As a Deputy District Judge and Recorder, Richard has seen first-hand the problems faced by those who cannot access legal representation. He is therefore resolved to encourage more barristers to take on pro bono work.
“I would like to contribute to improving access to justice for the litigants I see struggling to present their cases when I am sitting as a judge.”
- Richard Wheeler, 3PB Barristers & Advocate Trustee
As many of our team have been successful in securing pupillage, we have also welcomed nine new members of staff over the summer, with our new caseworkers Emily and Chloe in Manchester, Stephen in Wales, and Charlotte in the Midlands.
Welcome also to Daniella, Joe and Daisy who join our casework team based in London, alongside Becca who joins us as the new casework administrator and our new office administrator, Olivia.
As Advocate continues to grow, we are excited about how our increased capacity will help us to match more barristers with more people who come to us for help.
But we cannot do it without you! We are currently experiencing an unprecedented number of applications for legal assistance, and we need more volunteer barristers.
The cost-of-living crisis is putting further strain on our justice system and we are seeing an increased number of people needing access to pro bono support. So don’t wait until tomorrow, help those that need it today.
Sign up to join our panel here.
Thanks to the hundreds of you already taking on pro bono cases and we look forward to welcoming more of you to join our panel of volunteer barristers. #WeDoProBono
27 Jan 2025
20 Nov 2024