“We have skill sets as barristers that can be of significant value to organisations in the voluntary sector. As well as Citizens Advice I also chair the Council of a national sporting federation where I am able to use the skills I have learned at the bar in a different context.”
Chris Smith KC, commercial barrister at Essex Court Chambers, speaks to us about volunteering for Citizens Advice through Bar in the Community and the social importance of voluntary work.
I volunteered to become a trustee of my local Citizens Advice. I was later asked to become Treasurer.
When I was still a junior when BIC was first established.
My volunteering did not specifically impact my career – that is not why I did it. It did, however, allow me to put something back into my local community.
Whilst I was volunteering we secured lottery funding to purchase our own building from which to provide advice. We therefore moved out of rented premises and there was a substantial potential dilapidations bill which I managed to negotiate down by a very large amount.
Yes – chambers as a whole and our clerking team are very supportive.
Because we have skill sets as barristers that can be of significant value to organisations in the voluntary sector. As well as Citizens Advice I also chair the Council of a national sporting federation where I am able to use the skills I have learned at the bar in a different context.
Look carefully at all of the opportunities and wait to find one that really suits – do not rush to take on the first opportunity that arises.
Achieving something totally different to the things we normally achieve.
Interested in volunteering? Check out our current volunteering opportunities here and sign up here to receive regular updates on volunteering opportunities.