Rachael Agnew

"There’s so many ways to use our skills as barristers beyond advice and representation! Charities are always on the lookout for trustees with legal skills and being able to absorb and analyse information quickly, challenge appropriately and work creatively towards solutions are all skills barristers can contribute to charities."

Rachael Agnew, an employed barrister, talks to us about her experiences volunteering as Chair of Trustees at her local Citizens Advice Bureau and the positive impact it has had on her career.

What kind of volunteering opportunities have you undertaken, and why did you decide to do this type of volunteering work in particular?

I’ve been a school governor in the past, and done some volunteering at a homeless shelter and on a free legal advice line. For the past couple of years, I’ve been the Chair of Trustees for the Citizens Advice in my local London borough. Before I became a barrister, I spent a few years employed in the free legal advice sector so I had a decent insight into the work that the Citizens Advice does, and when I saw my local Citizens Advice was looking for trustees I thought it would be a great opportunity to contribute to my community using my skills and experience to best effect.

At what stage in your career did you first start taking on volunteering opportunities? 

I’ve spent the most recent few years of my career as an employed barrister in the public sector. I was around ten years’ call when I took on my current Chair of Trustees role, with a few years’ experience in the voluntary sector before becoming a barrister. I think the confidence of being more experienced both in my legal, and pre-legal, career helped me take on this leadership role.

How has your volunteering work positively impacted on your career?

It’s given me opportunities to develop strategic leadership skills that I would not have otherwise had access to in my role as an employed barrister. This has really helped me in going for more senior roles because I can demonstrate a wider range of experience.

Do your Chambers support barristers and professionals who want to do volunteering work?

I’m at the employed bar. My employer allows staff up to five days’ paid leave per year to take on volunteering opportunities. Whilst the charity’s meetings are all in the evenings during my own time, as Chair, I regularly have emails to deal or meetings during office hours for the charity and I use my volunteering hours for this.

Why do you think people at the Bar should take on volunteering work outside of traditional pro bono work like advice and representation?

There’s so many ways to use our skills as barristers beyond advice and representation! Charities are always on the lookout for trustees with legal skills and being able to absorb and analyse information quickly, challenge appropriately and work creatively towards solutions are all skills barristers can contribute to charities.

What advice would you give to anyone at the Bar who is unsure about whether to start doing volunteering work?

Go for it! The more you give, the more you’ll get out. Being a trustee is a serious commitment, and you’ll need to reflect honestly about whether the demands of your practice mean that you can commit to the role, but you’ll learn so much.

What is the most rewarding thing about volunteering work?

I feel like I’m furthering access to justice in the community in which I live and am raising my family.

Interested in volunteering? Check out our current volunteering opportunities here and sign up here to receive regular updates on volunteering opportunities.