Pupil Pledge

If you are a pupil in your second six looking to get your career at the Bar off to the best start while supporting access to justice, we encourage you to take part in the Pupil Pledge.

After launching in 2023, the Pupil Pledge has gone from strength to strength, with pupil barristers showing their commitment to access to justice in increasing numbers each year. In 2023, over 50 pupils completed a piece of work, as recognised by the Pupil Pledge. In 2024, this number almost doubled to 94, and we hope to see even more pupil barristers getting involved in 2025.

Pupils tell us that pro bono work allows them to advance their skills, work on interesting cases, and give back.

“I am grateful to Advocate for the opportunity to work on a case I may not otherwise have had access to. I have an even greater appreciation for the importance of pro bono legal advice and the impact that it has on the lives of those who need it.”

Rebecca Paterson, Pump Court Chambers

From your second six onwards, you can take on cases through Advocate, and also receive mentoring from senior barristers on these cases through our mentoring scheme, Collaborate.

For further support on how to take on pro bono work and manage it alongside your everyday practice, check out the Pro Bono Guide for Pupils and Supervisors. This is full of excellent tips on the best ways to get involved with pro bono work during your pupillage and how supervisors can best support their pupils in doing so.

What do I have to do for the Pupil Pledge?

After completing your first piece of pro bono work, we will send you the Pupil Pledge logo for your email signature and Chambers website, which highlights your excellent work and commitment to access to justice.

We will also (with your permission) celebrate your achievement on our LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X accounts.

Sign up here if you would like to register your pledge and take on some pro bono work this year.

Details:

• Pledge one piece of pro bono work during your second six, by registering here
• A piece of work can be some advice, drafting, mediation, or representation 
• Pro bono work can be undertaken through all pro bono schemes, law centres or other organisations, not just Advocate - this is a celebration of all pro bono work happening at the Bar.
• Upon completing one piece of pro bono work, fill in this form to tell us about your experience.
• We will send you the Pupil Pledge logo that can be included in your email signature and on your Chambers profile. We will also share that you have completed the #PupilPledge on our LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X accounts, with your permission.

Visit our Stories from the Bar page to read about previous pupils and junior barristers' experiences taking on pro bono work through Advocate and receiving mentoring through our Collaborate scheme.

If you have any questions about the Pupil Pledge, or working with Advocate more generally, you can contact our Project and Engagement Coordinator Kate at kgriffin@weareadvocate.org.uk

From all of us at Advocate, thank you for incorporating pro bono work into your practice from the beginning of your career at the Bar.