“It is so satisfying to provide a service simply because I believe in the client and the case, expecting nothing in return. The clients’ reactions span from surprise to extreme gratitude. It’s the best feeling I get as a lawyer".
Jake Rudman of Hatton Chambers was one of our joint winners for the 2024 Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year Award, alongside Jennifer MacLeod of Brick Court Chambers, in the 2024 Bar Pro Bono Awards. Jake was nominated for his extensive involvement in a long-running defamation and harassment case since 2020. The case involved a young single mother who was being pursued in civil litigation by her ex-husband, who was the father of their young son. Over the past four years, Jake has led the client to a successful application to strike out the claims against her with indemnity costs, spending over 300 hours on the matter. Jake also secured a substantial pro bono costs award for the Access to Justice Foundation through this case.
Trigger warning: mentions of domestic abuse
My first pro bono role was just after university for a charity called Streetlaw, presenting on the legal rights pertaining to and practical implications of homelessness in a homeless shelter in London. Too often, the law can become detached from its practical implications, and this was a stark lesson in the importance of finding a way to apply the law to the relevant situation. The people in the shelter needed practical help with how to find work or a place to stay, which was extremely humbling and gave me a drive to improve my ability to assist people with my legal knowledge.
The case I think caught the attention of the Judges in my nomination for the 2024 Bar Pro Bono Awards was a defamation and harassment claim brought by an abusive ex-husband against my client. My client was his ex-wife and mother to his young son.
I took the case on as a short advice whilst on holiday on New Year’s Eve 2019 and ended up spending nearly 300 hours on it. This included multiple hearings, drafting pleadings, correspondence, negotiations, and extensive advice, culminating in a successful hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice in 2023.
My client’s case was that the ex-husband had abused her throughout their relationship through vile means, including physical abuse, coercive control and forcing her into two abortions against her will. He continued this appalling conduct by threatening baseless defamation and harassment proceedings against her after they had divorced. It was a poor claim, but his belligerent and relentless nature, as well as his instruction of aggressive lawyers, made it difficult to defend.
I brought Baker McKenzie into the case with the help of Advocate and Pro Bono Connect. With their tremendous assistance, we got the claim struck out entirely, meaning my client was no longer under threat of a c.£60,000 damages claim plus costs. We also preserved the ability for my client to bring a counterclaim should she wish, which in the end she decided not to pursue. We have since been engaged in the Claimant’s application for relief from sanctions, appeals and other attempts to circumvent costs orders and have spent considerable time enforcing the many costs awards which we obtained against him. We are finally recovering her original solicitors’ fees so that she is not out of pocket, and also persuaded the Court to award a number of Pro Bono Costs awards, including one indemnity costs order. This means the Claimant owes the Access to Justice Foundation the best part of £100,000. It is a great relief to me and the team that he is finally facing justice for his vexatious abuse of his ex-wife and the Court system.
It is so satisfying to provide a service simply because I believe in the client and the case, expecting nothing in return. The clients’ reactions span from surprise to extreme gratitude. It’s the best feeling I get as a lawyer, and of course when I get a good result for them, which I’ve been lucky enough to achieve on a number of occasions, it’s all the sweeter.
I would highlight how easy it can be. Most of the cases I take on for Advocate can be dealt with by a specialist in fewer than two hours, including review time. Often people just need negative advice: “This case has no merit”; or “This won’t be worth the time, stress and costs risk to you”. That can save the client and the court system a lot of strife and often the client has not received specialist advice up to that point.
Likewise, the wins can often be achieved quickly. I took on an Advocate case recently in which by in one letter alone, which took only about 90 minutes to draft, a defendant was persuaded to pay the client £1,000 instead of £100 for a data breach. So even a small investment of time can make a huge difference to the client. And there aren’t that many media and information specialists - it’s a bit like having a rare blood type - so I’d really encourage everyone in my area to spare whatever time they can.
Do you feel inspired to take on pro bono work?
Find out more about taking on pro bono work with Advocate and see our How to volunteer with Advocate guide.
Find out more about pro bono costs and how to apply for them.