Why pro bono?

Too many of us leave university and the security of our '.ac.uk' email address with three years of hard work and hard play under our belts, but soon realise how unequipped we are to deal with the real world. Some universities have tried to rectify this by offering courses in professional skills such as communication, but I for one did not see the point or value in these "enrichment" courses while still a student.

During the GDL I was constantly faced with the phrase 'pro bono'. I remember sitting in a lecture theatre of more than 500 students being told how important pro bono is and thinking that all of the projects sounded pretty good, each with its own particular hook. Unfortunately, I was working both evenings and weekends throughout the GDL and so was unable to do any pro bono at law school, but the phrase (and, more importantly, the sentiment) stuck with me.

The summer following the GDL I received the standard weekly careers email and on the email there was an advert for an internship opportunity at LawWorks. 'Pro bono'; there was that phrase again and here was my chance to see what all the fuss was about.

That was over a year ago and I am now the clinics & students project officer at LawWorks and am responsible for overseeing the Students Project and supporting the LawWorks clinics network. Having such a diverse role means I get to work with a wide variety of people, from students and academics to third-sector partners and lawyers.

Student pro bono projects are, quite frankly, great. They not only help support people who would not otherwise have access to legal assistance, but they give you the opportunity to put the law you have learnt into practice. They also genuinely add to your learning by enabling you to interact with a range of people including lawyers, clients and other charities and community groups, thus allowing you to practice key communication skills. Even if you decide that being a lawyer isn't for you, these are invaluable skills for any workplace or career. Pro bono work helps you to actively use these skills, without its importance constantly being rammed down your throat.

On 10 November we are organising a Student Conference at the University of Manchester. This is my first student conference and given the response to the LawWorks & Attorney General Student Awards I organised at the end of March, I can't wait. The enthusiasm of law students and law schools for pro bono work is amazing. I am constantly shocked by how much students get out of taking part in pro bono work and the ability of law students and law schools to create and develop new student pro bono projects. That's the great thing about being a student - you have the time and energy to create and be enthusiastic about life, something which can get lost once you are faced with the big bad world. I hope that the conference will tap into this enthusiasm and give students and academics the confidence to go out and establish pro bono projects at their own law schools.

If you would like to attend the conference, there are still a few places available. You can register online on the LawWorks Student Conference Registration site here.

Sasha Nicoletti is the clinics & students project officer at LawWorks.