Pupil barrister and trainee solicitor launch pro bono programme for law students
updated on 22 October 2013
A pupil barrister and a trainee solicitor have launched a scheme that will accredit law students to provide advice at law centres.
Olliver Hyams, a pupil at 1 Essex Court, and David Dowling, a trainee at Baker & McKenzie, have together established Pro Bono Community, a comprehensive programme of training classes for students to learn how to effectively advise clients at law centres that began at City Law School on 21 October. As reported by RollOnFriday, the first phase of classes are divided into six weekly sessions of 90 minutes and students who complete the initial lessons are then able to take a more in-depth module in a legal specialism.
Funding for the programme was initially provided by the Legal Education Foundation, but it is now also supported by leading firms including Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, Bates Wells & Braithwaite, CMS, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Hogan Lovells and Slaughter and May.
