Please support access to justice through Advocate, the Bar’s pro bono charity
The last page of the practising certificate renewal form presents an opportunity to donate to Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit). They can never be a substitute for legal aid, but through them barristers provide a lifeline for many vulnerable people who desperately need help and would otherwise navigate the court process alone.
To the extent you can, please consider supporting them. They have experienced a 24% increase in applications for help in the last six months alone and donations received through ATP make up 42% of their funding.
Below are a couple of examples of people they helped in 2023:
- Representing a disabled man to stop him from being deported, allowing him to stay in the UK and continue to be cared for by his family.
- Helping an applicant who had faced financial hardship after being falsely accused of using a fake document to drive on a ride sharing app. Thanks to the barrister’s advice, he was able to get his Transport for London license reinstated and avoid financial ruin.
They were created by the Bar and are sustained by the Bar. Please help Advocate work with barristers to provide life-changing support to those in greatest need.
Thank you.
2024 Bar Pro Bono Award
Calling all barristers! Nominations now open for the 2024 Bar Pro Bono Awards
The Bar Pro Bono Awards run by Advocate are a unique opportunity to recognise the pro bono achievements of barristers and chambers, across all practice areas, who have gone above and beyond to further access to justice in the last twelve months. There are nine categories that barristers, chambers, chambers’ professionals and initiatives can be nominated for. Advocate are actively encouraging barristers and chambers specialising in different areas of law to nominate themselves and others.
If you would like to nominate someone, or even self-nominate, be sure to submit via the nominations form alongside two supporting statements before 5pm on Friday 2nd February. For any queries, do contact awards@weareadvocate.org.uk. Find out more information about the awards and the different categories you can nominate for here.