Nicoel Goldstein interviews Robin Knowles about what pro bono means to him.
Earlier this year, Robin Knowles QC of South Square Chambers was awarded a CBE in recognition of his career long commitment to pro bono legal services. His dedication to pro bono causes is testament to his belief – as he himself affirms, ‘pro bono is part of being a lawyer and should form part of any legal career’ He continues that ‘ if everyone contributes , then no one needs to be asked to do too much .’
True to his words, Robin has played a major role in pro bono initiatives throughout his career as a commercial barrister. He has taken part in the expansion of pro bono services and is continuing to aid in their development and growth. He maintains that, ‘it is clear that lawyers today do recognise the public interest aspect of the legal profession and wish to make access to the law available to all.’ Robin’s award for his achievements and commitments to pro bono services demonstrates just how widespread the area of pro bono legal services has become over the years.
Robin, himself is a Trustee of LawWorks, the chairman of the Bar Pro Bono Unit and of Bar in the Community, and a trustee or director of a range of other bodies in the pro bono field.
Both LawWorks and the Bar Pro Bono Unit play a major role in ensuring that access to the legal system regardless of means prevails.
The Bar Pro Bono Unit itself was established in 1996 from modest beginnings but has subsequently developed in an impressive fashion over the decade. Today, 1800 barristers are registered with it. Panel members of the Unit agree to provide a minimum of 3 days of assistance free of charge each year – should any case need expertise in their area of practice and at their level of experience. Though of course many barristers devote substantially more time than this. Bar in the Community has supplied many barristers to serve as trustees or management committee members at the request of a wide range of charitable organizations. In many senses it complements the impressive work of LawWorks for Community Groups, which has provided legal advice and work to hundreds of charities and voluntary organizations.
LawWorks and the Bar Pro Bono Unit look to work together whenever possible. Their respective positions means that they can combine the strengths of both parts of the profession. Add in ILEX, the professional association for Legal Executives, and all three branches of the profession are engaged, together. There is a part to play for the employed lawyer as well as the lawyer in private practice; for the student as well as the senior lawyer. Robin sees his CBE as an award to the profession, and declares himself “proud to be in a profession that will consider donating expert advice and advocacy in cases of real need, rather than see help denied".
There are other examples of working together. The Bar Pro Bono Unit is now situated next door to the Free Representation Unit. LawWorks and the Unit have forged ties with the major NFP or voluntary sector organisations. The GLS plays an increasing part. Ties with academic institutions are increasing all the time.
Working together can ensure that those who need pro bono help are afforded initial advice at an advice centre before an application is made for specialist in depth assistance through the Bar Pro Bono Unit or the LawWorks in-depth assistance scheme.
LawWorks has materially helped increase the availability of that initial advice. LawWorks has now established 50 clinics around the country at CABs and law and advice centres, providing the services of lawyers at these clinics for an evening a week.
Another layer in the service that LawWorks administers is the electronic advice system. Questions raised at the clinics suitable for a short answer by email are answered over email by solicitors applying more specialist knowledge to the query. The final level of the LawWorks service is (like the Bar Pro Bono Unit) concerned with, and aptly entitled, in depth assistance. This occurs when a CAB or clinic request fuller legal assistance with a case. An example of this assistance might require a solicitor’s skills in the taking of a witness statement or conducting negotiations. And where a matter is suitable for mediation, LawWorks Mediation can bring in the mediating skills of a solicitor or barrister with (where necessary) a solicitor or barrister representing the party.
Among the areas of pro bono innovation is the work being carried out with local communities who might not necessarily be so open to free legal services. The setting up of an office at the London Muslim Centre in East London in order to improve access to justice for parts of the community in the East End is just one example of this type of pro bono service directed at local communities. A group of SOAS students approached Robin for advice about their idea of helping improve access for the Muslim community of East London, and others who use the LMC. Their efforts have ensured that an office has been established to assist community members with an initial starting point in seeking advice. In addition, the office will be able to provide a written summary of a client’s problem so that when a visit to a solicitor or Toynbee Hall is made – the outline of the problem is already in a written format – prepared for the eyes of more specialized legal advisers. This project, in particular, shows the advantage of starting point of pro bono services being where possible at the local community level and ideally through institutions which any local community understands and utilizes already.
It is clear that huge inroads have been made in the development of pro bono services. Continued strides enable legal services to be accessed by more people than ever. It is clear, though, that pro bono stands alongside legal aid: the work of pro bono organizations can only be an adjunct to a proper system of publicly-funded legal aid.
Despite these great achievements, efforts are still ongoing to ensure that pro bono services continue to grow. Coordination and awareness are raised through initiatives such as National Pro Bono Week, the Attorney General’s National Pro Bono Coordinating Committee, and www.probonoUK.net (the national pro bono website). In all of these many, including Robin, are involved.
There are many challenges ahead. Even today, there is still an uneven distribution of pro bono services: a uniform coverage of services nationally is lacking. In terms of the services available, there still needs to be an improvement in the access point for some areas of the community. And where there is access to initial pro bono services, efforts must continue to ensure that in depth assistance is made available, where the case needs it, as well.
Over the next few years pro bono services will undergo an increasing expansion as legal services cement their relationship with the voluntary sector, in general. Closer relationships will ensure that greater coordination of resources means a more effective and accessible legal system to all. It is also important to ensure that law students everywhere should be targeted and be encouraged to see pro bono work as an integral element of their future careers, and (as Robin urges) of the whole of those careers.