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In the second of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners, Jake Rudman, Jennifer MacLeod, 4PB, Mark Ronson and Dads House share the stories behind their awards
Most of my pro bono cases are quick opinions, often warning prospective parties of the risks of litigation, or counselling defendants on dealing with vexatious claims. One case, though, captured my attention so much that I spent around 300 hours on it. It was a defamation and harassment claim threatened by an abusive ex-husband against his ex-wife (my client). We said the ex-husband, who was an NHS doctor, had actually abused her throughout their relationship, including by forcing her into two abortions. After they divorced, he claimed £60,000 in a woefully defective harassment claim. With the tremendous assistance of Baker McKenzie, we obtained strike out, got permission to bring a counterclaim, and defeated the claimant’s relief from sanctions application and appeals. We obtained numerous pro bono costs awards, including indemnity costs, totalling nearly £100,000.
As soon as I read the papers, I wanted to help. As the matter continued, it was (ironically) the belligerence of the claimant’s solicitors which made me determined to continue until its conclusion, no matter how long it took. When this work began, it was just supposed to be a short advice on New Year’s Eve 2019. But once I spoke to the client and realised her tragic situation, helping more substantially felt like the only option.
I have two key criteria when selecting my pro bono work: (1) Do I feel strongly about this?; and (2) Can I add considerable value? If the answer to both questions is ‘yes’, I’ll try to fit it into my caseload.
While we might have the best justice system in the world, it can be painfully unfair. Pro bono clients are often against an opponent with more money and an unwillingness to compromise. To make things worse, the court can unwittingly favour the more intractable party.
Sometimes your client can’t afford a court fee, but their opponent is proceeding without paying fees whatsoever. The court won’t necessarily intervene, and you are hamstrung for playing by the rules. In such scenarios, I’ve learned to step back from the frustration and focus on the ultimate goal, which often requires alternative dispute resolution to achieve.
I’ve been involved in a few cases in which we’ve disposed of meritless claims. The relief and gratitude from the client realising they are no longer under threat of financially crippling litigation is immensely gratifying. I think all cases teach counsel something and are challenging in one way or another. If they don’t, we’re probably not paying close enough attention!
If you’re struggling to find cases which suit you, get registered with Advocate. They streamline cases by specialist area and have a senior barrister review each matter first, so you have a ‘cheat sheet’ to give you a great idea whether it’s right for you. Practising law teaches us that none of us are far from misfortune. We are all just one drink driver, one dirty scalpel or one reckless Tweet from disaster. With the world more connected than ever before, it is increasingly apparent that our actions can impact people not just in our immediate vicinity, but also on the other side of the planet. So when we volunteer, we don’t just help strangers – we help our community and ultimately ourselves. Even small actions can make a huge difference and at the Bar we are privileged to have the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact.
This award is certainly unexpected, and not why I took on the work, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t delighted to be recognised. The work itself was satisfaction enough, but I think awards like this are a great mechanism to encourage others to volunteer.
I have had the privilege to work on a real range of pro bono matters, on topics ranging from environmental to refugee law, from data protection to violence against women, from discrimination to unexplained deaths, and many other areas in between. I am instructed by a mixture of individuals and organisations to advocate on issues that really matter to those involved (and sometimes raise questions of public interest as well).
It is a real pleasure to work so closely with people who are committed to a wide range of causes and campaigns, and to understand and seek to help them in whatever way I can. I have formed long lasting connections with many of my clients and colleagues through these cases and I am constantly motivated to do more.
I have always seen pro bono work as an integral part of my practice and my role as a barrister and treated it accordingly. I have been very much supported in that attitude by Chambers and in particular by my exceptional clerking team (Tony Burgess, Jo Francis, Ben Rippengale, Sam Jones, Tom Bennett and Hannah Rayner), many of whom are themselves very committed to pro bono causes.
There are so many reasons to take on pro bono cases: most obviously and importantly to help those who are in dire need of assistance and who otherwise would be unable to secure justice.
On the question of challenges, I find it very frustrating that for so many individuals, families and organisations, the only way to secure representation is to seek pro bono help. For my part, I see legal representation as fundamental to proper access to justice and am of the view that it should be funded accordingly. There are many reasons for that, but in particular I am conscious that there is otherwise a risk that only particularly palatable cases are likely to secure representation, which is a troubling thought (and one that many at the Bar work hard to guard against).
I am extremely grateful to receive the award. I am particularly and endlessly grateful to the wonderful solicitors with whom I have the privilege to work. Their tireless efforts are the primary reason that any of the work I undertake is even possible. I am also delighted to share the award with Jake Rudman, and hear more about his fantastic work. I only wish I could share this award further: so much of my work in the last year has been a team effort with exceptional junior barristers including Catherine Oborne, Sarah-Jane Ewart, Agata Patyna, George Molyneaux, Ben Bundock, Joshua Pemberton, Alice Irving, Aarushi Sahore, Sophie Bird, Alastair Richardson, Emma Mockford, Zahra Al-Rikabi, Emily MacKenzie, Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Colin Smith, Lewis Mooney, Ciara Landy and David Chirico (before he took silk!). They are an inspiring crowd.
4PB has a distinguished history as a leading set of specialist family law barristers in London. We have a long history of publicly funded work and 4PB is proud that it plays a vital role in providing pro bono assistance to community projects and individuals, often vulnerable, who lack legal support and advice.
In 2023, 4PB played a key role in assisting in the creation of a ‘Birth Charter’ with the charity, Birth Companions. The Birth Charter sets out how services and systems in England should support all women who are involved with children’s social care during the critical ‘1001 days’ – from conception to the child’s second birthday.
Members of 4PB provided pro bono legal advice to ensure that the Charter operates within public authority obligations under the Children Act 1989 and the European Convention on Human Rights. The launch of the Charter in July 2023 was the culmination of nearly two years of hard work, in partnership with women with lived experience, practitioners, commissioners, academics and others working across health, social care, family law, the criminal justice system and beyond.
As well as working on the development of the Charter, members of 4PB have been able to use their expertise in family law to help and support Birth Companions. The collaborative working which this involved was rewarding and eye-opening. It is, in our view, the paradigm example of commitment to an innovative, multi-disciplinary programme, which has the potential to help some of the most vulnerable women in society.
It is anticipated that the Charter will help create a new national health and social care pathway in England to deliver compassionate, trauma-informed, equitable support for women and their babies. The Charter’s launch event which we hosted and sponsored in our chambers in July 2023 was a proud moment for 4PB.
Beyond our work with Birth Companions, in just the last 12 months, nearly 40% of barristers at 4PB – from pupils to silks – have provided pro bono assistance to individuals in forums which have ranged from hearings before magistrates to the President of the Family Division in the Court of Appeal.
Our pro bono work has encompassed financial provision, private law disputes, care proceedings, domestic abuse, transparency, costs, abduction, recusal, divorce, foreign marriages, international surrogacy, domestic surrogacy, parentage and even representing a parent in a civil claim (arising out of care proceedings) against the government of St Helena.
Our work has resulted in the exoneration of intervenors in care proceedings, parents securing regular contact with their children, the return of children to the jurisdiction, protection from domestic abuse, and, more importantly, the opportunity for members of the public to participate fully in proceedings which were fundamental to their and their families’ futures.
Everyone has access to courts, but that is not the same as having access to justice. 4PB takes the view that a crucial element of access to justice is having access to legal advice. In circumstances where the state no longer ensures that, our members do their best to help. 4PB does not undertake pro bono work for recognition, but winning this award has enormous meaning for us. It shines a much-needed light on the work we have done, and gives us huge encouragement to press on.
Pro Bono Chambers of the Year is an award we can be really, really proud of. It reflects one of our core values – acting in the public interest and ensuring access to justice is not denied because of a lack of funds. Success is upholding those core values. To be recognised is humbling.
I n addition to my role as the Senior Planning Clerk at Kings Chambers, I am also Chambers’ Pro Bono Champion. I have been working with Advocate since 2018, and have developed strong relationships with the Advocate casework team. Collaboration with Chambers members to formulate and implement new systems to encourage and facilitate the uptake of pro bono has been key to the increase in this field of work.
I have organised internal training sessions and worked to streamline the process of sharing pro bono cases among members. Training and raising awareness generally has generated a wider interest in undertaking pro bono work including all pupils once in their second six. It is testament to this programme of initiatives that many of our senior members have become Advocate case reviewers including our Head of Chambers.
In my capacity as Pro Bono Champion, I have helped to drive the significant increase in pro bono work being undertaken by Chambers. I monitor all cases offered to Chambers and can see the huge benefit of partnering with Advocate. A recent example of a case taken on by Chambers involved an applicant who had built a caravan on their mother’s property in 2018, and lives there with their husband and children. The council refused the Lawful Development Certificate and served an Enforcement Notice. The applicant’s appeal was dismissed. The applicant was served an injunction in court to demolish their home. Counsel provided the necessary advice and support to enable them to appear at the hearing for the variation order.
I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have received the Pro Bono Chambers Professional of the Year award. Anyone who does pro bono work is a winner in my eyes.
Billy our CEO, founder and single dad himself, has spearheaded the pro bono family law clinic. 2024 marks our four-year anniversary, where not only are we honoured with winning the Pro Bono Initiative of the Year, but Billy received a lifetime achievement civic honour from Hammersmith and Fulham.
Billy’s unwavering commitment is evidenced by his collaboration with our esteemed legal director Simon Bruce, a family law partner at Dawson Cornwell. Together, they have transformed lives. Through their combined efforts and now Ceri’s, Dads House’s Family Law Clinic Manager, so many families have found solace. However, this is not the limits of how Dads House helps. Our clients have access to our foodbank, lunch clubs and programmes for dads, whether that is our emotional support group, yoga and/or football.
Our Family Law Clinic runs every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, helping on average between three to six clients per clinic. Each for an hour. Our child law experts are Simon Miller (Harcourt Chambers), William Hogg and Jacqueline Fitzgerald (Laurus Law), Veryan Exelby (Farrer & Co LLP), Victoria Teymourian-Yates (Hunters Law) and Gorkem Ozsoy (Branch Austin McCormick). We are a tight and collaborative group.
We have trained pro bono mediators supporting our clients and emotional support coaches.
Since 2020 we have provided over 1,020 advice appointments. We provide repeat appointments, some return for up to 23 appointments. We have provided £1,410,772 worth of pro bono advice over four years.
Law students are at the centre of our clinics, as the future of family law. Whether that is mentoring, supporting them to advise clients or developing their casework and advocacy skills through programs led by Ceri. They learn and give so much. We are really proud of them.
We have a panel event series with expert speakers such as Circuit judges, senior members of the Bar and our one and only Simon Bruce, discussing important issues: the Pathfinder Pilot and Cases of Conflict.
We have a special partnership with Coram Chambers, who provide pro bono court representation. We have the kind support of Our Family Wizard, who are at the cutting edge of family law communication and technology.
Furthermore, were always grateful for the support of 36 Family Chambers, 4PB, Legastat, Middle Temple and Stewarts Law.
Being the winner of this award is incredibly meaningful. This award tells the story of the progress we made from a small shop front charity, where our first clinic was held in 2020, unfunded and with no kitchen sink. Now to a pro bono family law clinic honoured by the Bar Pro Bono Awards. Naturally, we are happy to report, we are still in our shop front but now with a kitchen sink!
The Dads House Family Law Clinic story continues weekly. Recently we assisted a client in a summary international matter, with fees valued at over £100,000 with nine High Court hearings and all with pro bono representation. Based on this colossal effort by Simon Miller, members of Coram Chambers and 4PB, this has inspired our fundraising appeal (see: tinyurl.com/3f9a2cv8).
However, this client’s story at it’s core is universal, they wanted to be there to protect their loved ones but tragically could not afford advice. This is what we do at Dads House Family Law Clinic. We help dads and mums with expert legal advice, pro bono alternative dispute resolution, emotional support, representation and buckets-full of compassion and kindness. Most importantly we protect and keep children at the centre of everything we do.
Most of my pro bono cases are quick opinions, often warning prospective parties of the risks of litigation, or counselling defendants on dealing with vexatious claims. One case, though, captured my attention so much that I spent around 300 hours on it. It was a defamation and harassment claim threatened by an abusive ex-husband against his ex-wife (my client). We said the ex-husband, who was an NHS doctor, had actually abused her throughout their relationship, including by forcing her into two abortions. After they divorced, he claimed £60,000 in a woefully defective harassment claim. With the tremendous assistance of Baker McKenzie, we obtained strike out, got permission to bring a counterclaim, and defeated the claimant’s relief from sanctions application and appeals. We obtained numerous pro bono costs awards, including indemnity costs, totalling nearly £100,000.
As soon as I read the papers, I wanted to help. As the matter continued, it was (ironically) the belligerence of the claimant’s solicitors which made me determined to continue until its conclusion, no matter how long it took. When this work began, it was just supposed to be a short advice on New Year’s Eve 2019. But once I spoke to the client and realised her tragic situation, helping more substantially felt like the only option.
I have two key criteria when selecting my pro bono work: (1) Do I feel strongly about this?; and (2) Can I add considerable value? If the answer to both questions is ‘yes’, I’ll try to fit it into my caseload.
While we might have the best justice system in the world, it can be painfully unfair. Pro bono clients are often against an opponent with more money and an unwillingness to compromise. To make things worse, the court can unwittingly favour the more intractable party.
Sometimes your client can’t afford a court fee, but their opponent is proceeding without paying fees whatsoever. The court won’t necessarily intervene, and you are hamstrung for playing by the rules. In such scenarios, I’ve learned to step back from the frustration and focus on the ultimate goal, which often requires alternative dispute resolution to achieve.
I’ve been involved in a few cases in which we’ve disposed of meritless claims. The relief and gratitude from the client realising they are no longer under threat of financially crippling litigation is immensely gratifying. I think all cases teach counsel something and are challenging in one way or another. If they don’t, we’re probably not paying close enough attention!
If you’re struggling to find cases which suit you, get registered with Advocate. They streamline cases by specialist area and have a senior barrister review each matter first, so you have a ‘cheat sheet’ to give you a great idea whether it’s right for you. Practising law teaches us that none of us are far from misfortune. We are all just one drink driver, one dirty scalpel or one reckless Tweet from disaster. With the world more connected than ever before, it is increasingly apparent that our actions can impact people not just in our immediate vicinity, but also on the other side of the planet. So when we volunteer, we don’t just help strangers – we help our community and ultimately ourselves. Even small actions can make a huge difference and at the Bar we are privileged to have the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact.
This award is certainly unexpected, and not why I took on the work, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t delighted to be recognised. The work itself was satisfaction enough, but I think awards like this are a great mechanism to encourage others to volunteer.
I have had the privilege to work on a real range of pro bono matters, on topics ranging from environmental to refugee law, from data protection to violence against women, from discrimination to unexplained deaths, and many other areas in between. I am instructed by a mixture of individuals and organisations to advocate on issues that really matter to those involved (and sometimes raise questions of public interest as well).
It is a real pleasure to work so closely with people who are committed to a wide range of causes and campaigns, and to understand and seek to help them in whatever way I can. I have formed long lasting connections with many of my clients and colleagues through these cases and I am constantly motivated to do more.
I have always seen pro bono work as an integral part of my practice and my role as a barrister and treated it accordingly. I have been very much supported in that attitude by Chambers and in particular by my exceptional clerking team (Tony Burgess, Jo Francis, Ben Rippengale, Sam Jones, Tom Bennett and Hannah Rayner), many of whom are themselves very committed to pro bono causes.
There are so many reasons to take on pro bono cases: most obviously and importantly to help those who are in dire need of assistance and who otherwise would be unable to secure justice.
On the question of challenges, I find it very frustrating that for so many individuals, families and organisations, the only way to secure representation is to seek pro bono help. For my part, I see legal representation as fundamental to proper access to justice and am of the view that it should be funded accordingly. There are many reasons for that, but in particular I am conscious that there is otherwise a risk that only particularly palatable cases are likely to secure representation, which is a troubling thought (and one that many at the Bar work hard to guard against).
I am extremely grateful to receive the award. I am particularly and endlessly grateful to the wonderful solicitors with whom I have the privilege to work. Their tireless efforts are the primary reason that any of the work I undertake is even possible. I am also delighted to share the award with Jake Rudman, and hear more about his fantastic work. I only wish I could share this award further: so much of my work in the last year has been a team effort with exceptional junior barristers including Catherine Oborne, Sarah-Jane Ewart, Agata Patyna, George Molyneaux, Ben Bundock, Joshua Pemberton, Alice Irving, Aarushi Sahore, Sophie Bird, Alastair Richardson, Emma Mockford, Zahra Al-Rikabi, Emily MacKenzie, Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Colin Smith, Lewis Mooney, Ciara Landy and David Chirico (before he took silk!). They are an inspiring crowd.
4PB has a distinguished history as a leading set of specialist family law barristers in London. We have a long history of publicly funded work and 4PB is proud that it plays a vital role in providing pro bono assistance to community projects and individuals, often vulnerable, who lack legal support and advice.
In 2023, 4PB played a key role in assisting in the creation of a ‘Birth Charter’ with the charity, Birth Companions. The Birth Charter sets out how services and systems in England should support all women who are involved with children’s social care during the critical ‘1001 days’ – from conception to the child’s second birthday.
Members of 4PB provided pro bono legal advice to ensure that the Charter operates within public authority obligations under the Children Act 1989 and the European Convention on Human Rights. The launch of the Charter in July 2023 was the culmination of nearly two years of hard work, in partnership with women with lived experience, practitioners, commissioners, academics and others working across health, social care, family law, the criminal justice system and beyond.
As well as working on the development of the Charter, members of 4PB have been able to use their expertise in family law to help and support Birth Companions. The collaborative working which this involved was rewarding and eye-opening. It is, in our view, the paradigm example of commitment to an innovative, multi-disciplinary programme, which has the potential to help some of the most vulnerable women in society.
It is anticipated that the Charter will help create a new national health and social care pathway in England to deliver compassionate, trauma-informed, equitable support for women and their babies. The Charter’s launch event which we hosted and sponsored in our chambers in July 2023 was a proud moment for 4PB.
Beyond our work with Birth Companions, in just the last 12 months, nearly 40% of barristers at 4PB – from pupils to silks – have provided pro bono assistance to individuals in forums which have ranged from hearings before magistrates to the President of the Family Division in the Court of Appeal.
Our pro bono work has encompassed financial provision, private law disputes, care proceedings, domestic abuse, transparency, costs, abduction, recusal, divorce, foreign marriages, international surrogacy, domestic surrogacy, parentage and even representing a parent in a civil claim (arising out of care proceedings) against the government of St Helena.
Our work has resulted in the exoneration of intervenors in care proceedings, parents securing regular contact with their children, the return of children to the jurisdiction, protection from domestic abuse, and, more importantly, the opportunity for members of the public to participate fully in proceedings which were fundamental to their and their families’ futures.
Everyone has access to courts, but that is not the same as having access to justice. 4PB takes the view that a crucial element of access to justice is having access to legal advice. In circumstances where the state no longer ensures that, our members do their best to help. 4PB does not undertake pro bono work for recognition, but winning this award has enormous meaning for us. It shines a much-needed light on the work we have done, and gives us huge encouragement to press on.
Pro Bono Chambers of the Year is an award we can be really, really proud of. It reflects one of our core values – acting in the public interest and ensuring access to justice is not denied because of a lack of funds. Success is upholding those core values. To be recognised is humbling.
I n addition to my role as the Senior Planning Clerk at Kings Chambers, I am also Chambers’ Pro Bono Champion. I have been working with Advocate since 2018, and have developed strong relationships with the Advocate casework team. Collaboration with Chambers members to formulate and implement new systems to encourage and facilitate the uptake of pro bono has been key to the increase in this field of work.
I have organised internal training sessions and worked to streamline the process of sharing pro bono cases among members. Training and raising awareness generally has generated a wider interest in undertaking pro bono work including all pupils once in their second six. It is testament to this programme of initiatives that many of our senior members have become Advocate case reviewers including our Head of Chambers.
In my capacity as Pro Bono Champion, I have helped to drive the significant increase in pro bono work being undertaken by Chambers. I monitor all cases offered to Chambers and can see the huge benefit of partnering with Advocate. A recent example of a case taken on by Chambers involved an applicant who had built a caravan on their mother’s property in 2018, and lives there with their husband and children. The council refused the Lawful Development Certificate and served an Enforcement Notice. The applicant’s appeal was dismissed. The applicant was served an injunction in court to demolish their home. Counsel provided the necessary advice and support to enable them to appear at the hearing for the variation order.
I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have received the Pro Bono Chambers Professional of the Year award. Anyone who does pro bono work is a winner in my eyes.
Billy our CEO, founder and single dad himself, has spearheaded the pro bono family law clinic. 2024 marks our four-year anniversary, where not only are we honoured with winning the Pro Bono Initiative of the Year, but Billy received a lifetime achievement civic honour from Hammersmith and Fulham.
Billy’s unwavering commitment is evidenced by his collaboration with our esteemed legal director Simon Bruce, a family law partner at Dawson Cornwell. Together, they have transformed lives. Through their combined efforts and now Ceri’s, Dads House’s Family Law Clinic Manager, so many families have found solace. However, this is not the limits of how Dads House helps. Our clients have access to our foodbank, lunch clubs and programmes for dads, whether that is our emotional support group, yoga and/or football.
Our Family Law Clinic runs every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, helping on average between three to six clients per clinic. Each for an hour. Our child law experts are Simon Miller (Harcourt Chambers), William Hogg and Jacqueline Fitzgerald (Laurus Law), Veryan Exelby (Farrer & Co LLP), Victoria Teymourian-Yates (Hunters Law) and Gorkem Ozsoy (Branch Austin McCormick). We are a tight and collaborative group.
We have trained pro bono mediators supporting our clients and emotional support coaches.
Since 2020 we have provided over 1,020 advice appointments. We provide repeat appointments, some return for up to 23 appointments. We have provided £1,410,772 worth of pro bono advice over four years.
Law students are at the centre of our clinics, as the future of family law. Whether that is mentoring, supporting them to advise clients or developing their casework and advocacy skills through programs led by Ceri. They learn and give so much. We are really proud of them.
We have a panel event series with expert speakers such as Circuit judges, senior members of the Bar and our one and only Simon Bruce, discussing important issues: the Pathfinder Pilot and Cases of Conflict.
We have a special partnership with Coram Chambers, who provide pro bono court representation. We have the kind support of Our Family Wizard, who are at the cutting edge of family law communication and technology.
Furthermore, were always grateful for the support of 36 Family Chambers, 4PB, Legastat, Middle Temple and Stewarts Law.
Being the winner of this award is incredibly meaningful. This award tells the story of the progress we made from a small shop front charity, where our first clinic was held in 2020, unfunded and with no kitchen sink. Now to a pro bono family law clinic honoured by the Bar Pro Bono Awards. Naturally, we are happy to report, we are still in our shop front but now with a kitchen sink!
The Dads House Family Law Clinic story continues weekly. Recently we assisted a client in a summary international matter, with fees valued at over £100,000 with nine High Court hearings and all with pro bono representation. Based on this colossal effort by Simon Miller, members of Coram Chambers and 4PB, this has inspired our fundraising appeal (see: tinyurl.com/3f9a2cv8).
However, this client’s story at it’s core is universal, they wanted to be there to protect their loved ones but tragically could not afford advice. This is what we do at Dads House Family Law Clinic. We help dads and mums with expert legal advice, pro bono alternative dispute resolution, emotional support, representation and buckets-full of compassion and kindness. Most importantly we protect and keep children at the centre of everything we do.
In the second of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners, Jake Rudman, Jennifer MacLeod, 4PB, Mark Ronson and Dads House share the stories behind their awards
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