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Lawyers have raised more than £180,000 to help support the thousands of refugees fleeing their war-ravaged homes.
Employment barrister at London’s 11 KBW, Sean Jones QC, started the campaign after seeing a similar appeal organised by a group of children’s book writers that raised more than £100,000.
He set up an online Just Giving page asking lawyers to donate a billable hour to Save the Children. On social media website Twitter, he wrote: “Children’s authors are putting my own tribe to shame.”
Having initially set a target to raise £5,000, the appeal smashed that sum within an hour. The increased £7,500 target was exceeded, with £100,000 raised in 48 hours.
Donations ranged from £10 to £1,000 and at the time of writing the total had reached more than £180,000 from more than 1,400 individuals, chambers and firms with money still pouring in.
But in recognition that not everyone had the funds to give, Jones said: “If you cannot, please deploy your advocacy skills to nag someone else into doing so.”
Jones said: “I feel ashamed. I knew that the suffering and gross injustices the refugees are suffering would be something that lawyers would want, naturally, to address. However, I underestimated the urgent determination of my colleagues to help and their generosity.”
He said: “I’ve been particularly moved by the legal aid lawyers who have dug very deep to help, often donating a whole day fee. So much for greedy fat cats.”
“The Bar Council and specialist associations have all got behind the appeal. I have never been so proud to have such people as colleagues,” he added.
Lawyers in Canada, Australia and Germany have followed with their own appeals.
Lawyers have raised more than £180,000 to help support the thousands of refugees fleeing their war-ravaged homes.
Employment barrister at London’s 11 KBW, Sean Jones QC, started the campaign after seeing a similar appeal organised by a group of children’s book writers that raised more than £100,000.
He set up an online Just Giving page asking lawyers to donate a billable hour to Save the Children. On social media website Twitter, he wrote: “Children’s authors are putting my own tribe to shame.”
Having initially set a target to raise £5,000, the appeal smashed that sum within an hour. The increased £7,500 target was exceeded, with £100,000 raised in 48 hours.
Donations ranged from £10 to £1,000 and at the time of writing the total had reached more than £180,000 from more than 1,400 individuals, chambers and firms with money still pouring in.
But in recognition that not everyone had the funds to give, Jones said: “If you cannot, please deploy your advocacy skills to nag someone else into doing so.”
Jones said: “I feel ashamed. I knew that the suffering and gross injustices the refugees are suffering would be something that lawyers would want, naturally, to address. However, I underestimated the urgent determination of my colleagues to help and their generosity.”
He said: “I’ve been particularly moved by the legal aid lawyers who have dug very deep to help, often donating a whole day fee. So much for greedy fat cats.”
“The Bar Council and specialist associations have all got behind the appeal. I have never been so proud to have such people as colleagues,” he added.
Lawyers in Canada, Australia and Germany have followed with their own appeals.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
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Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
