The 23rd annual Pro Bono Week takes place in the UK from 4th to 8th November 2024. This week offers an opportunity to recognise and support the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK.
It is important to highlight that many Lawyers across the UK provide their professional help for free to those in need, helping ensure access to justice for the most disadvantaged people in society. This reinforces this year’s pro bono week theme ‘The power of pro bono’ – as without accessible legal advice to those who cannot afford it, vulnerable and marginalised communities would struggle to know where to turn in changing, confusing and sometimes stressful circumstances.
As a responsible business, our firm works to contribute back to community initiatives. For example, we support a range of third sector organisations by hosting regular legal update sessions to ensure that they’re equipped with the necessary knowledge to run their businesses day-to-day.
Our team have also given their time as volunteers at the University of Edinburgh legal advice clinics and the School Mock Court Case Project.
In addition to the above, one of the ways we give back and champion pro bono work is by providing support to the NFU Scotland Legal Helpline. It is a service we run for NFU Scotland members, providing them with accessible legal advice to assist their initial enquiry in times of need. Within these discussions, our team often field questions that have quick, definitive answers capable of making a positive difference in a short timeframe. For example, during the storm season we often receive many calls about the maintenance responsibility of fences damaged by falling trees. Often, the caller has either been asked to pay for damage or they were looking to understand who is responsible for the damage caused to their boundary. By calling the helpline, they can quickly obtain an answer that reassures their circumstance.
The helpline is not just for the smaller questions, it can be useful as a first step on the road to finding a solution to a complex issue. In the past, we have received calls from relatives after the recent passing of a family member. Our team reacts with both empathy and a calm efficiency to help guide the caller with a road map of what to expect ahead, what initial steps they can take before seeking further comprehensive legal support. By giving clear, simple steps, it can give them peace of mind at a very emotional and stressful time.
Finally, the helpline can help prevent innocuous mistakes. For example, if you are a landlord or tenant involved in an agricultural tenancy, there are many small, technical points that can trip you up with potentially disastrous and costly consequences. Calling the helpline can be your first step in taking a pro-active approach to ensure that what you thought you had agreed is reflected in the legal position. The NFU Scotland helpline is there for those nagging thoughts at the back of your mind that you have been ignoring or for those questions you may have been putting off dealing with.
We also support pro bono work as a Legal Partner of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). This involves providing charities with an income of £50,000 or less with 2 hours of free legal advice. This can be an invaluable service for charities on complex issues such as governance, charity law, employment law, data protection and other issues often faced by charity teams.