A walk with the president
The SJ team has been gearing up to celebrate National Pro Bono Week
We have heard from many practitioners, firms, charities and clinics on how they will be celebrating this week.
We have heard from Elaine Campbell of Northumbria Law School whose pro bono clinic will be giving drop-in advice throughout the week. Then there is Family First Solicitors, which is running three monthly court clinics. And the University of South Wales' Legal and Financial Advice Clinic will be celebrating its one year anniversary.
We have also spoken to Amicus-ALJ, a small charity providing representation for those facing the death penalty in the US; Bob Nightingale of the London Legal Support Trust; Anna Rudkin of Sheffield Hallam University; and Martha de la Roche of the Access to Justice Foundation.
President of the Law Society, Andrew Caplen, has also been in touch to explain why he will be walking approximately 65 miles from the very north to the far south of Hampshire. He will be leaving Inkpen Beacon at 7:00am on Sunday 2 November and aims to reach his firm's Lymington office at approximately 4:00pm on Tuesday 4 November.
Caplen is aiming to raise money for the Access to Justice Foundation, which supports the pro bono and free legal advice sectors. The Foundation does this by raising funds and distributing them to organisations that support those who need legal help but cannot afford it. With the recent changes in the provision of legal aid and cuts in government spending, pro bono initiatives are perhaps now more important than ever.
The president welcomes the company of any rambling solicitors who might have the time to join him next week on his trek.
We want to hear from practitioners across the legal profession as to how they will be taking part in the festivities. Tweet us with the hashtag #probonoweek.
Laura Clenshaw is SJ's managing editor
Follow Laura's tweets at @SJ_Weekly #SJClenshaw and read her blog online