Pro Bono Organisations

Listed below are organisations or schemes which help those seeking legal advice or representation to find barristers willing to act without charge on a pro bono basis.  Some other sources of assistance for litigants in person are also mentioned.  The ChBA encourages its members to participate as volunteers.

Bar Pro Bono Unit
The Bar Pro Bono Unit can arrange for advice or assistance to be provided by a barrister in any area of the law of England and Wales.  Applications must be made through a solicitor or an advice agency, such as a citizens’ advice bureau.  A number of factors are considered before a case is taken on including the deservingness of the case and whether there are alternative ways of obtaining help.  Barristers who have volunteered to take on cases referred by the Unit may provide advice or representation.

RCJ Advice Bureau
A Citizens’ Advice Bureau in the Royal Courts of Justice and the Principal Registry of the Family Division for litigants in proceedings there.  It operates a drop-in service to personal callers on a first-come, first-served basis, with some appointments available in the afternoon.

Personal Support Unit
The PSU provides non-legal advice, help, information and support to litigants in person and to any member of the public attending at the Royal Courts of Justice who may need help or assistance. It also operates at the Principal Registry of the Family Division at First Avenue House, High Holborn and at Wandsworth County Court.

FRU
The Free Representation Unit, FRU, provides junior lawyers and law students to act as advocates in tribunal hearings in the London and Nottingham areas in the fields of employment, discrimination, social security, welfare benefits, tax credits, child support and war pensions and criminal injuries compensation. Cases are referred to FRU by accredited FRU agencies, not by private individuals. 

Legal assistance in the Charity Tribunal
A scheme to assist persons making or defending a claim before the Charity Tribunal who are unable to afford to pay for independent advice has been arranged by the Chancery Bar Association and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.  Notice of the scheme is given on the Charity Tribunal’s website (www.charity.tribunals.gov.uk).  Anyone who thinks that he or she qualifies should contact the Bar Pro Bono Unit.


PILARS
PILARS assists debtors or bankrupts in the High Court when not entitled to public funding in creditors’ bankruptcy proceedings, applications to set aside statutory demands and applications to annul bankruptcy orders. It operates by matching volunteer barristers with unrepresented litigants.  The Scheme is administered by the Bar Pro Bono unit.  The scheme is operated in partnership with the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau and any interested clients should approach them first.