LawWorks and Bar Pro Bono Unit launch student fundraising competition
updated on 16 November 2016
The 2016-17 Law School Challenge pro bono competition was announced last week by LawWorks and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
With its launch timed to coincide with National Pro Bono Week, the competition asks teams from universities, law schools, colleges and sixth forms nationwide to submit imaginative ways to fundraise for LawWorks and the Bar Pro Bono Unit. Both charities work to enable access to justice for people who would not otherwise be able to afford legal representation; LawWorks runs a network of 220 legal advice clinics, while the Bar Pro Bo Unit connects members of the public in need of legal representation with barristers willing to give up their time and expertise for free.
Both charities are more in need of financial help than ever before following the government’s cuts to legal aid funding, and the contributions and ideas of teams in previous years have been hugely valuable. One team (of any size) per university/college/school can enter, with full support provided throughout the process. Past competitions have seen teams put on mock trials, bake offs and even sky dives.
The winners will be announced when the competition closes in March 2017, while winners and runners up will receive recognition at the LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards at the House of Commons.
Those interested in taking part should contact Valerie Hudson and May Dobson at [email protected].
