Pro Bono Week 2020: Through the pandemic and beyond
Mon 2 November 2020
This week is Pro Bono Week, and Edinburgh Law School are recognising and supporting the voluntary contribution made by lawyers across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need. In this year of unprecedented challenges, for both the voluntary and legal sectors, pro bono legal help has never been more important.
The 19th Pro Bono Week has started throughout the UK, and the University of Edinburgh is participating through a number of events.
Scotland Legal Roundtable
Tuesday 3 November 2020
12:30 - 14:00
Hosted by Trustlaw, this event will be focused on helping Scottish lawyers develop their skills and understanding in delivering pro bono legal work, in partnership with the law firm CMS.
With input from a number of pro bono specialists, including our very own Rebecca Samaras, Director of Pro Bono and Clinical Legal Education at Edinburgh Law School - TrustLaw will explore helpful practices as well as challenges and the lessons learnt in delivering pro bono legal support in Scotland. Participants will hear about current pro bono legal opportunities and be guided through TrustLaw’s Championing Pro Bono Guide, released in January 2019.
The University of Edinburgh's Pro Bono Society will be screening and discussing the film "For Sama" in aid of Indigo Volunteers.
Wed, 4 November 2020
13:30 - 15:30
"For Sama" is a documentary film surrounding the 5 year journey of filmmaker and journalist Waad al-Kateab and her daughter, Sama, during the Syrian Civil War. As one of the BAFTA”s most nominated feature documentary, “For Sama” has been said to be deeply moving and powerful.
The Pro Bono Society want to air this documentary to educate their members, on the on-going Syrian Civil War and how devastating and impactful it is, whilst raising money for an organisation that helps provide volunteers to support these type of crises. Indigo Volunteers is a charity that assists with humanitarian projects, including the refugee crisis.
Register on Eventbrite
Thurday 5 November 2020
17:30 - 19:00
Hosted by the Scottish Young Lawyers Association, this event will give attendees an insight in to the benefits of pro bono for lawyers and the reasons why it is so important for our wider community.
The event will proceed by way of a panel discussion on key topics, followed by a Q&A session. Rebecca Samaras of the Law School will be amongst the panellists.
Register on Eventbrite
As part of Pro Bono Week, we will be actively participating in the Go the Extra Mile for Justice Day.
Thursday 5 November 2020
This is a special day for the legal community to join together to raise money and awareness for the access to justice sector and the role Pro Bono work plays in helping vulnerable people in the UK get access to free legal help.
Support and get involved by signing up to your own #GotheExtraMile fundraising challenge - find out how.
To join The University of Edinburgh Pro Bono Society Team please visit the Virgin Money Giving page:
Probonoskills.com events
Probonoskills.com provide students who do pro bono with access to high quality training materials and events. The network exists to support students so that they can do more, help more, and achieve more for Scotland’s communities. They are hosting two events this week to mark Pro Bono Week 2020.
In association with ProBonoSkills.com, internationally acclaimed executive, careers coach and writer Kathy Caprino presents ‘The Most Powerful You: Finding “Brave” so that you can Rock Your Pro Bono Work and beyond’.
Tuesday 3 November 2020
17:30 - 19:00
The majority of lawyers and law students in Scotland are now womxn. By popular request, this training will focus on helping female law students to “find brave” so that they can do more, help more, and achieve more for Scotland’s communities.
If you are a student engaged in pro bono work, please register to attend the event.
ProBonoSkills.com presents a virtual Fireside Chat with Kenneth B. Clark, Partner and Chair of Fenwick’s award-winning tax controversy practice and alum of New York University School of Law.
Thursday 5 November 2020
17:30 - 18:30
Answering questions put to him by PBS co-founder Aideen Byrne, Kenneth will share stories and lessons learnt from his life in the law, reflecting, in particular, on the value and importance of pro bono to practitioners, the profession and wider society.
If you are a student engaged in pro bono work, please register to attend the event.
Edinburgh Law School Free Legal Advice Centre: SLA Finalist
We are delighted to announce that the Free Legal Advice Centre is a finalist for the Frasia Wright Associates Community Contribution Award in the 2020 Scottish Legal Awards.