Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Christine Russell (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 15 October 2009 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Pro Bono Work

Question: Can I tell the Solicitor-General about some pro bono heroes in my constituency? I do not know whether she is aware of this, but the College of Law at Chester runs an excellent pro bono scheme, whereby members of the public receive free legal advice from postgraduate students—under the full supervision of fully qualified staff, I hasten to add. Does she agree that that is a very good example of how we can encourage the next generation of lawyers to appreciate the value and, certainly, the need for pro bono work?

Answer: Absolutely; I agree. The College of Law at Chester has a long and proud history, and it is good that—to use a cruel metaphor—two birds are being killed with one stone: people get much-needed help, and at the same time the younger generation of lawyers start to understand the need for such work and the ethics of the profession into which they are moving. Teesside university near my constituency has a similar scheme.

Secondary information