From visiting Zimbabwe’s orphanages to winning appeals in English courts: The foundation of my passion to pro bono

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It began as a child in Zimbabwe, visiting orphanages and volunteering throughout school. Those experiences ignited a passion for helping others that has never left me.

As Attorney General Lord Hermer KC observed, “pro bono work provides opportunities to develop skills, support the commercial sector, and give back to the wider community. It is a manifestation of our commitment to the rule of law; simply put, it reflects the best of us.”

 

The foundation years

I came to the UK to study law, driven by that early passion for justice. After law school, I focused on voluntary work. Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) became my sanctuary during the 2008 financial crisis. For 2.5 years, I watched families lose everything, businesses crumble, lives unravel. I stayed another 1.5. years, on a paid basis, because this work had got under my skin.

Those CAB experiences gave me skills for life. I learned to explain complex legal concepts in plain English, stay calm under pressure, and find solutions when none seemed to exist. Most crucially, I discovered that legal knowledge without compassion is just academic theory; it’s the human connection that transforms advice into real help.

I qualified as a solicitor and later transferred to the Bar in 2021, establishing my independent practice in 2022. My background was in public family law, but pro bono work became the bridge that allowed me to develop confidence in private family matters. Within months, I was back volunteering with Advocate.

 

Stories that win

Pro bono work served as my training ground, allowing me to handle a variety of matters, including relocation, contact, and domestic violence cases.

One appellate case taught me more about procedural law than any textbook could. I had to master complex procedural rules, draft legally sound grounds, and present oral arguments that ultimately convinced the judge to allow the appeal.

Perhaps most significantly, a housing case involving statutory succession rights threw me completely out of my comfort zone. I had no prior knowledge of succession law, yet found myself mastering complex housing statutes and navigating civil procedure rules, applied far more strictly than family procedure rules.

Looking back, there is a clear thread from those childhood visits to orphanages in Zimbabwe to the complex appellate work I now handle; the same calling to help those who cannot help themselves.

 

The win-win reality

With pro bono work, clients receive expert representation they couldn’t otherwise afford. Barristers gain further experience and skills, with many finding their most memorable cases come through pro bono work. The profession fulfils its public service obligation. Society benefits from a more accessible justice system.

Beyond case matching, Advocate provides mentoring opportunities where practitioners can learn from very senior juniors through to silks, an invaluable way to enhance advocacy skills. You also get to work alongside fantastic caseworkers starting their journey to the Bar, and if fortunate, you will someday rub shoulders with them as colleagues, recalling the days you worked hard together.

Finally, you may work with pro bono solicitors, with schemes such as Pro Bono Connect available to help you forge lasting professional relationships. I recently convinced (perhaps badgered) a solicitor to take on a pro bono case they initially hesitated about, and they have thanked me for it since -  despite the increase in workload!

 

Why the Pro Bono Recognition List matters

There are many compelling reasons to register on the Pro Bono Recognition List. First, it signals to colleagues, clients, and the judiciary that you understand the Bar’s broader social responsibility.

Second, it enhances your professional credibility and makes you visible to instructing solicitors seeking committed advocates.

Third, it acknowledges the profession’s collective duty to expand access to justice. As Conall Patton KC puts it, “doing pro bono work not only improves access to justice and changes lives, it also helps us to expand our legal horizons...it also helps us to become better barristers.”

617 barristers were recognised in 2025’s List; a 30% increase from the previous year, but still just over 3% of practising barristers.

The pro bono need has never been greater with legal aid cuts contributing to the widening justice gap, particularly in family law, housing, and employment.

If you aren’t already doing pro bono work, start now.

If you are doing it but you aren’t on the Recognition List, you will be able to register for the 2026 list early next year.  If you are not signed up to Advocate already, find out about how you can volunteer on their website.

The profession needs your expertise, vulnerable clients need your advocacy, and you need the professional and personal growth that only this work provides.