Pro bono and Young Solicitors: Views from the Front Line

The value of pro bono publico services provided by the legal profession in the United Kingdom has continued to attract attention. Academic interest has focused upon the ethical context of pro bono work and the interplay between social and professional motivations behind the resurgence of interest in it. One of the reasons sometimes advanced is the inherent altruism of the young. It has, however, been argued that altruism is insufficient unless there is organisational firm-based support for pro bono publico. Further it has been suggested that other pressures, for example commercial pressure on large law firms, are more significant to pro bono uptake by young solicitors. This article outlines the results of quantitative research into the legal services provided pro bono publico by young and trainee solicitors or pro bono according to the definitions advanced by young solicitors themselves. It considers issues of definition, performance and motivation across a range of solicitors firms, from legal aid to large commercial practices. Finally, it addresses the issue of what motivates young lawyers to provide free services and what steps might be taken to increase participation

Legal Writing

Legal Writing guides students comprehensively through this vital legal skill and addresses a range of assessment methods from exam questions to final essays and problem answers. It considers how to deconstruct essay and problem questions and how to conduct and apply legal research to answer set questions.Lisa Webley explains how to reference others’ work clearly and correctly, making this book a useful tool for students concerned about issues of plagiarism. Legal Writing also focuses on how to develop critical thinking and communicate legal arguments, with both good and bad examples of written work considered and discussed in the text.Legal Writing is particularly useful for undergraduate students, especially at the beginning of degree studies, as well as for those preparing for the SQE exams. This fully revised fifth edition includes:• Guidance on how to avoid plagiarism, including examples of the best and worst practices• Worked examples throughout the text, including how to decipher essay questions in exams and coursework• An expanded set of accompanying digital learning resources with increased guidance for revision to allow students to test their progress and further engage with the topics in the book.Clearly written and easy to use, Legal Writing enables students to fully engage with essay and exam writing as a vital foundation to their undergraduate degree