November 4, 2024
The 23rd anniversary of Pro Bono Week takes place this week (4-8 November) and marks the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need.
Red Lion Chambers remain at the forefront of working with those who are most vulnerable and in need of legal help as well as mentoring and participating in a wide range of outreach work.
Chambers Highlights this year include:
• First Launched in October of 2019, the RLC/ELBA programme has seen monthly mentoring sessions with aspiring law students from universities in East London. Mentors for the 2024 year long programme include Mentors for the 2024 year long programme included: Michelle Nelson KC, Alistair Fell, Gillian Jones KC, Paul Jackson, Dan Taylor, Letitia Egan, Jack Talbot, Aneurin Brewer, Ed Renvoize, Josh Ellis, Rebecca Chalkley KC, Alexis Dite, Leo Seelig and Emily Mattin.Read more: [ELBA Mock Trial]
• The 10th anniversary of “State, Trial and Error” took place at the Old Bailey in one of the world’s most famous court rooms, Court No 1. Devised by former RLC Head of Chambers, HH Peter Rook KC the shows were co-sponsored by RLC and raised funds for The Schools Consent Project, focusing on legal education in schools to reduce offending rates, The Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund, aiding prison leavers and Pan Intercultural Arts supporting the vulnerable through arts for social change. [Trial and Error]
Member highlights include:
• Gillian Jones KC (Joint Head of Chambers) serves on the legal referral panel for The Centre for Women’s Justice and participates in mentoring through the ELBA and South Eastern Circuit KC mentoring programmes. This year she supported Clean Break’s First Online Film Festival in her role as a Developmental Board Member focusing on fundraising and raising awareness: [Clean Break Film Festival]
• Barnaby Jameson KC is working on a high-profile case with international legal and diplomatic challenges, related to the tragic killing of WPC Fletcher, a Metropolitan Police officer who was fatally shot while policing a protest outside the Libyan Embassy in London in 1994. Read more: [Barnaby Jameson KC instructed in historic private prosecution of alleged killer]
• Allison Clare KC volunteers with the charity Advocate – the Bar Council’s pro bono scheme which is dedicated to providing free legal assistance to those who are unable to afford legal representation and do not qualify for legal aid. She has also facilitated work experience for a student through Southwark Council which included a visit to Southwark Crown Court in February 2024.
• Aneurin Brewer has taken on the case of a young autistic man who was convicted of sexual offences. Aneurin Brewer will represent the individual in an appeal against both the conviction and sentence, arguing that the legal proceedings had failed to take into account his client’s medical condition and that the nuances of the defendant’s cognitive and social differences were not sufficiently considered during the original trial.
• Jack Talbot continues to provided mentoring, advice, and shadowing opportunities for aspiring law students, including observation of his trials at the Old Bailey.
• Dan Robinson serves as the Chair of AMNA, a charity that places a spotlight on the intersection of mental health and refugee welfare. Read his blog here: [World Mental Health Day]
• Valerie Charbit is a Trustee of Inclusion London, supporting organisations for deaf and disabled people. She also continues working with Professor Robin Banerjee (Former Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex and currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement) on the “Kindness” project which was initiated by Valerie and Robin in November 2021 and conducted research with a group of barristers to investigate their experience of kindness, its impact and barriers to kindness in the profession and the workplace. View the latest video here: [Vimeo]