Abstract
<p>This study considers whether participation in pro bono legal work during a programme of academic study at Northumbria University increases the likelihood of future participation in pro bono activity amongst law students.</p><p>This was a quantitative study in which an online survey, measuring altruistic attitudes, was sent to students enrolled on the M Law Exempting degree programme at Northumbria University. The author analysed the data by comparing the attitudes of those students who had engaged in pro bono activity during the fourth year of the programme against those students who had yet to engage in pro bono activity, being those students in Years 1, 2 and 3 of the programme.</p><p>The data suggests that whilst the students value engagement in pro bono activity, this is principally due to the personal benefits which they gain. In particular, respondents reported improvement in legal skills and enhanced employability as a consequence of participation in pro bono work. The data indicates that there is an increased awareness of social and economic issues whilst engaged in pro bono work but this does not translate into a desire to continue pro bono work after graduation.</p>It was therefore concluded that participation in pro bono work during the course of academic study does not increase the likelihood of future participation in pro bono activity following graduation.
Highlights
The availability of public funding in the UK in relation to legal disputes has significantly reduced following the changes to the scope of legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 coming into force on 1 April 2013.1 As many areas of law have been taken out of the scope of legal aid, individuals who previously qualified for legal aid will either be required to represent themselves or seek an alternative source of funding in relation to their case
As more universities develop pro bono work programmes, and more law students have the opportunity to engage in pro bono work, it is plausible to suggest that future participation in pro bono activity might increase in the profession
Whilst acknowledging the limitations of this study and that there is scope for further research, it does suggest that participation in pro bono work whilst at Northumbria University is not likely to increase the likelihood of future participation in pro bono activity following graduation
Summary
The availability of public funding in the UK in relation to legal disputes has significantly reduced following the changes to the scope of legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 coming into force on 1 April 2013.1 As many areas of law have been taken out of the scope of legal aid, individuals who previously qualified for legal aid will either be required to represent themselves or seek an alternative source of funding in relation to their case.It has been reported that the number of UK-based universities engaging in pro bono work has increased. 53% of respondent law schools stated they ran a pro bono programme in 20062 increasing to 91% of respondent law schoolsAs more universities develop pro bono work programmes, and more law students have the opportunity to engage in pro bono work, it is plausible to suggest that future participation in pro bono activity might increase in the profession.This study will consider whether participation in pro bono activity whilst at law school influences future participation in pro bono activity following graduation and in their future careers. It has been reported that the number of UK-based universities engaging in pro bono work has increased. 53% of respondent law schools stated they ran a pro bono programme in 20062 increasing to 91% of respondent law schools. As more universities develop pro bono work programmes, and more law students have the opportunity to engage in pro bono work, it is plausible to suggest that future participation in pro bono activity might increase in the profession. This study will consider whether participation in pro bono activity whilst at law school influences future participation in pro bono activity following graduation and in their future careers. ‘pro bono publico’, literally means ‘for the public good’. One definition of pro bono comes from the Pro Bono Protocol:
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