As a student or graduate, it can be difficult to gain valuable experience so early in your career. But there are organisations out there who can benefit from your skills and give you practical experience to get started in law.

A recent City Law School graduate, Andre Da Silva-Jenkins, has been interning at the National Pro Bono Centre. Andre, who studied the Graduate Diploma in Law in 2023-24, has been supporting the charity to connect with pro bono schemes and organisations across the UK. Here he’s developed a much-needed map of pro bono opportunities for people in need of free legal help, and for practitioners to provide this invaluable support.

The City Law School and the National Pro Bono Centre spoke to Andre about his experience, and how other students can develop their skills with pro bono volunteering.

How did you secure the internship?

After completing my Diploma, I discovered the opportunity to work with the National Pro Bono Centre through an email from one of my lecturers, highlighting an opportunity for a law student with a summer internship in 2024.

After reading the NPBC’s website, I read a little about the work that the Centre does. I learned how they aim to support, promote, and facilitate pro bono work (in all of its diverse forms) across the UK, and decided that I had to apply for the internship!

Pro bono provision had been a motivating factor in my decision to pursue a career in law to begin with. I’m really passionate about equipping myself with a legal skillset which can be used to improve accessibility to legal advice.

Whilst studying on the GDL I was able to start to realise this goal by joining the School Exclusion Project – a joint initiative between The City Law School, Matrix Chambers and 11KBW Chambers. As a volunteer with the SEP, I provided pro bono representation and advocacy for families appealing against permanent school exclusion decisions, and I absolutely loved it! In doing so I committed to remaining involved in pro bono work and felt that the NPBC internship would offer the perfect opportunity to do so on a national scale.

I sent off my CV and a short accompanying cover letter to the NPBC team about my interest in pro bono work and why I thought I’d be well-positioned to work with the Centre. I was then contacted by the team, and invited to interview.

Like most candidates for internships, I was slightly nervous, but I was relaxed by the fact that I had somewhat been in ‘interview mode’ at the time (I had my Middle Temple bar course scholarship interview not long before). The interviewer, a NPBC team member, was really friendly and our discussion – which focused on pro bono accessibility and diversity in the legal industry – was genuinely enjoyable and interesting.

What has your work involved? What specific projects have you worked on and what impact have you had?

During my nine-week internship, I have mainly worked on the Centre’s National Research Mapping Project. This initiative collates data and information about the state of current pro bono work and opportunities across the UK, creating a more centralised source – or ‘map’ – of general pro bono opportunities. In turn, the intended impact of the project is to improve transparent signposting of these opportunities via a dedicated webpage for both clients (seeking access to free legal help, representation or advice) and practitioners (seeking to provide such services).

My role has involved computing and revising the relevant data and information, consulting spreadsheets and previous resources to inform an updated, accurate database of pro bono opportunities.

In doing so, I have been given lots of creative agency and responsibility but also have been really supported at each stage. In addition, I have sometimes acted as a liaison for the Centre, communicating with charities and/or organisations to better understand and record opportunities for pro bono lawyers.

It’s been very worthwhile contributing to the Centre’s work and the project to improve the
visibility of pro bono schemes in the UK. I’m extremely proud to have been involved.

What skills do you feel you have gained? What have you enjoyed the most?

I have developed an extensive skill set with online informational data. I’ve been analysing and reconceptualising the NPBC’s database, further improving my skills and confidence when handling the research and revision of law-related qualitative data. As mentioned, this has occasionally involved contacting facilitators of pro bono opportunities, organisations and law firms which has also helped me to further improve my written communication skills.

I now have a significantly more profound understanding of how pro bono works in practice across the UK.  During the internship, I observed the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of legal charities and bodies which has given me a thorough and practical understanding of the frameworks used by solicitors and barristers providing pro bono services.

The Centre has also been an exceptionally fun place to work! Based in the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London, I have been able to make the most of working in the same premises as organisations like Advocate and Justice. The NPBC team members have been really supportive too. They’ve given me lots of advice and tips (not to mention the unlimited access to top-notch coffee!)

I would recommend an internship like this to anybody aspiring to work in the pro bono field or legal industry.

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Many thanks to Andre for giving us such a detailed and useful insight into his summer’s work at the NPBC. Here’s his rundown of what comes next for him:

Following my time with the NPBC team, I will shortly be commencing the Bar Vocational Studies course at The City Law School, bringing me a step closer to realising my goal of becoming a criminal barrister! Moreover, inspired by the work that I have been engaged with during my internship, I have applied to volunteer in my free time at my local law and advice clinic in Brixton and so really look forward to continuing my involvement with pro bono work in this way in the nearby future.

A huge thanks too to the NPBC’s Mary Dobson Smith and Lois Carter, for giving our students the chance to apply for a role such as this. Being able to do meaningful work, to make a difference to this vital centre and therefore to help support the charities that spearhead access to justice is fantastic. We appreciate the trust you have in our community at City! Finally, thank you to Laura Potter, a senior copywriter, for her work wrangling this Q & A into such great shape.

Pro bono volunteering

Want to get involved in pro bono volunteering? The National Pro Bono Centre have a directory of in-person and online opportunities across the UK. Find your opportunity here.

Do you study, work or volunteer in the law or pro bono sectors? You’re invited to take part in Pro Bono Week 2024, Monday 4th to Friday 8th November. Join Pro Bono Week in celebrating and supporting the contribution made by the UK legal profession to giving free legal help to people in need.  

Follow Pro Bono Week on LinkedIn, X and Threads to find out how you can get involved.

If you provide legal advice within your community and want to work with dedicated students, the National Pro Bono Centre is here to support you. Check out their tips and advice.