Each and every year The Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales is published to celebrate legal professionals who contribute to access to justice. It recognises both Barristers and Solicitors who give 25 or more hours of pro bono legal assistance.

This highly distinguished list was originally set up by the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee, with support from the Bar Council and the Law Society.

This year, we are proud to be able to say that seven of our Barristers at Kenworthy’s Chambers have been included in The Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales. They are Craig Holmes, Matthew Todd, Gita Patel, Mark Schwenk, George Brown, Shazia Khan, and Jonathan Greer.

Speaking about Kenworthy’s latest achievement, Practice Manager Maria Rushworth said, “Congratulations to our Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team who all made The Pro Bono Recognition List! We are immensely proud that the entire department dedicates their highly valuable time to helping those in need access justice.”

The list is recognised by all major pro bono organisations and Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, is the Patron. She said, “Solicitors and Barristers have a long history of volunteering their time to provide free legal advice and representation to individuals and charities who cannot otherwise pay for help.

“Pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid, but it is a valuable part of our system of justice, working alongside the advice sector. It is encouraging to see how much pro bono work is being undertaken across England and Wales, yet most lawyers’ individual contributions are unsung, when they should be recognised and celebrated.”

Tier 1 ranked Barrister Craig Holmes also provides a great deal of advice on cases at the initial stage - giving people an impression of whether or not there is anything that can be done for them. He collated Kenworthy’s Immigration team’s submission and sent it to the pro bono charity Advocate, who collect them on behalf of the bar.

The Immigration Team’s pro bono work consisted of many Judicial Reviews, lots of Asylum cases, and some advisory only. The success of some of these cases has saved people from probable persecution.

Leading immigration expert, Craig Holmes, reflected on the importance of pro bono work saying, "Both myself and all of the Immigration team at Kenworthy's recognise that, in a climate where barriers to people accessing justice are being raised ever higher, pro bono work is a necessary mechanism.”

“At Kenworthy’s Chambers, we as an Immigration, Asylum and Nationality team are attempting to redress the balance and ensure that as many people as possible have access to the expert advice and representation that they need. Often in cases that change the course of their lives.

“But let's be clear; in her comments commending the initiative of the pro bono recognition list, the Lady Chief Justice recognised that pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid. She was right to do so.

“There is no substitute for a properly funded system of justice which ensures that all those in society who require legal advice can access it. No doubt the breadth of the final list, when it is published, will be an indicator of just how far we are from this basic need being met."

In addition to our team of Immigration Barristers who were honoured on the list, Family Barristers Janet Cragg and Sarah Cook carried out pro bono work on private Children Law cases. Plus, Sally Penni carried out a housing and employment case pro bono and fellow Employment Barrister Matthew Todd was also recognised, completing over 25 hours of pro bono work this year!

You can learn more about how Advocate helps pair Barristers with individuals who cannot afford to pay and who are not covered by public funding in this blog: Matthew Todd Completes the Pro Bono Pledge.

Kenworthy’s Chambers Direct Access Barristers provide legal services such as representation, negotiations on your behalf, correspondence, court forms, drafting and advisory work. If Kenworthy’s Chambers does not provide the legal services you require, we recommend checking providers such as Chambers and Partners, the Legal 500, Juriosity, and the Bar Council’s Direct Access Portal.