ELA has long recognised the importance of pro bono work in the employment law arena and has played a significant role in developing pro bono services in the field.
The ELA Pro Bono Committee aims to encourage ELA members to get involved in pro bono initiatives and to offer access to a wide variety of pro bono work. Below is a summary of the current pro bono opportunities available to ELA members.
The Pro Bono Committee works closely with the Free Representation Unit (“FRU”), Advocate (the new name of the Bar Pro Bono Unit) and LawWorks on many of these projects.
ELIPS: assistance to unrepresented litigants in Tribunal
The ELA Pro Bono Committee has set up the Employment Tribunal Litigant in Person Support Scheme (ELIPS) to assist unrepresented litigants in Tribunal. It is similar to other schemes already successfully operated in the High Court and family court. The ELIPS scheme has the support of the Judges at the Employment Tribunals, and is being run in collaboration with Advocate (the new name of the Bar Pro Bono Unit), LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) and the Free Representation Unit. Find out more below.
Employment Tribunal Litigant in Person Scheme (ELIPS)
Pro bono assistance for NGOs and social enterprises
ELA is also Referral Partner for TrustLaw, the members-only service of the Thomson Reuters Foundation which offers lawyer and pro bono managers an easy way to connect with non-profits and social entrepreneurs seeking free legal help around the world.TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation's global pro bono marketplace. It is a free service which connects lawyers in more than 170 countries with NGOs and social enterprises that require pro bono legal assistance. Each week, we list TrustLaw’s employment pro bono opportunities around the world, along with our existing claimant pro bono opportunities under the 100 Days Project. Follow the link for further information.
ELA members are also invited to assist with BPP University’s Employment Law Telephone Advice Line (ELTAL). Through the ELTAL scheme, lawyers give free employment law advice over the telephone to members of the public.
Employment Law Telephone Advice Line (ELTAL)
Pro Bono Committee
Chair: Jennifer McGrandle, Decherts
Committee
Bhavika Badola, Bevan Brittan LLP
Caroline Baker, GQ Employment Law
Gus Baker, Outer Temple Chambers
Phillip Chivers, Osborne Clarke
Ben Collins QC, Old Square Chambers
Shane Crawford, 5PB
Cyril Dennemont, Fletcher Day LLP
Ruth Gamble, BDBF LLP
Ben Gray, Littleton Chambers
David Hopper, Lewis Silkin
Matt Jackson, 10 King’s Bench Walk Chambers
Spencer Keen, Old Square Chambers
Ed Kemp, Littleton Chambers
Sarah Keogh, Old Square Chambers
Shefali Lamba, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Sophie Roberts, Publicis Resources
Polly Rodway, BDBF LLP
Kate Sutherland, Morton Fraser LLP
Daniel Wise, Osborne & Wise
Katie Wood, Maternity Action