Social Responsibility
Pro bono work and pro bono organisations
Outer Temple undertook pro bono work valued at over £330,000 in 2007/8.
Many members of chambers undertake pro bono work through the Bar Pro Bono Unit, the Free Representation Unit or directly through solicitors.
The most high profile of our pro bono cases is that of Jack Alderman, the world's longest-serving (known) prisoner on death row who served 33 years in prison in the United States. On three occasions he was within 24 hours of death by lethal injection for a murder which he claimed he did not commit. His UK legal team, led by Jeremy Sandelson, a partner at Clifford Chance, and Richard Lissack QC at Outer Temple Chambers, argued that there was enough evidence to apply for a re-trial.
In October of 2007 Jack Alderman's third stay of execution was achieved at the eleventh hour by a round-the-clock effort by Outer Temple barristers: Richard Lissack QC, Paul Garlick QC, Robert-Jan Temmink and Naomi Ling in liaison with Clifford Chance. They argued that execution should be stayed pending an appeal before the US Supreme Court on the legality of death by lethal injection - an appeal whose argument had been drafted by Richard Lissack QC.
The US Supreme court then ruled that lethal injection does not breach the US Constitution as "cruel and inhuman" punishment.
In early September a warrant for Jack's execution was issued by the State of Georgia, ordering an execution date sometime between 16 and 23 September. Jack's last hope was with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, who have a discretionary power to commute death sentences.
A petition to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles was organised calling on the Board to grant a hearing. Reprieve, the Bar Council and the Law Society joined politicians, leading lawyers, Amnesty International and the Vatican Office in trying to stop the execution going ahead.
On Monday 15 September 2008 the Court ordered the Clemency Board to afford Jack a proper review. To this, the board was hotly opposed according to the report to the proceedings. So, the board convened at 9am on the morning of Tuesday September 16. They refused clemency and ten hours later Jack was executed.
In Georgia the media witness the death: media report
The Bar Pro Bono Unit, the Free Representation Unit (FRU) and the Mary Ward Legal Centre
The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers for those who cannot afford to pay and who cannot obtain public funding.
Several barristers in chambers provide free legal advice through the Bar Pro Bono Unit and Christine Kings, our commercial director, is the treasurer and a trustee of the BPBU and Bar in the Community.
The Free Representation Unit (FRU) was founded in 1972 and is a registered charity. FRU provides legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in tribunal cases for those who could not otherwise obtain legal support, for want of personal means or public funding. To provide this service FRU trains volunteer law students and legal professionals in the early stages of their career in the skills required to give confident and competent support for the rights of others.
Naomi Cunningham has been involved with FRU since 1992 as an employment caseworker, representing FRU on national Employment Tribunal (ET)/ Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) User Groups, as a Management committee member and fundraiser. She recently won a long Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) case for FRU (seven hearing days) against Brighton & Hove City Council, with more than £200,000 awarded to the claimant. This was FRU's largest ever ET award. The royalties of her book "ET Claims: tactics and precedents" (now co-authored with FRU's current Legal Officer) are donated to FRU.
The Mary Ward Legal Centre's core charitable aim is to provide free quality legal services to all those in need, hardship and distress. They are the original "Poor Man's Lawyer", having started providing pro bono services over 100 years ago. Today, 64% of their service users do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford a private solicitor. They arrive at the Centre with social justice cases which are often urgent and complex.
Our commercial director, Christine Kings, is the Chair of the Mary Ward Legal Centre. The Centre is one of the organisations that regularly holds management committee and other meetings in chambers.
In May this year, staff and barristers took part in the London Legal Support Trust sponsored walk to raise money for the Mary Ward Legal Centre, the BPBU and FRU.
Community and Voluntary Organisations
Use of space
Chambers is occupied during normal working hours but outside of that time our space is not normally being utilised. Arrangements can be made for charities and voluntary organisations connected with the work of Chambers to meet at our offices. Normally this requires a key-holder to be attending the meeting and to take responsibility for the security of the premises. This is subject to the agreement of the Commercial Director and/or the Chambers Management Committee.
The Spinal Injuries Association
The Spinal Injuries Association provides support for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their families from the moment they sustain an SCI and for the rest of their lives. The services that SIA provides encourage paralysed individuals to reach their full potential and lead full, independent lives.
SIA campaigns for improvements in medical and social care for all with SCI and works hard to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of such an injury.
Outer Temple has had a long association with the SIA sponsoring events and initiatives to raise awareness of, and money for, their work. This includes organising teams of staff and practitioners to take part in the London Triathlon on behalf of the Spinal Injuries Association.
The Refugee Council
The Refugee Council is a charity providing advice and practical support to people who have fled persecution and violence - having had to leave behind their homes, families, friends, colleagues, language, and everything that is familiar to them. Every year this charity helps thousands of vulnerable men, women and children access legal, counselling, education and health care services. They also campaign tirelessly against unfair policies, increase public understanding, and work to ensure that the rights enshrined in national and international law are not eroded.
Outer Temple Chambers is proud to work with the Refugee Council in several ways: Michael Bowes QC is a member of its Leadership Board. We help the Refugee Council raise funds and awareness of their campaigns and projects. We also help refugees rebuild their lives by offering work placements.
Outer Temple Chambers hosted a photographic exhibition in association with the Refugee Council of the work of Urginia Mauluka a photojournalist from Zimbabwe. Like many independent journalists she was forced to flee her country. Her photos were on display from April to September 2008 and were available for purchase through a silent auction.
The Refugee Council has provided suitably qualified and experienced work placements to Outer Temple Chambers to fill temporary staff vacancies. This provides the temporary member of staff with work experience, the opportunity to apply for the full-time post which is advertised in the normal way and a reference for future applications. It provides Outer Temple Chambers with highly motivated well-qualified staff some of whom have subsequently been appointed to full-time posts.
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Kilimanjaro Trek
Richard Lissack QC and Ben Compton climbed Kilimanjaro in October 2008 and raised £22,000 for the Depaul Trust. Details of its excellent work can be found at www.depaultrust.org
The Depaul Trust specialises in working in communities where poverty and long-term unemployment have resulted in generations of social exclusion and high rates of homelessness. Whilst their work with homeless young people continues to be a central part of what they do, they have developed new services and opened new projects that not only help individual young people but - crucially - whole communities where homelessness and anti-social behaviour are rife.
Today, the Depaul Trust is tackling the issues that are most important to and in one way or another impact on all our lives - excluded young people some of whom who get mixed up with drink and drugs and then through petty offending enter a vortex of offending and survival.
The Depaul Trust provides young people and communities with the services that prevent these problems from happening. At the same time, they continue to work with individual young people who have fallen through the safety net and lack the most basic needs, such as somewhere to live and something to eat.
Please support the Depaul Trust: donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. The Depaul Trust gets your money faster and, if you're a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
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Social Mobility and Work Experience
Chambers is pleased to take students through the joint initiative organised through the Social Mobility Foundation This initiative is designed to provide bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to get an insight into life at the Bar and an understanding of what it could offer to them as a possible career. Download a copy of The Bar Council's document on barristers promoting social mobility "No bar to the Bar".
We also offer work experience to school students in local schools for periods of two weeks by arrangement.
Transport policy
We actively encourage staff and barristers to cycle or use public transport to and from Chambers. In the last twelve months we have reduced our car parking spaces from three to one (for the use of visitors with limited mobility) and installed cycling racks on the premises. Shower and locker facilities are also available.
Staff are offered an interest-free loan for a travel card or a bicycle and chambers has negotiated favourable rates for cycle training on London roads.
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