A leading North Wales solicitor has explained the business benefits of staff taking in voluntary work in the local community, as the legal profession nationwide marks Pro Bono Week this week (November 5-9).
William Bankes, of law firm Gamlins, recently shared his expert knowledge in an open forum event with community groups in Conwy, organised by Conwy Voluntary Services Council (CVSC) and the Business Supporting Communities (B2C) project.
William explained: “We were delighted to take part in the recent event organised by CVSC and B2C and we hope to take part in similar events in the future.
Gamlins has been involved in pro bono work with charities and community groups for some time.
“As well as putting something back into the community, especially in these difficult times, it provides us with opportunities to give our trainees experience – they will conduct the work and I will check over it afterwards.”
Big Lottery funded project B2C was set up by the six North Wales Community Voluntary Councils, in order to build lasting relationships between businesses and the communities they serve.
Gamlins has also volunteered its services, on a pro bono basis, to a number of charities and community groups in the region.
As well as providing the feel-good factor of helping a worthy cause, the legal firm believe the work brings a number of other benefits to their staff, as well as to the organisation they are helping.
One of the areas that the solicitors offer advice on is the legal responsibilities on an individual when they become a trustee.
“It is important that people who are setting up, or becoming involved with a community project or a charity are aware of the responsibilities that go with that,” William said.
“People sometimes become a trustee, for example, with the best intentions but won’t necessarily understand the legalities that might be involved.
“In other instances we have worked on the transfer of land to a community group.”
The workshop that Gamlins took part in recently was the first in a series of B2C workshops, where community and voluntary groups will get advice from a number of leading experts in their field.
The workshops are part of the B2C professional initiative, which aims to link a broad range of specialist advice through cost-free workshops and one-to-one sessions.
The 11th annual National Pro Bono Week, sponsored by the Law Society Bar Council and Legal Executives, is a week long communications campaign to celebrate the contribution of lawyers through pro bono work and explore its role in access to justice.
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