Guest Blogger
Position
Key Facts
Joined A&O
A different perspective on life on the LPC
25 Nov 2009
In the same way that ‘Have I Got News for You’ likes to mix it up with a different presenter each week, the A&O blogs page has guest bloggers. I’m another future joiner (see Imran’s blog for more on what we get up to) but I thought I’d give you a different perspective on life on the LPC.
“What was also great was the way in which it gave everyone an opening into pro bono work”
Before our course started back in September we attended a short induction course at A&O’s offices, working on various pro bono projects. I was involved in the London Legal Support Trust (LLST) which fundraises from London lawyers to support voluntary sector legal agencies such as law centres. I really enjoyed the couple of days we spent working together and getting to know each other. The fact that we were working on a real, rather than a hypothetical, scenario made it all the more worthwhile. What was also great was the way in which it gave everyone an opening into pro bono work. I’d never done any pro bono before and I’d always been unsure of exactly what would interest me, not to mention the fact that I didn’t want to end up taking on too much!
Since then we’ve had the chance to continue to work with the various projects which has been great. Those of us who are still working with the LLST have been involved with re-designing the website, helping to build a more comprehensive database of supporters, and liaising with law firms and chambers throughout the city about the LLST’s fundraising events. It’s rewarding to know that the work we’re doing could never have been accomplished otherwise and will, hopefully, be making a real difference in people’s lives. Last week, along with some of the other A&O LPC-ers, I attended the LLST 5th birthday celebrations and got the chance to meet and talk with the Attorney-General, Baroness Scotland. She even picked us out as a potential future cabinet so watch this space!
Anyway, got to dash: another busy week of workshops, socialising and writing the A&O LPC Christmas Quiz lies ahead.
Ben Ogden, Future Trainee
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