Shoosmiths trainees complete pro bono challenge

Each year Shoosmiths issues a CR challenge to its first-year trainees and our 2020/2021 project was to ask our trainees under appropriate supervision to provide legal advice to organisations that are addressing any of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) in the UK.

This was the fourth consecutive year the challenge has been pro bono focused and for the second consecutive year the advice was delivered virtually to clients.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals agreed by United Nations member states defining 17 global priorities for sustainable development to be delivered by 2030. Together the global goals set an ambitious agenda for a better world by 2030 – fairer, safer, healthier, more prosperous and in better balance with nature. The goals and 169 associated targets are interdependent.

Just some of the work our trainees undertook included assisting:

• the Midland Employment Rights Advice Line (MERAL) –helping vulnerable members of the community with employment related issues;
• the fortnightly housing and employment pro bono clinics operated by Citizens Advice Milton Keynes;
• the pro bono clinic service operated by Edinburgh Citizens Advice; and
• presenting on basic employment law and rights to local schools in the Yorkshire area, and on tenant’s rights to the University of Portsmouth and Reading’s Prospect School Sixth Form.