Members of Serle Court frequently act on a pro bono basis, both providing written advice and appearing in court. Members volunteer for Advocate, the Bar’s national charity, which offers free legal assistance to the community, and the Chancery Bar Litigants In Person (CLIPS) scheme, under which barristers provide free advocacy for litigants in person making urgent applications to the court.
Matthew Morrison KC, who is one of Advocate’s Pro Bono Champions, also reviews applications for assistance that are made to Advocate and decides whether or not cases should be matched with an assisting barrister. In addition, our mediators work with the Advocate Pro Bono Mediation Scheme.
Matthew Morrison KC is a member of the Chancery Bar Association Pro Bono Sub-Committee, which, among other initiatives, runs the CLIPS scheme, and is also responsible for PILARS, the Personal Insolvency Litigation Advice and Representation Scheme.
PILARS works with Advocate to match individuals facing personal insolvency proceedings with specialist barristers who can help (often on an expedited basis). It has recently set up its own on-the-day support scheme for litigants in person in the Insolvency and Companies Court bankruptcy list. PILARS also offers training and guidance to frontline agencies helping individuals with debt problems.
