Pro Bono

  • Durhamprobono

Description

The Durham University Pro Bono Society ('DUPS') was established towards the end of the 2009/10 academic year. As an umbrella organisation, DUPS encompasses and strengthens the existing student-run projects whilst also providing a platform of resources and guidance to launch new Pro Bono projects.

DUPS encourages students to engage skills developed as part of their degree for the benefit of the local community. The individual projects allow students to interact with their peers and the community, gaining important research skills that contribute to their academic and professional work. In addition, the local community profits from access to practical knowledge and information regarding a range of legal areas through each of the projects.

The projects engage in a wide range of activities such as fundraising, carrying out research projects and working with solicitors on real-life cases. We welcome all students, regardless of your degree, as we encourage interaction between individuals from different backgrounds. We are always willing to hear any new ideas for projects. Our eleven current projects are:

  • Adviceline (working with Citizens Advice in County Durham)
  • Amicus (facebook.com/dupsamicus) 
  • A-Team Durham (facebook.com/ateamdurham)
  • DUPS Blog (facebook.com/dupsblog) 
  • Families in Care (parent organisation: facebook.com/FamiliesinCare) 
  • Family Law Network (facebook.com/DUfamilylawnetwork) 
  • HALO (facebook.com/StudentHaloProject) 
  • LawWorks (parent organisation: lawworks.org.uk)
  • Syrian Legal Development Programme (parent organisation: syrianldp.com) 
  • Tenants’ Rights (facebook.com/DUPSTenantsrights) 

In September 2009, Baroness Hale of Richmond accepted our invitation to take up the position of honorary life president of the society. Her ongoing support is be extremely beneficial as we extend the society's projects in the future. As stipulated by our inaugural President, 'we are firmly committed to the idea that those fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study law should share their knowledge with the general local community, so that they too can use a knowledge of law to support them in times of difficulty'.

None of our society’s achievements would have been possible without the hard work of our projects and all those involved. Our projects’ efforts have led to the Pro Bono Society’s victory at the Law School Awards 2020, winning Best Student Law Society Contribution to Society Award. We are committed to improving our efforts as we move forward as a society.

Terms and conditions

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  • Comply with the terms of the groups constitution, the relevant rules and regulations, and all the relevant laws and regulations.
  • Act in the best interests of the student group and Durham SU, and uphold the student group’s aims and the objects of Durham SU.