Corporate Social Responsibility

Our members and staff are committed to using their skills, time and resources to make a meaningful difference, both within and beyond the legal professions.

Through pro bono legal work, initiatives that seek to improve access to justice, investment in social mobility programmes, charitable fundraising and environmentally responsible practices, we remain committed to making a positive contribution to the legal profession and the communities we serve.

The following are some of the ways in which Pump Court Chambers, its members and staff, seek to make a positive impact through engaging in important CSR work.

Pro bono and access to justice

Access to justice is a fundamental principle of the legal system. Pump Court and its members are proud to support a range of initiatives that help to ensure legal advice and representation remain accessible to those who need it most.

Many of our barristers undertake substantial pro bono work each year, providing free legal advice and representation to individuals who might otherwise be unable to access it. Much of this is done through Advocate, LawWorks, the Free Representation Unit, and practice-specific schemes. For two consecutive years (out of the three it has been running), members of Chambers have appeared on the Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales, for having completed 25 hours or more of pro bono legal work in the previous calendar year. We are proud of this commitment and the contribution our members make to supporting individuals, charities and community organisations through their professional expertise.

For the past four years, members of our Employment Team volunteer up to three times per year for the Maternity Action & Mumsnet Legal Advice Clinic in March, June and November, providing free advice to individuals relating to pregnancy, maternity and parental rights in the workplace.

Each year, Pump Court supports the annual London Legal Walk and Winchester Legal Walk, completing 10km and raising funds for organisations that provide free legal advice and assistance to vulnerable people and communities.

Chambers is a panel member of the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Service, and members of our Sports Law Team volunteer significant hours each year providing advice and representation to sporting individuals (athletes, coaches, trainers, etc.) facing disciplinary and safeguarding investigations, sanctions, anti-doping rule violations, and non-selection appeals.

Supporting social mobility

We are committed to encouraging greater diversity within the legal profession and helping to improve access to legal careers for talented individuals from all backgrounds.

Pump Court regularly sponsors regional Law Society events, moots, debates, and educational programmes designed to support aspiring lawyers and students. Individual members volunteer to provide advocacy training and judge competitions.

These initiatives provide valuable opportunities for participants to develop advocacy, public speaking and legal reasoning skills, while gaining greater insight into the legal profession. By supporting these events, we aim to encourage the next generation of legal professionals and help widen participation in the profession.

Recently, members have volunteered to speak at “PowerUp Fest”, a legal careers festival tailored towards under-represented and/or disadvantaged students from low-income families. We also hosted a stand at the Bournemouth Crown Court Open Day, answering questions from the public and offering sentencing exercises, advocacy demonstrations, mock trials, and giving an insight into our different routes to the Bar.

Members have for many years volunteered through the Inns of Court, as well as with their old schools, colleges and Universities, to support aspiring barristers and the next generation of our profession. We regularly sit on scholarship panels, helping to award funding for Bar Course and law conversion students. We believe the high fees ought not to be a barrier to entry to the profession. Members also act as mentors to applicants, assisting with scholarship and pupillage applications and interviews. Members also host under-represented students at their Inns of Court, arranging visits and opportunities to meet practising barristers, to provide a greater insight into life at the Bar which they might otherwise not have access to.

Beyond mentoring, members contribute extensively to the educational work of the Inns of Court by serving on committees, delivering ethics and advocacy training, and supporting a wide range of educational initiatives for students, pupils and practitioners.

Supporting our profession

Pump Court is committed not only to supporting those entering the profession, but also to strengthening and improving the profession for those already within it. Many of our members give significant time to professional leadership, governance and initiatives designed to improve diversity, inclusion, professional standards and access to the Bar.

Members sit on numerous committees and working groups through the Inns of Court and within Chambers, contributing to education, ethics and professional development. They organise and speak at events celebrating important milestones within the profession, including events marking 100 Years of Women at the Bar, and Black History Month annually. Members also sit on LGBTQ+ Forums within the Inns of Court, helping to organise Pride events and initiatives that promote inclusion and visibility for LGBTQ+ members of the profession.

Others serve on committees dedicated to supporting barristers returning to practice following time away, whether through parental leave, illness or caring responsibilities, helping to develop policies and practical support that enable talented practitioners return to, remain in and progress within the profession.

Members also contribute to profession-wide initiatives, including working groups reviewing the implementation of the recommendations arising from Harriet Harman’s Independent Review of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct at the Bar, supporting ongoing work to foster a more inclusive and respectful profession.

Two members of Chambers also serve as Respectful Working Mentors, through the Family Law Bar Association, providing an independent point of contact for those who have experienced, or are concerned about, inappropriate behaviour whilst attending court.

As can be seen from our website, members of Chambers regularly deliver freely available webinars, podcasts, articles and training events and seminars, designed to share legal knowledge and updates, and support the continuing professional development of solicitors, junior practitioners, and the wider legal community. Chambers specifically hosts a Family Law Podcast, Civil Law Podcast, and New Practitioner Webinar Series. Pump Court is committed to making legal knowledge more accessible.

Wellbeing

We recognise that creating a supportive and sustainable working environment is an important part of our social responsibility. Chambers is committed to promoting the wellbeing of our members and staff, and fostering an environment in which individuals can thrive professionally, whilst maintaining a healthy balance with their personal lives.

Chambers has adopted a parental leave policy, which supports members in taking time away from practice following the birth or adoption of a child (and in returning thereafter), with a system of reduced and deferred Chambers contributions, to assist members during their return to work. We also operate a financial hardship fund, providing support to members experiencing unexpected financial difficulties during particularly challenging periods.

Professional development and wellbeing are further supported through our in-Chambers mentoring scheme, which offers members at every stage of practice access to experienced mentors to provide guidance on professional development, career progression, practice management and personal wellbeing.

Throughout the year we run internal Career Progression Sessions, where experienced members of Chambers dedicate their time, alongside external experts who we bring in, to support and advice members in respect of: practice management; work-life balance, pacing yourself and building resilience and capacity; financial well-being (including tax, mortgages and pensions); the junior to senior transition; and applying for Silk.

We recognise that wellbeing extends beyond formal policies. Through mentoring, peer support and an inclusive Chambers culture, we seek to ensure that every member feels supported throughout every stage of their career.

Since 2017, Chambers has received Wellbeing at the Bar certification from the Bar Council, who has stated that our “continuous work and dedication to wellbeing is very impressive”. Pump Court was one of the first chambers to be awarded the certification, which recognises our work done in relation to wellbeing at the Bar, and reflects our commitment to fostering a supportive and healthy working environment for members and staff. In 2026 we upgraded and expanded our Employee Assistance Programme available to barristers, including access to wellbeing , physical and emotional health services and resources; annual counselling sessions; health plans; financial coaching and immediate advice and support; access to a virtual GP; menopause-specific education and support and therapy; and a confidential whistleblowing service to report public interest disclosures, bullying, harassment, or other concerns.

Environmental sustainability

Pump Court Chambers is committed to reducing its environmental impact and supporting the legal profession’s transition towards more sustainable practices. For several years, Chambers has been a member of the Greener Litigation accreditation scheme, demonstrating our commitment to promoting environmentally responsible working practices across our legal work and operations. Through this initiative, members are encouraged to consider ways of reducing the environmental impact of litigation, including the efficient use of resources, minimising unnecessary travel where appropriate, and embracing digital working practices.

Alongside our participation in Greener Litigation, Chambers continues to review and develop its own internal practices to support sustainability and encourage environmentally conscious decision-making throughout the organisation. We recognise that environmental responsibility is an ongoing commitment, and remain dedicated to playing our part in supporting a more sustainable future for the legal profession and the wider community. Chambers encourages increased digital working, minimising paper use where possible, recycling, and continually reviewing our working practices to support a more sustainable way of operating. We have recycling bins throughout Chambers, and provide glasses and mugs rather than disposable cups. We also offer drinking water in reusable glass bottles.

Charitable and community engagement

Our commitment to social responsibility extends beyond legal causes. Throughout the year, members and staff support a variety of charitable initiatives through fundraising, volunteering and community engagement. This includes supporting charities working with vulnerable children, animal welfare organisations, and a variety of other worthy local and national causes through sponsored events (e.g. afternoon teas), fundraising activities (e.g. races and bake sales) and volunteering.

For the past two years, Chambers has organised and hosted the innovative and highly successful ‘In Her Defence’, Women’s 5-a-side Corporate (Legal) Charity Football Tournament. The event brings together participants from across the legal sector while raising funds for Girls United, supporting opportunities for girls and young women through sport and community engagement.

Alongside Chambers-led initiatives, many individual members devote significant time to volunteering for charities outside the legal sector, reflecting our shared commitment to supporting the wider communities in which we live and work.

Looking ahead

We recognise that social responsibility is an ongoing commitment, rather than a single initiative. Pump Court will continue to develop opportunities for our members and staff to support access to justice, improve social mobility, strengthen our environmental practices and contribute positively to the communities we serve.