It is important to feel that the skills you learn and utilise as a commercial lawyer can also be used to help others; or you may be looking for opportunities to gain or build on other non-legal strengths and experiences. We actively encourage our staff to take part in pro-bono work and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved:

• We are honorary Legal Advisors at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in the Royal Courts of Justice.
  
  
• We are a member of the Lloyd's Community Programme, a charity supported by City businesses to improve the opportunities and environment of the people of Tower Hamlets and neighbouring East London boroughs. Popular projects include the "Reading Partners" and "Number Partners" schemes in which we participate at the Bangabandhu Primary School in Bethnal Green. We are also involved in the Business Mentors and Head to Head Interview practice schemes.
  
  
• We work together with LawWorks, one of the UK's leading charitable organisations aimed at facilitating the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and communities in need.
  
  
• We volunteer for Fair Trials International (FTI).
  
  
• As part of the firm induction, our first year trainees recently completed a re-decoration project at Limehouse Youth Centre for City Gateway, a charity that supports disadvantaged communities in Tower Hamlets.
  
  
• One of our partners is the treasurer of the British Nigeria Law Forum and we support their events.  We recently held a student event for them at our London office.

To read reports from our trainees on the firm's involvement in the various UK-based pro bono projects, please see our magazine Trainee Days, May 2008 , October 2008 and Spring 2009.