Free Representation Unit

Calling all FRU volunteers and supporters.

Please come to our annual general assembly on 30 October at Latham and Watkins. We'd love to see you to help us celebrate our work over the past year. Guest speaker plus refreshments - see you there!

RSVP chief.exec@thefru.org.uk

#WeDoProBono

A reminder from the High Court that where the local authority owes the duty to provide suitable accommodation, and is in breach of that duty, general statements about the difficulty of obtaining temporary accommodation will not be enough to avoid a mandatory order

nearlylegal.co.uk/2025/10/unsu...

Welcome back to participants at day 2 of our social security training.

Now FRU assistant legal officer Brandi Amiss-Towler talks about her specialist subject - Disability Living Allowance.

We hope you are enjoying the presentations and getting a good grounding in our social security work.

Welcome to everyone attending the first day of our social security training.

We hope that you find the training useful and interesting.

#WeDoProBono

The answer is definitely 'no' for many people Sarah.

We're pleased to have collaborated with you on this research and report Emiliano.

A really important issue for the economy. Everyone needs certainty that rights will be honoured - workers and companies that do the right thing and which don't want to be undermined.

Massive change is needed.

Rather thrilled that my former employer Wiltshire Law Centre is now SOUTHERN ENGLAND LAW CENTRE at www.selc.org.uk. Massive achievement by Olivia and her 20+ colleagues. I am very proud to have started there in 1981 and now to be a Trustee.

We collaborated with @tbij.bsky.social on this important story.

We represented Nadine at the ET. She was awarded £35k but hasn't received any of it. Workers need co-ordinated action by government agencies to enforce rights. We'll continue to represent our clients to give them the best chance.

Labour considering charging workers for employment tribunal claims, sources say Exclusive: Reintroducing tribunal fees would be ‘a gift for bad bosses’, says TUC chief Paul Nowak

www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...
Hard to believe that this idea has come round again. We spent so long last year making the case against ET fees.

We argued strongly that the introduction of these fees is not in the interests of access to justice. www.thefru.org.uk/public-consu...

Huge thanks to everyone at @11kbw.bsky.social for this wonderful support for our work.

Just a reminder that from tomorrow, 30th September 2025, the process for accessing legal advice from GMIAU will be changing.

To help, here is an updated guide outlining how professionals can make referrals to GMIAU under the new system. Please use and share with anyone who may need it.

Last chance to book our brilliant Social Security law and practice training.

Real legal experience - take this training and volunteer with the FRU.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fru-social...

Booking will close Tuesday Sept 30th.

Don't miss this opportunity to advance your legal career!

‘Maggots raining down’: survey lays bare dire state of courts in England and Wales | The Bar Council of England and Wales Commenting on the news today, the Chair of the Bar Barbara Mills KC said: "The Law Society's new report brings into sharp focus the dire and urgent need for additional funding and investment for our c...

Chair of the Bar Barbara Mills KC said: "The Law Society's new report brings into sharp focus the dire and urgent need for additional funding and investment for our court infrastructure. The Government should not allow our criminal and family courts to continue to deteriorate any further."

Rotting seagulls and 'maggots raining down': solicitors lay bare the condition of the courts estate Uxbridge magistrates and Manchester magistrates were the two lowest rated courts, according to Law Society survey.

Rotting seagulls and 'maggots raining down': solicitors lay bare the condition of the courts estate

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/rotting...

Event promotional graphic for "Making the Most of your Pupillage Gateway Application" hosted by The Bar Council. Features icons related to law, such as scales of justice, books, and laptops. Scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, online.

Are you applying for pupillage? Do you need help navigating the application process? Join us in December to have your questions answered.

We aim to equip you with the tools to make the most of your application and maximise your chances of success.

Book now: www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...

Huge thanks to everyone at @1crownofficerow.bsky.social - this is essential funding to keep our #ProBono and #ClinicalLegalEducation service going.

A reminder: if you are an aspiring lawyer this fantastic experience is available to you.

Volunteering with FRU is a shortcut to gaining key legal skills.

The entry point is to attend our training. Places are still left on the social security training. Book here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fru-social...

Thank you Simon.

We provide access to justice so that tribunal applicants can make the strongest case to the independent judiciary who make the decisions.

We support the rule of law and help the justice system to be more efficient.

We are grateful to all our supporters and volunteers.

“A court or tribunal is entitled to expect those who invoke the open justice principle to be open themselves”

EAT declines to provides documents to remote observer saying she could have attended + citing administrative burden

www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKE...

Busy busy busy day for us today.

Four employment tribunal hearings on the go at the same time!

Our brilliant volunteer advocates have got this!

#WeDoProBono #EmploymentLaw #FreeLegalRepresentation

Update: All employment training places now sold.

Lots of social security places still available. Please follow this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fru-social...

Get fantastic expert training on law and practise and then put into action as a volunteer - unparalleled experience for all lawyers.

In memory of Professor Conor Gearty KC (Hons), we invite those who knew him to continue to share their thoughts and tributes.

His memorial page remains open for those who would like to contribute: www.online-tribute.com/ProfessorCon...

This feels like wild west territory. Our tribunal volunteers are not allowed to use AI to produce their submissions. The risk is too high.

📢 We are glad to announce that Katie Fudakowski will be rejoining Chambers, after working as a partner in the Employment Team and Safeguarding Unit at Farrer & Co.

🔗 To read more, please click here: oldsquare.co.uk/katie-fudako...

White text on purple background reads: "We all deserve to be safe and feel like we belong, no matter where we come from or how we arrived."

We stand in solidarity with people seeking safety and against acts of violence and intimidation taking place in parts of the country.

Times are tough but people fleeing war and persecution are not to blame for Scotland’s problems. Everyone deserves to be safe and feel like they belong.

#WinOfTheWeek celebrates the work of Ariel Kaminsky, our Linklaters secondee leaving us today.

The client feedback below sums Ariel perfectly. Above all a great advocate, but diligent, patient and reassuring.

Thanks and best wishes in your legal career Ariel.

#WeDoProBono #FreeLegalRepresentation

Calling prospective FRU volunteers:

Here are the links to booking our forthcoming training events. They will work at 09.30 on Monday 15th September.

Social security
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fru-social...

Employment
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fru-employ...

#conorgearty #humanrights #ruleoflaw #justice #academia #lse #inmemoriam | Cherie Blair CBE KC 💔 I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my dear friend and colleague, Professor Conor Gearty. Conor was a man of remarkable intellect—brilliant, principled, endlessly curious, and always gene...

Huge, huge loss for the UK legal and political community

www.linkedin.com/posts/cherie...

For the day that's in it, read Conor Gearty's piece from 2014 on the fantasies that underpin English public law: ukconstitutionallaw.org/2014/11/13/c...

⚖️The Court of Appeal (Sir Andrew McFarlane, Bean LJ and Coulson LJ) has handed down judgment in Alhayali v Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (Cultural Bureau) [2025] EWCA Civ 1162.

🔗To read more, click here: oldsquare.co.uk/court-of-app...