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28 March 2025
Issue: 8110 / Categories: Legal News , Charities , Family , Divorce , Pro Bono , Expert Witness
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NLJ this week: Friends in the Courtney library & making expert connections

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An innovative law library and a scheme to match pro bono lawyers with experts both feature in this week’s NLJ, in a charity and pro bono double-bill. First up, Team Courtney explain how Courtney Legal works and how it can benefit early-career lawyers as well as members of the public.

Courtney Legal is an online audio-visual service that makes legal information easy to understand for anyone who is contemplating or going through a divorce. It was launched in January at a panel event attended by Baroness Hale.  

The authors write: ‘If Courtney is to consumers the equivalent of having a lawyer best friend, it is to new practitioners the equivalent of an educative “watercooler” experience.’

Next, Emily Sherratt, project director at the National Pro Bono Centre, covers the benefits of the Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme. This scheme connects pro bono lawyers with a network of volunteer experts, for example, medical or engineering specialists. As Sherratt explains, the expert help given includes translation services, communications advice and investigative work.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

20 promotions mark major people investment at national law firm, Anthony Collins

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley adds competition litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes Claudina D’Costa as Director of Client Development Marketing

NEWS
The 25th Pro Bono Week begins today until 6 November, with events hosted by law firms, chambers, law schools and charities across the UK
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
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