Free Representation Unit
@freerepunit.bsky.social
Relieving poverty by training aspiring lawyers to represent clients in tribunal hearings for free. Please support us at https://www.thefru.org.uk/donate
Pinned
Hello to all our new followers on BlueSky.
Here's the lowdown on what we do. We'll post updates on our work and future developments.
Here's the lowdown on what we do. We'll post updates on our work and future developments.
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
BBC News went behind the scenes at six county courts across England to witness housing repossession cases unfold.
Along the way, they met Law Centre housing lawyers: the people on the front line fighting every day to stop homelessness. (1/2)
Along the way, they met Law Centre housing lawyers: the people on the front line fighting every day to stop homelessness. (1/2)
BBC reports live from court as more people face losing their homes - special report
Court figures show the number of mortgage repossession orders in England and Wales reached a five-year high in 2024-25.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
BBC News went behind the scenes at six county courts across England to witness housing repossession cases unfold.
Along the way, they met Law Centre housing lawyers: the people on the front line fighting every day to stop homelessness. (1/2)
Along the way, they met Law Centre housing lawyers: the people on the front line fighting every day to stop homelessness. (1/2)
We're off!
Please come over for a chat and a chocolate.
National Pupillage Fair 2025 share.google/mcuv21pA6pJY...
Please come over for a chat and a chocolate.
National Pupillage Fair 2025 share.google/mcuv21pA6pJY...
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
We're off!
Please come over for a chat and a chocolate.
National Pupillage Fair 2025 share.google/mcuv21pA6pJY...
Please come over for a chat and a chocolate.
National Pupillage Fair 2025 share.google/mcuv21pA6pJY...
targetjobs.co.uk/events/natio...
We're looking forward to meeting everyone who is attending the National Pupillage Fair 2025 today.
Please come over for a chat about how doing #ProBono in general and FRU in particular can help you to secure a pupillage.
#WeDoProBono
We're looking forward to meeting everyone who is attending the National Pupillage Fair 2025 today.
Please come over for a chat about how doing #ProBono in general and FRU in particular can help you to secure a pupillage.
#WeDoProBono
National Pupillage Fair 2025
Do you have a passion for advocacy and a drive to make a difference in the legal world? Then look no further… The targetjobs National Pupillage Fair will be attended by some of the UK’s leading chamb...
targetjobs.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
targetjobs.co.uk/events/natio...
We're looking forward to meeting everyone who is attending the National Pupillage Fair 2025 today.
Please come over for a chat about how doing #ProBono in general and FRU in particular can help you to secure a pupillage.
#WeDoProBono
We're looking forward to meeting everyone who is attending the National Pupillage Fair 2025 today.
Please come over for a chat about how doing #ProBono in general and FRU in particular can help you to secure a pupillage.
#WeDoProBono
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
11 per cent of PIP claimants are believed to be under-claiming
PIP claimants urged to contact DWP as you ‘may be owed more money’
www.mylondon.news
November 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
11 per cent of PIP claimants are believed to be under-claiming
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
"Pay attention to what people don’t say and what’s not there" - the best advice received by @thetimes.com's Lawyer of the Week, Charlotte Elves @outertemple.bsky.social chambers. www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Charlotte Elves acted in a chief constable contempt of court case
Charlotte Elves, a barrister at Outer Temple Chambers, was junior counsel representing Nadine Buzzard-Quashie in a case in which the Court of Appeal found the chief constable of Northamptonshire
www.thetimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
"Pay attention to what people don’t say and what’s not there" - the best advice received by @thetimes.com's Lawyer of the Week, Charlotte Elves @outertemple.bsky.social chambers. www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Wrong link we think. Here is the Simkova judgment, which started life as a FRU case.
www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Wrong link we think. Here is the Simkova judgment, which started life as a FRU case.
www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...
#WinOfTheWeek Thanks Adam Pincott - you stepped and made a real difference for our client.
#WeDoProBono #FreeLegalRepresentation
#WeDoProBono #FreeLegalRepresentation
November 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
#WinOfTheWeek Thanks Adam Pincott - you stepped and made a real difference for our client.
#WeDoProBono #FreeLegalRepresentation
#WeDoProBono #FreeLegalRepresentation
Many thanks to all our supporters in the Chancery Bar Association.
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Many thanks to all our supporters in the Chancery Bar Association.
Demonstration of the incredible impact that #ProBono legal support can have on #AccesToJustice.
Highly concerning conduct by a public authority, held to account by determination and commitment by the litigant and her legal team.
Highly concerning conduct by a public authority, held to account by determination and commitment by the litigant and her legal team.
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Demonstration of the incredible impact that #ProBono legal support can have on #AccesToJustice.
Highly concerning conduct by a public authority, held to account by determination and commitment by the litigant and her legal team.
Highly concerning conduct by a public authority, held to account by determination and commitment by the litigant and her legal team.
The FRU legal test results are OUT!
If you passed, congratulations and we look forward to working with you soon.
If you didn't pass this time please do re-take the test next time you are entitled to.
#FreeLegalRepresentation #WeDoProBono #ClinicalLegalEducation
If you passed, congratulations and we look forward to working with you soon.
If you didn't pass this time please do re-take the test next time you are entitled to.
#FreeLegalRepresentation #WeDoProBono #ClinicalLegalEducation
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The FRU legal test results are OUT!
If you passed, congratulations and we look forward to working with you soon.
If you didn't pass this time please do re-take the test next time you are entitled to.
#FreeLegalRepresentation #WeDoProBono #ClinicalLegalEducation
If you passed, congratulations and we look forward to working with you soon.
If you didn't pass this time please do re-take the test next time you are entitled to.
#FreeLegalRepresentation #WeDoProBono #ClinicalLegalEducation
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
🩸 Extended deadline!
Have you applied for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) because of sickle cell? We want to hear from you — good or bad, your experience matters.
🗓️ Closes 28 Nov
🔗 buff.ly/dKvHzGz
#SickleCell #PIP #PatientVoices
Have you applied for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) because of sickle cell? We want to hear from you — good or bad, your experience matters.
🗓️ Closes 28 Nov
🔗 buff.ly/dKvHzGz
#SickleCell #PIP #PatientVoices
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
🩸 Extended deadline!
Have you applied for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) because of sickle cell? We want to hear from you — good or bad, your experience matters.
🗓️ Closes 28 Nov
🔗 buff.ly/dKvHzGz
#SickleCell #PIP #PatientVoices
Have you applied for PIP (Personal Independence Payment) because of sickle cell? We want to hear from you — good or bad, your experience matters.
🗓️ Closes 28 Nov
🔗 buff.ly/dKvHzGz
#SickleCell #PIP #PatientVoices
Wow - what a week of #ProBonoWeek highlights!
Celebrating started last Thursday at our Annual General Assembly. Lord Justice Dingemans went out of his way to say how much our work in the tribunals is appreciated by the judiciary and thanked us for everything we do.
#ProBonoWeek 2025 was fabulous!
Celebrating started last Thursday at our Annual General Assembly. Lord Justice Dingemans went out of his way to say how much our work in the tribunals is appreciated by the judiciary and thanked us for everything we do.
#ProBonoWeek 2025 was fabulous!
November 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Wow - what a week of #ProBonoWeek highlights!
Celebrating started last Thursday at our Annual General Assembly. Lord Justice Dingemans went out of his way to say how much our work in the tribunals is appreciated by the judiciary and thanked us for everything we do.
#ProBonoWeek 2025 was fabulous!
Celebrating started last Thursday at our Annual General Assembly. Lord Justice Dingemans went out of his way to say how much our work in the tribunals is appreciated by the judiciary and thanked us for everything we do.
#ProBonoWeek 2025 was fabulous!
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/... Breaking news...One of FRU's founders Lord Hendy KC is speaking about his legal career on 27 November.
Unmissable opportunity to hear from a key figure in employment law. AND he is encouraging attendees to donate to FRU.
Please support the event and FRU
#EmpLaw
Unmissable opportunity to hear from a key figure in employment law. AND he is encouraging attendees to donate to FRU.
Please support the event and FRU
#EmpLaw
Class Struggle and the Law: An evening in conversation with Lord Hendy KC
A joint UCL Labour Rights Institute - Institute of Employment Rights (IER) event
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:01 PM
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/... Breaking news...One of FRU's founders Lord Hendy KC is speaking about his legal career on 27 November.
Unmissable opportunity to hear from a key figure in employment law. AND he is encouraging attendees to donate to FRU.
Please support the event and FRU
#EmpLaw
Unmissable opportunity to hear from a key figure in employment law. AND he is encouraging attendees to donate to FRU.
Please support the event and FRU
#EmpLaw
FRU staff heavily supporting the launch of #ProBonoWeek.
Great to hear from the Attorney General and former AG.
Congratulations @probonoweekuk.bsky.social for all these events.
Great to hear from the Attorney General and former AG.
Congratulations @probonoweekuk.bsky.social for all these events.
November 3, 2025 at 6:55 PM
FRU staff heavily supporting the launch of #ProBonoWeek.
Great to hear from the Attorney General and former AG.
Congratulations @probonoweekuk.bsky.social for all these events.
Great to hear from the Attorney General and former AG.
Congratulations @probonoweekuk.bsky.social for all these events.
We are excited to be celebrating Pro Bono Week (3-7 November)!
Check out all the events taking place across the week at probonoweek.org.uk/events. Join in online with the hashtags #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono.
Check out all the events taking place across the week at probonoweek.org.uk/events. Join in online with the hashtags #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono.
November 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We are excited to be celebrating Pro Bono Week (3-7 November)!
Check out all the events taking place across the week at probonoweek.org.uk/events. Join in online with the hashtags #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono.
Check out all the events taking place across the week at probonoweek.org.uk/events. Join in online with the hashtags #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono.
Thanks Sean! Great to have you around to support us.
I was at the @freerepunit.bsky.social annual general assembly last night and continue to marvel how much good it does.
October 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Thanks Sean! Great to have you around to support us.
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
New from Free Movement: Job ad: Work Rights Centre are recruiting a Trainee Solicitor | Free Movement
Job ad: Work Rights Centre are recruiting a Trainee Solicitor - Free Movement
We’re recruiting a Trainee Solicitor (Immigration and Employment)
freemovement.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Just two days now until we welcome our guest Lord Justice Dingemans to celebrate our work at our 2025 Annual General Assembly.
The event starts at 6.15 and takes place at Latham & Watkins 99 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 3XF
RSVP to chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
The event starts at 6.15 and takes place at Latham & Watkins 99 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 3XF
RSVP to chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Just two days now until we welcome our guest Lord Justice Dingemans to celebrate our work at our 2025 Annual General Assembly.
The event starts at 6.15 and takes place at Latham & Watkins 99 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 3XF
RSVP to chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
The event starts at 6.15 and takes place at Latham & Watkins 99 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 3XF
RSVP to chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
#WinOfTheWeek Thanks so much to Imogen Brown from @cloisterslaw.bsky.social for demonstrating the impact of legal pro bono work in the run up to #ProBonoWeek.
Securing a five-figure sum for her client will make a massive difference to their life.
Securing a five-figure sum for her client will make a massive difference to their life.
October 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#WinOfTheWeek Thanks so much to Imogen Brown from @cloisterslaw.bsky.social for demonstrating the impact of legal pro bono work in the run up to #ProBonoWeek.
Securing a five-figure sum for her client will make a massive difference to their life.
Securing a five-figure sum for her client will make a massive difference to their life.
We're proud to say that Lord Justice Dingemans, the Senior President of Tribunals has agreed to attend and speak at our annual general assembly on 30 October.
This event is part of #ProBonoWeek. Please come and join us to celebrate our work - everyone is welcome!
RSVP chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
This event is part of #ProBonoWeek. Please come and join us to celebrate our work - everyone is welcome!
RSVP chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
We're proud to say that Lord Justice Dingemans, the Senior President of Tribunals has agreed to attend and speak at our annual general assembly on 30 October.
This event is part of #ProBonoWeek. Please come and join us to celebrate our work - everyone is welcome!
RSVP chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
This event is part of #ProBonoWeek. Please come and join us to celebrate our work - everyone is welcome!
RSVP chief.exec@thefru.org.uk
Stand by for an exciting announcement about our Annual General Assembly on 30 October...
October 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Stand by for an exciting announcement about our Annual General Assembly on 30 October...
Many thanks to everyone who came to talk to us yesterday at the @thebarcouncil.bsky.social pupillage fair.
We hope to see you all as future FRU volunteers.
We hope to see you all as future FRU volunteers.
October 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Many thanks to everyone who came to talk to us yesterday at the @thebarcouncil.bsky.social pupillage fair.
We hope to see you all as future FRU volunteers.
We hope to see you all as future FRU volunteers.
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
I didn’t do a law degree and did the conversion course in about 1990. I was very surprised when I got to the bar vocational course to find that a lot of those with law degrees were worse than we conversionists as the most basic case-finding-in-a-library skills.
October 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I didn’t do a law degree and did the conversion course in about 1990. I was very surprised when I got to the bar vocational course to find that a lot of those with law degrees were worse than we conversionists as the most basic case-finding-in-a-library skills.
Reposted by Free Representation Unit
I think one of the most problematic aspects of this is that the barrister—called in 2006 & holding an English LLB—was unable to find a copy of a Court of Appeal judgment which is available on BAILII. It raises a question of how basic legal research was carried out before generative AI became popular
This latest "barrister meets AI" disaster is something all stage 1 law students should read. It is vital about the key skill of case reading - you mustn't use AI to substitute for the skill of being able to find cases and find key content in cases:
tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-202...
tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-202...
October 17, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I think one of the most problematic aspects of this is that the barrister—called in 2006 & holding an English LLB—was unable to find a copy of a Court of Appeal judgment which is available on BAILII. It raises a question of how basic legal research was carried out before generative AI became popular