Simon Miller - Pro Bono Barrister and Dads House volunteer story

“Pro bono work is even more vital for the family courts today. With the legal aid cuts and now the cost-of-living crisis, many people are left with no funds to afford costly legal advice and representation. My advice is simple – it is hugely rewarding to take a client from their first appointment with us to final hearing and see the joy on their face when they know they will see their child again.”

Simon Miller, barrister at Harcourt Chambers, specialises in children law and volunteers at Dads House Family Law Clinic. Here he provides advice to clients on family matters on a pro bono basis. Dads House won the Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year Award in the 2024 Bar Pro Bono Awards. Below, Simon shares more about the pro bono work he does at Dads House Family Law Clinic, reflecting on the importance of pro bono in the family courts today, and the value of pro bono work to aspiring lawyers.