PRO BONO SERVICE APPLICATION FORM

Prior to completing this form please ensure that you have read the information below:

All information about the Service can be found at 'Join Our Pro Bono Service'.

Background

The Pro Bono Legal Advice and Representation Service (“The Pro Bono Service”) originates and operates as a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Members of the original London 2012 Pro Bono Legal Advice & Representation Service, operated by Sport Resolutions, assisted athletes, and others with Games accreditation, by providing pro bono legal advice on any Games related matter.

Purpose & Scope

The purpose of the Service is to:

Provide pro bono legal advice and assistance to athletes and individuals of limited financial means, who:

• are involved in proceedings administered by Sport Resolutions and request assistance from the Service, or
• are involved in UK Sport funded high performance sport, or
• request assistance from the Panel through the British Elite Athletes Association.

These include matters administered on behalf of International Federations, matters determined by the National Anti-Doping Panel, the National Safeguarding Panel, and other ad hoc arbitrations and mediations administered by Sport Resolutions.

Assistance may include summary advice and/or representation in relation to athlete eligibility, selection, disciplinary, anti-doping, safeguarding, and classification matters. This list is non-exhaustive.

Membership and Composition

The Service will be composed of barristers and solicitors appointed by the Panel Appointments and Review Committee (“PARC”), in accordance with the appointment criteria. If appointed to the Service, the Member need only consider a request for pro bono assistance – there is no compulsion on the part of any Service Member to accept any pro bono request. Service membership may be given to an individual lawyer or barrister, a solicitors’ firm or a barristers’ chambers.

Term

Appointment to the Panel is for a period to be specified by the PARC and notified to the Service Member. PARC reserves the right to review Service Membership and/or categories of Service Membership from time to time. Service Members may withdraw from the Pro Bono Service at any time.

Criteria for Appointment to the Pro Bono Panel

Members of the Service (whether it be as an individual or a firm/chambers) should have recent experience in at least two of the following areas; anti-doping, safeguarding, athlete selection, eligibility, Paralympic classification, corporate governance, sport disciplinary procedures, integrity issues in sport, commercial contracts, employment and discrimination or any other area identified by Sport Resolutions as targets for service provision.

Service Members are not required to make any fixed time commitment beyond making reasonable efforts to be available to offer pro bono advice and assistance when asked to do so.

The PARC will be able to accept/reject applications at its discretion and will consider the current and potential needs of those requiring the support of the Service when exercising that discretion. Potential factors to consider may be to fill gaps in experience and/or geographical spread and/or to meet diversity requirements, and/or anticipate trends.

Assistance

If you require assistance when completing this form, should you require the form in a different format or you encounter any issues, please contact the Sport Resolutions team by email at: panels@sportresolutions.com or by telephone at: +44 (0)20 7036 1966.

If you require more than one sitting to complete the form you can save your progress and return to it at a later time. No information will be lost.

Data Retention

Please note that if you are unsuccessful in your application to the Pro Bono Service, the information you provide below, and any attachments, will be destroyed. 

Note: please select 'organisation' if you have two or more individuals working for the same employer / chambers who are willing to be approached for pro bono work.

Your answer here will dictate which sections of the form displayed.

If you experience any issues in uploading a document please skip this section and submit the requested document via email to panels@sportresolutions.com 

Note: Sport Resolutions does not require a full list of employees / barrister's at the organisation who are currently available to provide pro bono assistance. Sport Resolutions will make enquiries with the main contacts provided above should advice be sought matching the areas of expertise listed in this form.

Law firms and chambers are entrusted to provide representation only if one of their employees or members has the skills, experience, knowledge and resources to provide appropriate assistance for the request.

If you experience any issues in uploading a document please skip this section and submit the requested document via email to panels@sportresolutions.com

 

Note: Service Members are expected to have experience in at least two of these areas (at least two boxes must be selected).

Should a request for advice be received which requires skills or experience in a different area to those listed above, Sport Resolutions may contact members of the Pro Bono Service to make further enquiries about their experience.

The Direct Access Scheme allows members of the public to instruct an authorised barrister directly (without the need to instruct via a solicitor or firm). On occasions where an individual is not direct access qualified, we may be able to assist by putting barristers in touch with solicitors from our pro bono panel, who can provide instructions.

Although Pro Bono Service Members are not panel members or employees of Sport Resolutions, Members are expected to adhere to the Panel Code of Conduct and uphold the values of the organisation. 

Sport Resolutions processes personal data for the purpose of appointing panel members. All data is held in line with Sport Resolutions’ Privacy notice, which can be found here.