Bar Pro Bono Unit

Also known as: Advocate

The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers throughout England and Wales.

Email Charity

Activities & Mission

The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers throughout England and Wales.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Region

England And Wales

Financial Information

Latest Income

£1,186,877

Latest Expenditure

£1,131,350

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 83.1%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 35% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 520). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 87.2%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 31% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 17.3%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 22% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £1,172,042

Charitable Activities £0

Other Trading £0

Investments £14,835

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £986,826

Raising Funds £144,524

Governance £51,361

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£1,186,877	£1,131,350	£986,826	£709,478	£638,871	23 / 0
2024	£1,059,492	£1,038,863	£936,623	£653,951	£648,529	24 / 979
2023	£999,569	£980,946	£882,720	£633,322	£630,780	23 / 900
2022	£962,792	£914,371	£815,153	£614,699	£604,669	18 / 4429
2021	£865,419	£562,478	£502,091	£566,278	£561,966	15 / 4300

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Bar Pro Bono Unit

What does Bar Pro Bono Unit do?

The Bar Pro Bono Unit is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers throughout England and Wales.

How much income did Bar Pro Bono Unit report in 2025?

Bar Pro Bono Unit reported total income of £1.19m and reported expenditure of £1.13m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Bar Pro Bono Unit?

Bar Pro Bono Unit has a program ratio of 83.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 35% of UK Charity and VCS support charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 520 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Bar Pro Bono Unit registered as a charity?

Bar Pro Bono Unit was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 19 August 1996 as charity number 1057620. It has been registered for 30 years.

Who runs Bar Pro Bono Unit?

Bar Pro Bono Unit is governed by a board of 13 trustees. The chair of trustees is Sharif Asim Shivji. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Bar Pro Bono Unit operate?

Bar Pro Bono Unit operates in England And Wales, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is Bar Pro Bono Unit a registered charity?

Yes — Bar Pro Bono Unit is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1057620.