PILnet is dedicated to empowering the next generation of legal professionals, recognizing their potential to shape a better future. Through strategic partnerships, we provide meaningful work experience to law students, recent graduates, and early-career lawyers committed to using law as a force for good. Below, we are highlighting the transformative journey of Reuben Brown, one of our secondees who joined us through our partnership with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer):
How did HSF Kramer support you to find and obtain the opportunity?
The secondment had been advertised to future joiners for the last few years as part of a wider partnership between PILnet and HSF Kramer. The graduate recruitment team circulated the opportunity and details of the application process. Lara Nassif then conducted the interview alongside Jasmine Simperingham (Program Director: Forced Displaced).
Lara was particularly helpful in arranging for me to hot desk at HSF Kramer’s London offices, which made remote work much more enjoyable. I am particularly grateful to the firm for supporting me to attend the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva to witness the Global Legal Community Pledge being officially announced. It also provided a great opportunity to meet many of the NGOs I had been engaging with remotely in person.
What were your main responsibilities in the role?
My main responsibilities centred around the finalization of the ‘Joint Text’ of the Global Legal Community Pledge (GRF Pledge Framework) and the mobilization of signatories.
When I joined, the text was in its final stages and it was important to ensure that the Pledge Framework (GRF Pledge Framework) and Guidance (GRF Pledging Guidance) centred those with experience of forced displacement and represented the needs of different stakeholder groups.
The most significant part of my role was to help mobilize and track Pledge signatories. A large focus of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF)( Global Refugee Forum 2023 | UNHCR) was to encourage actors to make measurable and deliverable pledges. As a result, law firms and NGOs were responsible for drafting their own organizational pledges in addition to signing onto the Joint Text. My role was to monitor, track and extract the key data from these submissions. By the time of the GRF in December there were over 100 signatories who had committed to delivering over 200,000 pro bono hours annually to forcibly displaced persons.
I was also involved in the drafting and design of the Pledge quarterly newsletters which shared best practices; upcoming trainings and highlighted the most innovative and collaborative pro bono projects.
What did you enjoy most about the role?
The PILnet Team! I was nervous that beginning a remote job for a relatively short period would make it challenging to integrate well into a company. It couldn’t have been more different. I particularly enjoyed hearing about people’s different professional backgrounds. Many had started their careers in commercial law whilst others had spent more time within the non-profit sector. I was privileged to be able to be invited to PILnet’s Global Forum in Brussels where I got to meet everyone in person and take part in the annual away day. I am looking forward to seeing some of my former colleagues at PILnet’s European Convening in a few weeks.
It was also inspiring to be able to interact with, and learn from, so many wonderful NGOs and Refugee-Led Organizations committed to advancing refugee rights in some of the most challenging circumstances.
Do you think what you have learned during this role will be useful when you join HSF as a trainee? If so, how?
Very! I got plenty of opportunities to improve my presenting ability and style. One of my most memorable moments was presenting the finalized Pledge Guidance and Framework at the 47th Italian Pro Bono Roundtable. The role also emphasized the importance of written communication. Jasmine placed a lot of focus on ensuring our communication was purposeful and engaging.
Finally, one of the main learnings was how lawyers can best engage and partner with NGOs. Several NGOs shared how they are often cautious about working with the private sector. The most successful and impactful pro bono projects were collaborative and born out of long-standing partnerships built on trust.
What are you most looking forward to in regards to starting the Trainee Associate Programme at HSF?
Rotating around different seats and getting to grips with new areas of law. I have a loose idea of where I might like to qualify but the opportunity to spend six months working in four potentially very different areas is immensely exciting.
I have already met several of my cohort and am very much looking forward to going through the Trainee Associate Programme together. I am conscious that it will be challenging but having a large group who will all be in the same boat is very reassuring.
I am also excited to make the most out of the Pro Bono opportunities available as a trainee. In my role at PILnet I was involved in projects in a coordination capacity, but I am eager to put my own legal skills to good use.