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FRU has published our latest annual report and accounts for the period 2017 – 18. The report sets out our achievements and highlights for the year.

The key points include:

• We were saddened by the loss of two of our senior judicial patrons; Lord Browne Wilkinson and Sir Henry Brooke
• We represented 494 people in tribunal proceedings and trained 864 law students
• We focussed on inputting to the work of relevant policy makers. For example we made a submission to an inquiry being undertaken by the Work & Pension Parliamentary Select Committee on the assessment of disability benefits. The Committee report drew on our evidence.
• The Senior President of Tribunals cited FRU’s work as an exemplar of the legal profession’s civic engagement in a public speech.
• We continued to demonstrate our commitment to equality, diversity and promoting human rights. For example we joined the organisation devoted to promoting diversity at the Bar, FreeBar, we took legal casework to establish the rights of minority community members and we welcomed a visit from a human rights NGO form Hong Kong.
• Our successful partnership with the Legal Advice Centre at Nottingham Law School continued, with the LAC taking on 75 cases.
• We welcomed two new trustees appointed by the Chair of the Bar Council; Alison Padfield QC and Jeremy Johnson QC.
• We were grateful for the support of a range of stakeholders, including the Legal Education Foundation and Trust for London.
• We had a challenging year financially, resulting in a loss of £92,794 and we are taking robust steps to improve this position.

You can view the full report and previous years here.

FRU was delighted to welcome Christina Blacklaws, President of the Law Society, to our office today. In a very useful visit Christina talked to FRU staff and trustees about our work and how we engage with the solicitor profession. We also talked about future developments in legal education and qualification and technology. Christina was also able to meet 2 of our volunteers, Sam Irving and Emma Colebatch, and talk to them about the value of their work to their clients and to their professional development.

Christina recognised the great work of FRU’s volunteers and staff and offered the Law Society’s support in letting the profession know how they could engage with us. We look forward to developing our already strong relationship with solicitors with Christina’s help.