Rebecca Davies focuses on family law: private and public children law proceedings and matrimonial finance, as well as Court of Protection and public law cases.
Rebecca volunteers as an assisting barrister for Not Beyond Redemption, a charity that provides free advice and representation to mothers in prison who would like to rebuild their relationship with their children.
Please tell us about the pro bono work you do
I am an assisting barrister for Not Beyond Redemption. Since signing up to volunteer, I have represented pro bono several mothers in proceedings concerning contact arrangements.
In one case, my client had served an 11-year prison sentence for murdering her mother-in-law. (Understanding of what constitutes domestic abuse has evolved since her sentencing). Contact orders made while she was imprisoned had not been implemented. She now wanted to re-establish contact with her son who was almost 16- years-old.
Considering how his feelings would impact the likelihood of a final order, I managed to obtain a further assessment for my client and have the order for indirect contact with her son continued.
What impact does the pro bono work have on the people and communities you work with?
Research shows that imprisoning women who might be better served by community or rehabilitation programmes often has a devastating impact on family life, leading to cycles of poverty, homelessness, and reoffending. Not Beyond Redemption works to preserve the bond between imprisoned mothers and their children, helping to improve long-term outcomes for both.
By representing these women in court, communicating with family members and liaising with social workers, barristers volunteering with the charity provide vital legal and emotional support to some of the most marginalised families in society.
Does your pro bono work have an impact on your professional career? If so, in what ways?
Working with women who have been through criminal proceedings and would like to rebuild the relationship with their child is exceptionally rewarding personally and professionally. It has developed my knowledge of the issues in this area, as well as procedural and practical difficulties and solutions which are present when a litigant is either in prison or has been released following a custodial sentence.
It is also extremely humbling to listen to the stories of these women and to be able to use my skills to help some of the most disadvantaged people in our society.
Any final comments
I would encourage any barristers, who are able, to identify an area of law or organisation they are passionate about to use their knowledge and skills to support people who are disenfranchised or unable to fully participate in the justice system.