Robert Sharp became a tenant in September 2026 after completing pupillage and following a career in local government and human rights campaigning. He accepts instructions across all of chambers’ practice areas.
In celebration of Pro Bono Week, he discusses his pro bono involvement in the employment law case of Shaji v Swan Care Solutions and some of his other pro bono work.
Please tell us about the pro bono work you did
During my pupillage and early tenancy, I’ve taken on several pro bono cases, including:
- giving strategic advice to some foster carers who had been defamed by a local authority
- supporting a defendant to a libel action which bears characteristics of a SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation)
- supporting a family with a child who has significant Special Educational Needs, in holding a local authority to its statutory obligations, and to promises made in the education tribunal
- advising a small business that is the victim of employee fraud
- supporting a senior colleague in an employment tribunal claim for unauthorised deduction of wages.
What impact did the pro bono work have on the people and communities you worked with?
A few of the cases are still ongoing so it is too early to tell. However, it is extremely rewarding to be able to use my skills and training to help people in a crisis - their spirits are buoyed simply by having an ally.
In Shaji v Swan Care Solutions, a care worker from India was treated as a zero-hours worker, in breach of his contract and the terms of the visa secured for him.
Following a referral from the Work Rights Centre, Ryan Anderson and I acted for him and managed to secure a payment for him for the unauthorised deduction of wages.
The employment tribunal judge also found that the circumstances of the case warranted a costs order against the respondent employer.
I handled the costs hearing for claimant and we secured £8,700 for the Access to Justice Foundation.
Did your pro bono work have an impact on your professional career? If so, in what ways?
It was extremely gratifying to be involved in a case reported nationally. The hearing I did in this case was my 1st foray into the employment tribunal, so a crucial part of my pupillage experience. I have since taken on other employment tribunal work and to start on such a worthy and successful case is, frankly, a great 'calling card'.
The same is true for the other matters I have been involved in, and the experience of doing different kinds of work is well worth the foregone fees. As a very junior barrister, most of my work is in the County Court. However, the pro bono libel work I’ve been doing — which dovetails nicely with my previous career as a human rights campaigner — is an early opportunity to gain experience in the High Court.
Any final comments
I hope that I’ve supported the care worker concerned to retrieve the money he was rightfully owed. Doing pro bono work enables you to make a difference to someone who would otherwise go underrepresented. Pro bono work is greatly fulfilling, and I look forward to supporting others in the future.