Emma Goodwin
Pro Bono Director
My profile
Biography
Who am I?
I qualified as a solicitor in 2005, and initially worked in private practice with a mixed caseload of commercial property and media law. In 2009, I left legal practice and migrated down south to London to work in events on community and charity projects. These included resident involvement in social housing; campaign events for a number of national charities; and on the Olympic Torch relay for London 2012. Such projects involved managing large numbers of contracts and volunteers, whilst refining strong organisational, project and event management skills.
After a period spent teaching in Vietnam, I returned to a legal role and the wonderful North West in 2014, first as a commercial solicitor and then as general counsel in a legal business supporting in-house legal functions.
Now, as Pro Bono Director at Manchester Law School, I combine all of my legal and events experience to deliver pro bono projects for the benefit of both law students and the community.
I am a non-practising solicitor and a member of The Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority. I maintain links with a number of solicitors’ practices and legal businesses throughout the North West.
Academic and professional qualifications
- LLB (Hons) Law
- Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
- Admitted as a solicitor September 2005
Membership of professional associations
Law Society of England & Wales since 2005
Solicitors Regulation Authority since 2007
CLEO - Clinical Legal Education Organisation since 2017
Manchester Law Society Pro Bono Committee since 2022
Impact
Leading on pro bono projects and initiatives for students at Manchester Law School, I raise awareness and increase involvement in pro bono legal work which in turn increases access to justice by providing professional legal assistance to vulnerable populations, individuals and organisations. By exposing students to the value of pro bono early in their careers, they gain so much through the experience, including often huge growth in their professional and soft skills. I aim to encourage the next generation of lawyers to make pro bono services an everyday part of their practice.
Students have the opportunity to develop and apply their knowledge and skills to support a wide range of respected pro bono projects, making them part of something that will make a real difference to others and themselves.
There is no ‘we’re done’ moment with pro bono, there is a forever shifting need, and we will keep exploring and establishing new links to support pro bono projects and access to justice for the community in which we operate, whilst ensuring pro bono brings a valuable and supported student experience.
Projects
Development and delivery of Pro Bono Network projects for students in partnership:
- Slater & Gordon Advice Line - From September 2016 to 2021
- Support Through Court - From September 2016
- National Justice Museum - From September 2016
- Amicus - From September 2016
- Greater Manchester Law Centre, Legal Advocacy Support Project - From December 2016
- Commercial Law Hub (Formerly Business Law Cafe) - From April 2017
- Crown Prosecution Service - From January 2020
- Young Citizens - From September 2021
- Citizens Advice Manchester - From January 2022
- Greater Manchester Police - From February 2022