Values into Community Action - Tyler Foundation

n there should be sufficient resource to undertake and complete the work as if it were work for any
other client;
2007-2008 I Values into Community Action
n work must not be so dedicated to a religious, political or sectarian point of view that it runs the risk of
offending significant numbers of people in Allen & Overy; and
n work must not create a conflict of interest with existing clients or be contrary to Allen & Overyʼs
business planning.
standard of Care
Allen & Overy is a signatory to the LawWorksʼ Joint Protocol for Pro Bono Legal Work, which states that we will treat
our pro bono clients with the same due care and diligent service as fee-paying clients. Pro bono work is given the same
amount of time as an equivalent chargeable matter and the work is prioritised on the basis of urgency. Pro bono work
taken on by a fee-earner must be supervised in the same way as chargeable work.
time Policy
Pro bono and community work should not be undertaken without the prior authorisation of the appropriate pro bono
partner or partner/manager for whom you work.
Pro bono and community work is entirely voluntary, and there is no obligation that fee-earners must do this kind of
work. Partners and managers are expected to create an environment where pro bono and community involvement is
promoted, credited and rewarded.
Partners and managers will give credit for any involvement in the Programme. During the performance review process
up to 25 hours of pro bono and community work will be credited towards fee-earners' billable targets and treated as
chargeable work in this context.
In addition to ongoing or ad hoc participation in the Programme, everyone is entitled to one day's paid leave per financial
year to participate in pro bono or community work for charities approved by Allen & Overy. This is subject to partner/
manager approval and the appropriate pro bono contact/committee should also be consulted before any such leave
is taken.
Occasionally, more than one day's paid leave may be permitted, for example when you are working with your office's
charity of the year or another of Allen & Overy's supported charities. This will be subject to approval by the partner or
manager for whom you work and the pro bono contact/committee, in conjunction with your HR manager.
Performance review
The Programme is reviewed through Allen & Overy's YouCount staff survey to ensure that it reflects the aspirations of
staff, the needs of the community and provides a quality assurance review.
The performance review forms emphasise the importance of pro bono and community work. Pro bono and community
work is not compulsory but it is one of several aspects of life at A&O which reflect an individual's true contribution – the
purpose of its inclusion in the performance review is to encourage, recognise and reward participation.
Involvement will also be considered when assessing an individual's performance against the competency framework
and his/her value to the business. It is a Key Success Indicator and will be considered when determining an individual's
bonus entitlement.
Participation as a development tool
The Programme is an important opportunity for our volunteers to gain experience outside of the office environment and
develop their skills. Appraisers are encouraged to use and suggest volunteering as a tool to:
n develop client relationship management skills, particularly for junior staff;
n broaden the knowledge base of staff and develop their technical and communication skills; and
n develop valuable inter-personal skills such as coaching and mentoring.
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