Pro Bono Week: Interview with Patricia Critchley of Slaughter and May

The Volunteer Adviser Programme has been around for over 40 years helping members of the public to informally resolve problems with their occupational and personal pensions. Our volunteers which include pension professionals from the legal industry resolve over 80% of the cases they receive. In 2025, international law firm Slaughter and May decided to partner with The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) to support its volunteer programme. Today we are interviewing Patricia Critchley who is Senior Counsel at Slaughter and May and a pro bono volunteer for TPO. 

Patricia, thank you for offering to take part in this interview. 

TPO: What made Slaughter and May decide to support TPO’s volunteer programme?

PC: When I joined Slaughter and May, the Pensions Employment and Incentives team was already looking for opportunities to use our lawyers’ pensions expertise on pro bono work. I had been involved with TPO’s volunteer programme previously and knew it was an obvious fit, so put the idea forward – and it was seized on with great enthusiasm!

TPO: How were staff encouraged to volunteer? 

PC: Slaughter and May has a strong commitment to pro bono work, so there really wasn’t a need to persuade colleagues to volunteer for the project – once we offered the opportunity at a team meeting, we got lots of interest. Colleagues like the variety which volunteering on these kinds of projects brings, and especially like knowing that they are using their specialist skills and knowledge to help solve individuals’ pension problems.

TPO: What are the benefits Slaughter and May are hoping staff will gain from becoming a Volunteer Adviser? 

PC: As a lawyer, you’re very commonly acting on one “side” of a matter only. Volunteering with TPO means acting as a neutral third party, which allows you to see pensions disputes from a different perspective, and to develop skills at brokering an amicable resolution, something which is equally useful in the day job. There is also the interest involved in having direct contact with scheme members and pension savers – something which isn’t so common at a larger law firm like Slaughter and May – and working out how best to explain complex pensions issues to them as clearly and simply as possible.

TPO: What prompted you personally to volunteer, and what has been your experience so far?  

PC: As mentioned, I first volunteered when at my previous law firm, so was really keen to be able to do so after moving to Slaughter and May.  I find it very satisfying and rewarding, and as a new volunteer I felt well-supported by the TPO volunteer team and by my mentor, which helped to build my confidence quickly.

TPO: Slaughter and May are clearly committed to volunteering, and so what would you say to encourage other firms and individuals to get involved? 

PC: Give it a go – you won’t regret it! Law firms in particular can be nervous about volunteering with TPO in case they encounter conflicts of interest, but the TPO volunteer team is entirely familiar with the issue and will work with your firm to handle case allocation so as to avoid the problem. The time commitment required is also very reasonable, and can definitely be fitted around the exigencies of client work.

For more information about volunteering for TPO visit our dedicated page.