Last year I came across the International Law Institute ("ILI") as I looked for ways to continue to participate in pro bono having just moved to London as a relatively junior US-qualified, structured finance lawyer. I have always enjoyed pro bono work and strongly feel it is part of my professional commitment as an educated, responsible, fortunate individual.

ILI has provided training to over 15,000 individuals to increase the international best practices capacity of lawyers in developing countries. It set up its African Centre in Kampala, Uganda in 1997 to teach up to date legal trends and skills in an African context so that lawyers there can operate more effectively in international markets.

With support from the London partners, I worked with Jenni Charlesworth, professional support counsel to develop a week long seminar on legal research and writing techniques. Jenni and I then had the opportunity to travel to Kampala in June this year to deliver the training to a group of twelve enthusiastic lawyers from banks, government and the African Court of Human Rights. Here are some excerpts from emails I sent at the time which give a flavor of the challenges and rewards.

"It's the second to last day of class and I have some down time as my "students" are revising their assignment. They are participants in the seminar I'm co-teaching on Legal Writing and Effective Legal Research to Compete in a Dynamic Legal Marketplace. The snappy title says it all, and apparently I say the rest – I don't think I have ever done so much talking in one week! It has been exhausting to be a teacher. I don't know how career teachers do it. They say corporate law is a tough job, but I'd venture to say that teachers' toughness is grossly underrated. But even for this first year associate who does most of her work at a computer, at a desk, by e-mail, it's amazing how quickly latent presentation/public speaking skills can rise to the occasion."

"Today we are working on a legal memo on the impact of the UK Debt Relief Act on East African nations. The participants are very engaged and turning out some really improved writing, so at this point I think the whole thing has gone well. I hope it's gone well… to read a well-researched memo using legal e-resources written by someone who one week ago had never used a mouse before…hard to describe the satisfaction!"

"I don't think we ever fully debriefed it, but Uganda was fabulous. Really gratifying, lots of hard work, fantastic to see new part of the world, great to feel proud of oneself for putting it all together and making it work."

Since our trip we have strengthened our ties with ILI and several other projects have taken place or are planned. Two White & Case Bank Finance lawyers have gone to Dubai to deliver training on "Essentials of Legal Practice for Junior to Mid-level Lawyers." In the future we will be involving lawyers from our Middle Eastern offices and in-house lawyers from clients will partner with us to deliver some of the sessions. The London office has also hosted seven Nigerian Federal Court judges for a week long seminar on maritime law.

I am delighted, not only to have been able to participate directly in delivering the training, but to have introduced ILI to White & Case and been instrumental in establishing a relationship that can provide pro bono work for lawyers in areas where there are fewer opportunities.

"Our Lawyers Reflect" is a series or articles published on the White & Case pro bono website.