What is "Pro Bono" anyway?
November News Article #1
What is “Pro Bono” anyway?
The term “Pro Bono” is derived from the Latin phrase, pro bono publico, meaning “for the public good”. It refers to the free legal services which law firms offer for those who cannot afford to pay for their own legal representation.
Certain individuals are able to receive Exceptional Case Funding from the government, entitling them to free legal aid, however this state-funded support is not available to everyone. This leaves us with a number of complex questions. How do we prove destitution? How can we ensure that pro bono work does not become a substitute for a properly funded legal system? How can we make the greatest possible impact with our limited resources?
Why do firms do pro bono work?
There are many reasons why firms embark on pro bono projects. Firstly, these projects provide benefits to underprivileged individuals and client organisations, creating positive externalities for society. This is particularly pertinent following the cuts to legal aid outlined in the 2012 Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, and driven by shorter-term impetuses from the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine.
In providing free legal services, law firms can also fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), contributing to charitable aims and inclusive practices. This in turn portrays a strong message about a firm’s values, encouraging further investment, instilling greater consumer confidence and contributing to the brand’s reputation.
Pro bono work also enables junior lawyers to develop their expertise in diverse areas of law, improving their training and soft-skills, ultimately leading to greater business and thus long-term profit for a law firm.
Okay, so how does it work?
Any form of legal work can be done free of charge, which has resulted in a number of law firms choosing not to distinguish between paying and pro bono clients on an internal basis. Rather, they pull together resources from multiple jurisdictions and practice areas to provide the highest quality of expertise for every client.
Pro bono work is, by nature, extremely varied! It can include providing one-off specialist clinics on specific areas of law, undertaking strategic litigation, advocacy, preparing documents for client organisations, providing end-to-end legal representation for individuals and conducting legal research.
What needs to be done to improve pro bono work?
-
Increased training for lawyers! This will allow lawyers to identify cases which are eligible for Exceptional Case Funding more quickly. In establishing an Aspirational Hours Target within a firm, involvement can be more actively encouraged and the culture of pro bono work can be improved.
-
The creation of a “Trusted Referral Network” between firms. If one firm cannot act due to a conflict, cases can be passed on quickly and efficiently. Information about similar issues can also be shared between firms (in compliance with GDPR regulations) creating economies of scale and overcoming regulatory obstacles.
-
Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and innovative technologies in pro bono work. This could include online tools which advise lawyers on court rules, or systems which help people to complete complicated online forms, improving efficiency.
We hope that this gives you an interesting overview of pro bono work, and why we think it is so important to society!
Written by Millie Hook
Pro Bono Week November 2022: twenty-one years of excellence.
November News Article #2
Pro Bono Week aims to recognise voluntary contributions of legal aid in the UK and to highlight methods of addressing challenges faced by the pro bono sector.
​
History and areas of focus:
Lord Goldsmith and Michael Napier founded Pro Bono Week in 2001 to facilitate greater coordination and cooperation amongst various lawyers, law firms, and not-for-profit organisations to tackle issues in common in pro bono work.
​
Each year focuses on new points for discussion. For example, Pro Bono Week 2001 specifically aimed to identify and encourage pro bono work within the UK and hosted many seminars and debates.
This year's Pro Bono Week has several areas of focus:
-
lawyers stepping forward when it matters,
-
what lawyers can do about the climate crisis,
-
making a business case for pro bono,
-
the value of pro bono in recruitment, retention, and enhancing skill sets,
-
remote volunteering and overcoming geographical distance,
-
pro bono as an ally of funded advice, and
-
can lawyers be trained to meet urgent needs?
​
Events:
This year discussions regarding the cost-of-living crisis and crossing the geographical divide with hybrid clinics will take place in London.
Additionally, Linklaters is hosting a COP27 webinar with a worldwide panel of experts from branches on Tuesday, 22 November 2022. The webinar aims to discuss the decisions made in COP27 and the impacts said decisions will have on businesses across the world.
​
Notable actions and innovations:
Moreover, this year the Law Society partnered with LawWorks to launch an online platform to overcome geographical barriers by facilitating greater coordination amongst law firms carrying out pro bono work. The platform enables people from all over the UK to access pro bono work in the aftermath of major incidents and permits lawyers to review and assign cases within their respective firms while simultaneously providing access to training.
​
Furthermore, Slaughter and May have stated that they aim to align their pro bono work with sustainable development goals and intend to outline their approach to this challenge in their annual Responsible Business Report.
This year's topics are significant because they represent clients' concerns. By considering these topics, the legal community can more efficiently and effectively address these concerns, as people are at the heart of Pro Bono work.