To mark this year’s Pro Bono Week, which concludes today, the CEO’s of the UK’s three main pro bono charities – A4ID, LawWorks and Advocate – look at why such work is so important and what can be done to increase participation from legal professionals. 

What is the theme of this year’s UK Pro Bono Week and why? 

Pro Bono Week offers an opportunity to recognise and support the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need. This year’s Pro Bono Week theme is “The Power of Pro Bono” and three subtopics which have been a focus within that are: 

Barred from justice – the powerful, everyday stories of the impact of lawyers and law students who give their time to protect the rights of those most disadvantaged in society.

Embedding pro bono in your organisation and career – placing pro bono at the heart of everyone’s practice and hearing from those at the forefront of establishing business structures for pro bono within law firms, chambers, in-house, universities and charities.

How technology can enhance access to justice – existing and new tools to ensure pro bono is innovative and effective.

Can you quantify the amount of pro bono work taking place annually, and is it increasing?

Each year, thousands of lawyers across the globe contribute significant hours and resources to pro bono work, with a substantial portion coordinated through organisations like A4ID, LawWorks and Advocate in the UK. The thousands of hours dedicated in the UK alone represents a vast commitment to supporting social causes and vulnerable communities. Recent data shows a positive trend: the volume of pro bono work has been steadily increasing year after year. Many law firms now have structured pro bono programmes, often motivated by both internal and client-driven demands for greater corporate social responsibility. Increasing numbers of  chambers nationwide are formalising their pro bono work as participants in The Chambers Pro Bono Framework.  

This increase is especially noticeable in regions facing heightened challenges, such as those affected by climate change or post-conflict instability, where legal expertise can support rebuilding efforts and safeguard rights. Through collaborations with law firms, A4ID helps to direct this effort towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that vital areas such as education, human rights and environmental protection receive the legal support they need.

Meanwhile, in the UK, there has been a remarkable increase in the uptake of pro bono work across the legal sector, demonstrating the collaboration across the sector in the pursuit of meaningful and impactful pro bono work. By the end of October 2024, Advocate’s core casework service had placed as many pro bono cases with barristers as for the whole of 2023 – with 49% of respondents in the Bar Council survey reporting that they had undertaken pro bono work in the last year, while LawWorks have placed 217 requests for pro bono legal advice from small not-for-profits so far this year, which already exceeds the total cases placed in each of 2023 and 2022.

Why is it so important?

Pro bono work is essential because it ensures that legal support reaches those who might otherwise be excluded due to financial constraints or geographic barriers. Access to justice is a fundamental human right, and through pro bono legal support lawyers help marginalised communities navigate complex legal systems that can impact their rights, security and livelihoods. Whilst pro bono must never be, and can never be, a replacement for the vital work of legal aid, it has the ability to highlight gaps in the system and support the work of civil society.  

Moreover, pro bono work enriches the legal profession by exposing practitioners to new challenges and diverse social contexts, fostering empathy and social responsibility. Lawyers involved in pro bono work gain insight into issues that might not be part of their typical corporate practice, deepening their understanding of human rights, poverty and inequality. Through these experiences, legal professionals can become advocates for social justice within their own firms and industries, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

What more can be done to increase the amount of pro bono work taking place across the UK and abroad?

To increase the volume of pro bono work, it is essential to further integrate it into the culture of law firms and chambers, encouraging all lawyers – not just a dedicated few – to participate. This shift can be supported by setting clear pro bono targets, offering training and incentivising engagement through recognition or career progression opportunities.  

There is also a need to reduce the barriers to doing pro bono work. The law is a regulated profession, and there is often a lot of uncertainty around what can and cannot be done, and a reticence in getting involved in new areas of law. To increase the amount of pro bono work taking place across England and Wales, it is the role of pro bono organisations such as Advocate and LawWorks, along with professional bodies and regulators, to ensure that solicitors and barristers who want to get involved in pro bono are supported through guidance, training and supervision.  

Additionally, building stronger partnerships between law firms and organisations in need is key. Often, NGOs, social enterprises and communities lack access to legal resources simply because they are unaware of available support or lack the networks to connect with law firms. As pro bono charities, A4ID, Advocate and LawWorks act as a bridge in these situations – facilitating introductions and managing projects that allow legal expertise to flow where it is needed most. Expanding this model globally, especially in low-income countries, can greatly enhance the reach and impact of pro bono work. 

Yasmin Batliwala MBE is CEO of A4ID, Rebecca Wilkie is CEO of Advocate and Rebecca Wilkinson is CEO of LawWorks