Pro Bono Matters

National Pro Bono Week is a perfect occasion on which to pause and reflect on what pro bono work we have done over the last year, the extent to which we have been able to contribute to helping our clients or focusing attention on important societal issues, and how we can improve what we do to achieve our pro bono goals.

Solicitors frequently bemoan the poor state of access to justice in England and Wales. Legal aid has been cut to the bone to the point where it is now non-existent for all practical purposes except in a few narrow areas of law. More and more individuals are in need of assistance to deal with all manner of legal issues - from denial of benefits claims to immigration applications and private disputes. Charities require expert assistance which they can ill afford to navigate the complexities of employment laws, privacy regulations and intellectual property rights. And then there are the cases where important public interests are at stake.