What is Pro Bono?
Answer: Free legal assistance
Pro bono has long been a cornerstone of the UK legal profession which has a proud tradition of legal professionals givng their time and assistance for free to fight injustice and to ensure representation to those who would otherwise be denied access to justice. It is ever more relevant as legal aid becomes more and more restricted.
We are firm believers in the importance and power of pro bono work and seek to support it wherever possible. Besides providing access to justice and free professional support and assistance, often to the most vulnerable, it also provides invaluable experience, learning, development and career opportunities for paralegals. Uk agencies and paralegals are at the forefront of pro bono services both within the Uk and internationally and we are committed to supporting their efforts.
We welcome interest from any pro bono groups who wish to partner with us to support and develop their organisations or individuals.
Case Studies
We support a number of organisations and projects often providing special membership benefits to them and their paralegal staff. We currently partner:
- National Pro Bono Centre: the Institute is a proud sponsor of the National Pro Bono Centre. The Centre houses the profession's national clearing houses for legal pro bono work delivered in England and Wales: the Bar Pro Bono Unit, LawWorks (the Solicitors' Pro Bono Group) and ILEX Pro Bono Forum. The centre is designed to be a "hub" for pro bono charities in the legal sector and supports the wide range of pro bono projects and brokerage which the charities support, helping individuals and community groups all over England and Wales. Visit the Centre's website.
- Citizens Advice: The Institute is proud to be working in partnership with Citizens Advice to encourage paralegals to become volunteer advisors. Citizens Advice helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers. Visit the CAB website.
- Amicus: the charity which helps to provide legal representation for those awaiting capital trial and punishment in the US and which works to raise awareness of potential abuses of their rights. Visit the Amicus website.
- MyLawMentor: a not-for-profit collective of legal professionals who are dedicated to furthering the learning experience of school, sixth form and FE college students and to help to break down barriers to the legal profession.
For further details of each organisation, click on its name or on the drop down link at the top of the page.