Corporate responsibility

The creation of a dedicated business unit in 2009 underlined our commitment to all aspects of corporate responsibility as an employer and as leader of the profession. From increasing pro bono activity and tackling climate change to enhancing access to the profession and improving diversity, the year saw both growing success for flagship initiatives to support and promote responsible practice within the profession, and further improvements in our own performance.

Promoting environmentally sustainable practices

Our work through the Legal Sector Alliance continued. One hundred and seventy-three firms representing over a quarter of solicitors in private practice are now working together through the Legal Sector Alliance to reduce carbon emissions and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. We established the Legal Sector Alliance in partnership with DLA Piper and the charity Business in the Community in 2007.

In March 2010 32 law firms and the Law Society unveiled their individual carbon footprints, revealing an overall reduction in absolute carbon emissions of 4% among LSA executive members since December 2008, demonstrating that carbon management remains a key priority for members, despite the economic downturn.

For the second year running our carbon footprint has reduced and currently stands at 2.79 tonnes of CO2 for each employee. We have reduced the amount of power we use by 20% and the amount of paper by 30%. We recycle more and since 2007 have saved the equivalent of 3,500 mature trees by recycling waste paper. Last year we removed 20% of all laser printers and faxes. We buy items that are produced in a sustainable manner; all paper and envelopes are either 100% recycled or FSC (Forestry Stewardship certified) and 65% of all other office stationery items are recycled. In March 2010 we gained certification of our environmental management system to the international standard, ISO 14001:2004.

Supporting community investment

Whether through pro bono work, school governorships or helping pupils to understand their legal rights, we promote and support the contributions of solicitors to their communities. Each year we support National Pro Bono Week during which more than 4,000 people participate in events to highlight and champion pro bono work.

The seventh National Pro Bono Week was the busiest ever, with a 55% increase in activities promoting and celebrating the time and professional skills that lawyers donate to their communities. National Pro Bono Week is organised by the Law Society and other leading membership organisations in the legal sector.

We were the principal sponsor and host of the sixth London Legal Walk, which saw a record 4,500 walkers raise over £400,000 for legal advice charities. In addition staff organized many fundraising activities and appeals for organizations including the Chancery Lane Pro Bono Clinic for Deaf Clients, the National Stroke Association and the Food Chain.

In October 2009 13 junior lawyers worked for two weeks to help bring a clean water system to the village of Sabah in Borneo. The Junior Lawyers Division plans to organise similar projects on a regular basis.

Funding charitable projects

Through the Law Society Charity the solicitors' profession has provided essential funding support to many hundreds of projects that exist to further law and justice. The Charity urges the profession to donate unclaimed client funds to continue its support.

During 2008/09* the Charity donated £369,000 to good causes despite the recession. Beneficiaries included Reprieve, the Howard League, International Lawyers for Africa, LawCare, the Asylum Support Appeals Project, the Citizenship Foundation and the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme.

* Latest figures available