Pro bono

We actively support and facilitate our members’ involvement in pro bono initiatives. Our members provide a huge amount of important free legal advice to individuals, charities and community groups throughout England and Wales, and we work with them to help celebrate and grow this work.
Mature woman helping senior man with paperwork in his kitchen. She is a white woman wearing glasses and a pale suit, he is a white older man with a grey moustache and a blue jumper over a shirt

Introduction to pro bono

Pro bono is a vital part of the working lives of many solicitors. It helps people in the UK and abroad get access to justice if they cannot afford legal help.

Explore the guide
Mature woman helping senior man with paperwork in his kitchen. She is a white woman wearing glasses and a pale suit, he is a white older man with a grey moustache and a blue jumper over a shirt

News and articles

View All
A black man and a white man are walking outside. They're both laughing and wearing suits. The white man is wearing glasses and has his hand on the other man's shoulder.

10 years of mapping pro bono

The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono maps the scale and trends of pro bono work around the world.…

10 Jun 2025

Get ready to celebrate Pro Bono Week 2024

Lawyers who provide free legal help to those who could not otherwise access it shine at this year’s Pro Bono Week (4 to 8 November).

04 Nov 2024

Pro bono work in new areas of expertise

Volunteering in a new area of expertise is one of the great draws of pro bono work, but it comes with risks attached. Claire Butler and Nina Garnham discuss how to mitigate the risks and meet your professional obligations.

19 Jan 2023

Nick Emmerson becomes 179th president of the Law Society

On Wednesday 11 October, Nick Emmerson became the 179th president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

11 Oct 2023

Imran Khan KC talks racism, Stephen Lawrence and legal aid

Imran Khan KC started working in the community, fighting against racism and injustice when he was a teenager. So, when he took on the Stephen Lawrence case as a newly qualified solicitor, he saw it as a continuation of the work he’d been doing for years before. Discover what inspired him, how he became known as the ‘legal aid lawyer’ and what he thinks is the most important quality in aspiring solicitors.

31 Jan 2025

View All

The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors. Our vision is to promote, protect and support solicitors, the rule of law and justice in England and Wales.

Maximise your membership

My LS gives you access to the latest news, events, books and resources to help you excel within your practice.

Access our resources here

Topics related to pro bono

Legal aid

Client care

Access to justice