Pro Bono Importance Highlighted Ahead of National Pro Bono Week

It’s National Pro Bono Week (3 – 7 November 2014) and there is a nationwide campaign to highlight the importance of free legal advice.

It’s the 13th time the annual event has been held and it will celebrate the pro bono work undertaken by legal professionals.

Pro bono work is where lawyers carry out free work for individuals and communities who cannot afford to pay for legal help and who are unable to access legal aid. There are numerous events running throughout the week.

Legal bodies are stressing the importance of pro bono more than ever, particularly after the cuts to legal aid. Andrew Caplen, Law Society president, said, “Legal aid cuts and wider funding cuts are chipping away at access to justice. That is why access to justice is at the top of my agenda this year.

Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, said, "It is truly impressive to see so many barristers giving so freely of their time and efforts to make a difference for people who are unable to speak for themselves or to pay for legal representation.  It is the clearest possible demonstration of the profession's commitment to justice and to access to justice.

"However, pro bono work cannot be a substitute for a properly funded legal aid system, with last year's cuts denying legal representation to over a thousand people a week who would previously have received legal aid.”

Frances Edwards, President of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), said: “CILEx and the legal profession's dedication to pro bono represents our long standing commitment to access to justice.”

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