Pro bono opportunities

LawWorks develops and supports the delivery of a number of pro bono programmes and initiatives. There are many other pro bono opportunities across England and Wales.

Programmes

Depending on your particular interest and capacity, there are a range of programmes we support which solicitors from member firms can get involved with: 

The Not-for-Profits Programme connects small not-for-profit organisations in need of legal support with the skills and expertise of lawyers, to support the continuation and expansion of their services to people in need. 

Secondary specialisation is a programme to support lawyers in firms and in-house teams to develop expertise in areas of social welfare law and employment where need is significant and supply increasingly limited. 

You can support this work by becoming a member.

Clinics Network

LawWorks runs a Clinic Network, which supports and develops independent pro bono clinics across England and Wales. 

Clinics on the LawWorks Clinic Network are independent, locally run and provide free initial advice to individuals, predominantly in the area of social welfare law on either a drop-in or appointment basis. Advice is delivered face-to-face, over the telephone and in some circumstances via Skype. Solicitors can volunteer at clinics as individuals or as part of a firm/in-house team initiative depending on the clinic and its needs. 

Legal and skills training is offered to clinics on the Clinics Network to give volunteer solicitors the confidence to provide advice at clinics.

Pro Bono Opportunities

Our listings of pro bono opportunities give an overview of current volunteering opportunities across the country. Please see below.

If you would like to learn about other ways to volunteer, please visit the Get involved section of the website or visit the National Pro Bono Centre website

Plymouth Citizens Advice provides free, confidential, and impartial advice to help people solve their legal, money, housing, and other personal problems.

LawWorks is working with stakeholders in Cornwall, including MPs and the Duchy of Cornwall, who have identified Redruth and St Austell as areas in need of new pro bono clinics.

Bristol Older People’s Forum (BOPF) represents older people across Bristol. Formed in 1993 it has nearly 3,000 members aged fifty-five and above. Their aim is for every older person in the city to be an equal, valued and participating member of the community, able to influence policy and decision-making, challenge ageism and promote Bristol as an Age-Friendly City, with a focus on local neighbourhoods, housing and public transport.

Citizens Advice Rotherham & District have recently set up a pro bono clinic to better support their service users access free housing and family law legal advice. Although Citizens Advice Rotherham & District can provide general advice, a pro bono clinic is essential in ensuring that their service users can access timely, free legal advice.

BPP Enterprise Clinic provides free initial legal advice on a range of small to medium business disputes including commercial contract disputes (e.g. suppliers, contractors), commercial property matters (leases, rent arrears, covenants), business structure advice for new ventures, general commercial advice (including financial regulation) and intellectual property (primarily trademarks, but also design rights, copyright, NDAs).

The University of Law operates LAC North, which provides free legal advice to members of the public across England & Wales who may otherwise be unable to access legal support. The clinic offers advice across a range of legal areas, including family law, employment law, housing, and welfare benefits.

The University of Greater Manchester, in collaboration with Bolton Library, run the University of Greater Manchester and Bolton Library Legal Advice Bureau (LAB) from Bolton Library. The LAB provides free legal advice to members of the local community who cannot afford legal advice and do not qualify for legal aid.

Kent Law Clinic is a partnership between students, academics, solicitors and barristers. The clinic provides free legal advice and representation to those unable to afford it and opportunities for their students to experience the law in action.

The Yorkshire Legal Advice Centre at the University of Law provides free legal advice and assistance to individuals who cannot afford to pay for legal advice. The clinic currently provides wills and probate & family law advice but is looking to expand to also provide commercial law advice.

ARU London has recently launched a law clinic offering free legal advice to members of the public in Tower Hamlets who cannot otherwise afford to access legal advice. The clinic covers family, housing and employment law.