On 20th April 2015 LawWorks attended a Pro Bono Fair hosted by GC100, the Association of General Counsel and Company Secretaries working in FTSE 100 Companies.
The event, which took place at Linklaters LLP, was supported by the Law Society and the Association of Corporate Counsel Europe, and provided an opportunity for pro bono organisations including LawWorks, A4ID, TrustLaw and the Citizenship Foundation to engage with the in-house community to explore opportunities to further develop pro bono partnerships
GC100 has declared 2015 it’s ‘year of pro bono’ and the Fair was one of a series of initiatives to promote pro bono legal services. As part of its leadership role in encouraging and facilitating pro bono commitment from its members, GC100 has also become principal sponsor of The National Pro Bono Centre which houses the profession’s national clearing houses for legal pro bono work delivered in England and Wales, including LawWorks and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
Martin Barnes Chief Executive of LawWorks said ‘As part of our new three-year strategy, LawWorks is strengthening our commitment to the development of in-house pro bono delivery and to create mutually beneficial relationships with in-house teams. In-house lawyers have valuable and translatable skills, which can make a real difference to individuals and not-for-profit organisations seeking legal advice. We are using evidence from our work to advocate for change to regulations that hinder the provision of free legal advice, including the scope of pro bono that can be provided by in-house lawyers.”
Paul Newdick, Chair of LawWorks added, ‘LawWorks is excited about the opportunity to work further with in-house counsel in the delivery of pro bono which can enable people in need to gain access to justice. We are grateful for GC100’s sponsorship of the National Pro Bono Centre and for taking the lead in supporting legal volunteering.'
Graham Vinter, BG Group and GC100 chair said ‘GC100 appreciates and supports the significant contribution that pro bono legal services make to the furtherance of a just and equitable society in the UK and around the world’.
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Notes to editors
1. LawWorks is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers both with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay, and with the not for profit organisations that support them and their communities.
2. LawWorks believes in the power of pro bono legal advice to improve the lives of people in need.
3. For additional information about LawWorks please visit www.lawworks.org.uk.
Contact
Valerie Hudson
t: 020 7092 3952
e: valerie.hudson@lawworks.org.uk