Legal proceedings can be a lengthy process that can far exceed the funds of the parties involved. Whilst legal aid is provided by the government to some eligible cases, there is limited availability. The concerned party must also give sufficient proof that they cannot afford legal fees through an application process.
One of the most common alternatives to legal aid is pro bono work, which is provided by qualified law firms and solicitors. This service is a vital contribution to the lives of vulnerable people and organisations that wouldn’t otherwise have access to quality legal aid and professional advice.
The number of pro bono organisations and schemes has increased in the last few years. Some law firms stipulate a certain amount of pro bono hours that each of their solicitors must dedicate to every month or year. Freelance solicitors often set themselves a number of hours they wish to spend volunteering with specialist cases.
In this article, we’ll delve into what pro bono work involves and how solicitors offer their services to worthy causes. We’ll also look at the benefits of working pro bono and how it can benefit both individuals and society as a whole.
What are pro bono solicitors?
Pro bono solicitors offer free legal advice and representation to members of the public as part of a charitable endeavour or as a way to expand their own expertise. These services are offered to people who can’t afford legal help and don’t qualify for legal aid.
Pro bono solicitors don’t take any payments through the entirety of the case, no matter how long it takes or the required amount of work. Volunteering your time and effort to help vulnerable people can be gratifying because you will be helping a member or members of the public in ways that could positively benefit their lives.
Continue reading to find out more about pro bono work, along with why solicitors choose to take this route and how you can find the necessary opportunities.
What is pro bono?
Pro bono services mean that a law firm or freelance solicitors offer free legal services to members of the public who wouldn’t otherwise have access to legal support. The term ‘pro bono’ comes from the Latin phrase “pro bono publico”, which means for the public good.
These services are often given to charities and community groups as they may not have the funds to pay for legal advice. It is believed that providing pro bono legal assistance and knowledge to groups such as this will help improve society as a whole and the individuals involved in the case.
Law firms may choose to work a few pro bono cases on a regular basis as part of their work within the community. They may also have set criteria to help them review cases, as well as a board of members that decide whether the firm will take on the case or not. Some firms choose to take on more pro bono cases than others, depending on their overall workload and whether they do other community work or not.
Law students and trainee solicitors can offer valuable assistance to pro bono cases, although they must be supervised throughout the process. The experience of working on a pro bono case can help further a student’s education and will give them valuable insight into a variety of cases they might not otherwise encounter.
What are the different types of pro bono work?
All types of pro bono work are voluntary, and you won’t receive any payments for the work you do, no matter the outcome of the legal advice or the length of time that you work on it. However, there are different levels of support that you can give, depending on your availability.
Some pro bono cases might be given reduced court costs or other filing fees, although this is not guaranteed.
However, pro bono solicitors sometimes ask their clients to contribute legal fees if they lose the case, although you will need to explicitly discuss this with the client before you agree to work together. You might also decide to charge clients if you win the case but waiver the fee if you don’t.
Some solicitors offer full representation to clients, which means they give them legal advice throughout the case and will represent them if the case goes to court. Other solicitors will only offer one-off advice sessions in a pro bono capacity, which may involve advice on where to seek legal aid or a basic breakdown of what the client can expect from the whole legal process.
You may decide to keep your assistance brief, such as preparing documents or doing some essential research that will help the case progress. This can be an excellent way to start working pro bono if you are less experienced but still want to offer your services. This is also a good way for students to gain an insight into cases in a manageable way, alongside their studies.
Many law firms and solicitors specifically work with not-for-profit organisations, whilst others are willing to offer their services to any client with a worthy cause that cannot pay for their legal fees. You might decide to solely work with clients within the country or work on international pro bono projects.
Why do solicitors take pro bono cases?
There are many different reasons why solicitors and law firms regularly take on pro bono cases. Since 2013, there have been significant cuts made to the government-funded legal aid available within the UK. The party most affected by these cuts are citizens from poorer backgrounds, predominately those living in London and the northern areas of England, where demand for legal aid is exceptionally high.
In 2007, only 27% of people living in Britain were eligible for legal aid, although this has since decreased. These cuts mean that many people in the UK no longer have access to legal assistance, even though they don’t have the funds for legal representation. The impact from the legal aid cuts can be lessened by the support of law firms and solicitors offering pro bono work.
The areas still covered by legal aid include environmental law, mental health law and child welfare. However, there must be evidence that the individual or organisation doesn’t have the funds to pay for their own legal services. This means that some clients might struggle to pay for legal representation but don’t qualify for government-funded legal aid.
Along with the job satisfaction that comes with helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community, pro bono support can also help expand your legal expertise and leadership skills. Most pro bono cases are standalone, so you are able to oversee the whole case and get a better understanding of the legal proceedings in their entirety.
Your personal reputation or that of the company can also be boosted by your decision to work pro bono. Charities and community groups generally have a respected place within society, which is why it can help your profile if you provide legal advice to them as a gesture of goodwill.
Clients may require significant legal representation or lesser legal advice, depending on the complexity of the case. Working on a pro bono case, no matter your level of involvement, will be an excellent addition to your CV and help your application stand out to potential employers. It will show that you are proactive and are willing to offer your expertise and services to those in need.
Pro Bono work is a good way for students to get experience, although it’s important that clients know the level of their expertise. You cannot take work on if you are not properly equipped to give the same high-quality support you would offer if you were paid. Every pro bono case requires you to have the correct skills and experience, as well as the time and effort, as you would on any other case.
There are other ways to offer free legal advice aside from pro bono cases. Some solicitors choose to share their legal expertise with community projects, citizens advice and similar organisations. You could also act as a professional body by acting as a trustee or working with the committee of a charity or other not-for-profit organisations.
Summary
Pro bono solicitors offer their legal expertise to clients without the expectation of payment. These services are reserved for individuals or organisations that don’t have the required funds for paid legal representation, such as charities or not-for-profit groups.
There is a growing demand for pro bono solicitors due to the number of cuts that have been made to legal aid in the past ten years. Areas such as the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber have been hit particularly badly as legal assistance is in high demand across these regions. However, there are people that struggle to pay for legal representation throughout the country.
Legal professionals offer pro bono advice to clients that have been unable to secure legal aid funded by the government. Law firms and freelance solicitors may have specific criteria that they need a case to meet before they are willing to offer legal representation in some capacity.
Pro bono cases can be very rewarding for the solicitors involved, especially if they are able to see the case from start to finish. Solicitors can also offer partial legal support, such as document preparation or research. This experience can help solicitors get paid work in the future and help improve their standing within the community.
FAQs
How can I find pro bono opportunities?
Solicitors are generally advised to undertake voluntary work through a pro bono organisation. A solicitors’ pro bono group, such as the National Pro Bono Centre, can support you through the process of finding pro bono cases with individuals, organisations and community groups across the country.
The National Pro Bono Centre is a UK charity that has partnered with several charities to help distribute legal aid to people who are most in need throughout the country. You may be partnered with a specific charity for walk-in support at their hub, or you could be assigned to a particular case that proceeds in the same manner as a paid case.
How long do pro bono cases last?
The level of pro bono legal advice that you give can vary in complexity and time. For example, you may only volunteer an hour or two of your time each week to review paperwork. Alternatively, you could work pro bono on an entire case that requires up to eight hours a week or more.
Pro bono cases should be given the same level of attention and effort as a paid case would. You shouldn’t take on a case if you don’t think that you can dedicate a suitable amount of time to the completion of the work. Equally, you shouldn’t take a case on board if you don’t have the correct level of experience or skills that is required.