The LawWorks Pro Bono Conference 2026 will bring together pro bono clinic and law firm coordinators and volunteers as well as stakeholders from the wider advice sector. The conference is kindly sponsored by Simmons & Simmons
Join us on Wednesday 1st July for a day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing. This conference is a must-attend for legal professionals passionate about pro bono work. Don't miss out on your chance to connect with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights to enhance your pro bono practice.
Below is an evolving overview of the plan for the day, which will be updated as speakers and sessions are confirmed.
- arrow
Conference programme
-
09:00 - 09:30
Registration and networking
09:30 - 9:45
Conference opening and welcome
Speakers:
- Rebecca Wilkinson, CEO, LawWorks
9:45 - 10:15
Keynote
Speaker: Sarah Rapson, CEO, Solicitors Regulatory Authority
10:15 - 11:15
Panel 1: Risk and compliance
Our first panel of the day panel will explore internal, practical and regulatory barriers to the delivery of pro bono programmes.
- Rebecca Wilkinson, LawWorks (Chair)
- + Speakers from law firm risk and compliance teams and the SRA.
11:15 - 11:45
Coffee break
11:45 - 12:45
Breakout sessions:
A) The nuts and bolts of building a new pro bono programme in a law firm
The session will look at common challenges faced when setting up a new pro bono practice or project in a law firm, and suggested solutions and best practices that have been successfully used to overcome these obstacles.- David Boyd, Pinsent Masons
- Emma Blackstone, Kennedys
- Rhian Lewis, Farrer & Co.
- Georgia Nickson, Simpson Thacher
- Rebecca Wilkinson, LawWorks (Chair)
B) Best practice collaborations and partnerships in pro bono law clinics
This session will explore practical ways to build and sustain successful pro bono partnerships between law firms, pro bono clinics and not-for-profit organisations.- Simon Bruce, Dads House Family Law Clinic
- Benjamin Caddaye, Herbert Smith Freehills
- Rebecca Howell, LawWorks (Chair)
- Annie Jones, Addleshaw Goddard
- Diana Kirsch, LSE Legal Advice Centre
C) Meaningful impact measurement for pro bono
This session will explore how clinics and pro bono projects can use simple, effective impact data to strengthen sustainability, improve services, and demonstrate value to partners and stakeholders.- Fenella Chambers, Hogan Lovells
- Eddie Coppinger, University House
- Esther McConnell, National Pro Bono Centre
- Sarah Menzies, NCVO
- Hayley Nock, LawWorks (Chair)
12:45 - 13:45
Lunch and networking
13:45 - 14:45
Breakout sessions:
A) Developing a new pro bono project: creating meaningful pro bono initiatives.
This session will look at how to take a pro bono project idea and turn it into a reality.- Mitesh Jagatia, Eco Ventures Counsel
- Richard Lynch, LawWorks
- Deborah Smith, Goldman Sachs (Chair)
- Kerry Stares, Charles Russell Speechlys
B) Creating dialogues for effective Pro Bono Partnerships
This session will explore what makes partnerships between law firms and not-for-profit pro bono partners a success.- Chair: Speaker, Org - tbc
- Speakers, Org - tbc
C) Keeping pro bono clinics sustainable in financially difficult times
This interactive session will explore the key challenges facing clinics today, including constrained resources, changes in the higher education and charity sectors, increasing marketisation, and maintaining quality while scaling up provision.- Frances Ridout, Queen Mary University of London (Chair)
14:45 - 15:15
Coffee break
15:15 - 16:15
Panel 2: Shaping access to justice in the age of AI
This plenary will explore what the future of access to justice could look like in an AI-enabled legal system.
16:15 - 16:30
Clinic report launch
Rebecca Howell, Head of Clinics, LawWorks
16:30 - Close
Reflections on the day, conference close and networking