It connects lawyers, firms and communities through a common belief that the law should serve everyone, not only those who can afford it. At LawWorks, that culture comes to life every day through the partnerships we build and the people who give their time to make access to justice possible.
One firm that has embedded this ethos deeply into its work is Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. For Andrew Barton, the firm’s Pro Bono Counsel, pro bono is not an add-on to legal practice but a reflection of its core values.
Pro bono has always been part of being a lawyer. When firms were smaller, it was enough to pick up requests on an ad hoc basis. Now that firms operate internationally with hundreds of lawyers, it is right that pro bono grows and professionalises alongside that. It reflects a culture, and it helps to build one too.
At Norton Rose Fulbright, the firm encourages lawyers at every level to contribute, believing that pro bono should be part of a lawyer’s professional identity throughout their career. When it is introduced early, it shapes both skill and outlook.
Starting pro bono work early shapes the kind of lawyer you become - it builds empathy, independence and confidence. You see first-hand the challenge for someone facing a legal problem without the ability to access support, and the privileged position you are in to be able to steer them with proper advice.
The firm’s pro bono programme, like that at many firms, reaches from local charities to international projects, supporting access to justice, as well as humanitarian and environmental goals. Each initiative reinforces the same principle: that pro bono is a professional responsibility and should be treated like any other legal matter.
Through its long-standing LawWorks membership, Norton Rose Fulbright is part of a network that sustains and strengthens that culture. Working with LawWorks connects the firm to opportunities where expertise meets need, from governance advice for small charities to support for social welfare organisations. Projects such as the Not-for-Profits Programme and Secondary Specialisation have allowed Norton Rose Fulbright lawyers to contribute to the broader system of legal support that underpins the voluntary sector.
LawWorks sits at the heart of the UK’s pro bono landscape. It connects firms, charities and communities in ways that make our work more impactful. When firms work through LawWorks, they do not just help one organisation; they become part of a wider effort to make justice accessible.
That network embodies the culture that Andrew describes: one built on collaboration, generosity and shared responsibility. It is a living system that depends on shared purpose and the belief that legal expertise can be a force for change.
At its heart, that is what LawWorks exists to nurture. A culture of pro bono is not just a professional ideal but a collective practice, sustained by the people who choose to make the law a tool for justice.
To learn more about LawWorks membership, or how your organisation can take part in building this culture of pro bono, visit our website. To support the growing culture of pro bono, please consider making a donation to LawWorks, and join the cause.