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. 

If you would like to support our work by becoming a member do get in touch. Please contact our membership officer (membership@lawworks.org.uk).

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 at: www.nationalprobonocentre.org.uk/volunteer-portal/.  

Veteran's Legal Link are a successful, established clinic owned and operated by Aberystwyth University, providing veterans and their families with advice on a wide range of legal issues. VLL are looking for volunteers with expertise in a range of legal areas. This opportunity can be accessed completely remotely.

Founded in 1999, Ty Hafan is a much-respected children’s hospice charity providing a range of services to children with life-shortening conditions and their loved ones from their Sully hospice and in communities and private homes.

Islington Legal Advice Centre provides free legal advice at weekly drop-in sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm in the Crypt of St Mary's Church on Upper Street. The service is available to Islington residents but individuals from other boroughs will not be excluded. An online service is also offered.

The Employment Law Advice Clinic was founded in 2015 and is a partnership between Speakeasy Law Centre, Eversheds Sutherland and the BMA. The clinic offers advice on areas of employment law such as discrimination, dismissal and disciplinaries to anyone living in South Wales via in-person and online appointments.

The South Essex Law Clinic (SELC) offers a valuable pro bono service providing free telephone appointments with qualified Solicitors. This service is available to residents and individuals working in the South Essex local authority areas of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Thurrock, and Rochford. As a satellite service of Citizens Advice South Essex, SELC has been dedicated to offering legal advice to the community since 2020.

Richmond Legal Advice Service (RLAS) aim is to provide clients with initial and basic legal advice and assistance where the legal advice is provided by volunteers who are qualified lawyers (solicitors, barristers). RLAS provides the advice and assistance without charge to clients.

Oasis Children’s Charity is a vital asset to the community of Cobham, providing crisis and holistic support to families in need.

Islington Legal Advice Centre (ILAC) provides free legal advice at weekly drop-in sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm in the Crypt of St Mary's Church on Upper Street. The service is available to Islington residents but individuals from other boroughs will not be excluded. Since covid, ILAC have also offered an online service.

ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely is a community based charity owned and run by the residents of Ely, Caerau and surrounding neighbourhoods in Cardiff.

The Citizens Advice network provides the advice people need for the problems they face and improves the policies and practices that affect people's lives.