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/.  

The South Westminster Legal Advice Centre provides free legal advice to those unable to afford it, on a wide range of issues. The Centre is entirely run by volunteers.

Here for Good is a charity dedicated to supporting EU, EEA and Swiss citizens - and their families - living in the UK through the provision of free, high quality immigration services.

Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS) is a charity offering a range of civil social welfare advice from welfare benefits debt, immigration, family, migrant workers advice and domestic abuse. Their flagship service is the Free Legal Advice service where, thanks to the support of Norfolk solicitors they offer 15 minutes initial advice on family, employment and general matters. The service helps around 3,000 clients each year.

The Advice Services Alliance (ASA) are offering an opportunity to develop pro bono lawyers as Peer Reviewers for the Advice Sector's ‘Peer Review On-Line Platform’ (PROP).

Free Legal Advice Group for Domestic Violence (FLAG DV) is a charity offering free 30 minute appointments for clients in the Thames Valley region who are experiencing domestic abuse. Currently appointments are being offered by telephone only.

Dads House was set up in 2008 by William McGranaghan (Billy to his friends) to help single dads with the practicalities of raising their children alone.

The Hoxton Trust works to build the skills, knowledge and confidence of their community so that together they can make Hoxton, Hackney and beyond a better place to live. The Trust offers free legal advice to help clients resolve problems in their lives and improve their mental and physical well-being.

The Ealing Advice Service is the main advice provider in Ealing and a leading not-for-profit advice innovator in West London.

The clinic operates in partnership with Manchester Settlement at the New Roundhouse in Openshaw, a community in which there are many challenges, including high levels of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university in Elephant and Castle, based in the London Borough of Southwark, close to the south bank of the Thames. LSBU is looking for a law firm partner to give specialist advice in employment law.