There are many charities, organisations and lawyers that do pro bono, but organisations are not always connected to each other across the country. One of the aims of the NPBC is to facilitate better communication and coordination between groups and organisations around the country.
Committees now exist in many regions across England and for Wales to bring together and support pro bono in those areas.
Their objectives and activities include:
The committees include members of the local legal profession, together with a variety of local and regional representatives such as law societies, law schools, advice charities and judiciary.
Each of the committees meets regularly, and carries out broader engagement events or communications in their region in particular during Pro Bono Week.
The committees all share information and ideas with each other, and with the national sector, via the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee of England & Wales.
In addition, some of the committees include representatives of national charities (us, Advocate, LawWorks and the Access to Justice Foundation) who support the creation of and the ongoing work of regional committees.
Birmingham Law Society Pro Bono Committee
The objectives of the Pro Bono Committee are to support, promote and celebrate pro bono work in the Midlands region, by facilitating the sharing of best practice among practitioners, publicising relevant career development opportunities, and hosting events for Birmingham Law Society members and the wider community.
The email button below directs to the main email address for the Pro Bono Committee.
Bristol Pro Bono Group
The group encourages lawyers to work with local universities and community groups to deliver free legal advice to individuals who don’t have access to legal advice. It works collaboratively to identify not-for-profit organisations working in the public interest who need legal help.
The email button below directs to Rachel Wood, Co-Chair of the Bristol Pro Bono Group and (University of the West of England) UWE Business and Law Clinic Director.
Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee
The Greater Manchester Committee was set up in 2022 to share and discuss information about pro bono in the area, to encourage more pro bono volunteering, to facilitate collaboration, to provide strategic direction in the area and to provide information to sign-posters about free legal help in Manchester. There are ongoing discussions in Manchester about pro bono and a desire to encourage more pro bono volunteering in the city. The steering committee is looking to increase collaboration and co-ordination of pro bono within the local area.
The email button below directs to Lucy Wildig, Secretary of the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee and BPP Joint Head of Social Impact.
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Hampshire and the Isle of White Pro Bono Committee
The Hampshire and the Isle of White Pro Bono Committee was set up in November 2023 to bring together members of the local judiciary, barristers, solicitors, university law clinics, and third sector agencies to promote access to justice in the community. The Committee also aims to facilitate discussion about pro bono and to encourage more pro bono volunteering the in the region.
The Committee’s Honorary Presidents are HHJ Glen (Designated Civil Judge) and HHJ Levey (Designated Family Judge), and the Co-Chairs are Mo Aldridge (Solicitor and Partner at Jasper Vincent Solicitors) and Dr Omar Madhloom (Legal Clinic Director, University of Southampton).
The email button below directs to Omar Madhloom, who is leading efforts to create the new pro bono committee.
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Liverpool Law Society Access to Justice Forum
Created in January 2012, the Committee encourages pro bono initiatives and organises conferences and forums involving private sector lawyers, third sector legal advice agencies, local universities’ law clinics, local authorities from the Liverpool City Region, and members of the local judiciary. Its members include solicitors in private practice and third sector agencies including local university law clinics. It meets every couple of months.
Pro Bono Committee for Wales
The Welsh Committee is made up of representatives of the legal profession, charity advice sector and judiciary in Wales. It is dedicated to furthering a joined-up approach to pro bono in Wales. The Secretariat is jointly held by LawWorks Cymru and Advocate. More information on this committee will be available on its the website.
Pro Bono Committee for Wales
North East Pro Bono Committee
The North East Committee was set up to share and discuss information about pro bono in the area, to encourage more pro bono volunteering, to facilitate collaboration, to provide strategic direction in the North East and to provide information to sign-posters about free leal help in the area.
The email buttons below direct to Nazmin Akthar (Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson) and Toni Spencer (Principal Lecturer and Clinic Director at the Sunderland Student Law Clinic), Chairs of the North East Pro Bono Committee.
Yorkshire Pro Bono Committee
More information on this new committee will be coming soon. Check back soon for details.
The email button below directs to Louisa Soper (Legal Director Pro Bono, Squire Patton Boggs) and Eleanor Temple KC (Barrister, Kings Chambers), Co-Chairs of the Yorkshire Pro Bono Committee.
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