Pro Bono Week UK

Pro bono: Getting involved - Panel Event - Southampton Law School Global Law Clinic
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
To mark Pro Bono Week, the University of Southampton Global Legal Clinic is delighted to host a hybrid event exploring how individuals and organisations can engage in pro bono work, as well as strategies for addressing current and emerging challenges and opportunities in the field.
This panel discussion will be of particular interest to members of the legal profession, third-sector organisations, and university law clinics.
Panel speakers will be Rebecca Howell the Head of Clinic Programme at LawWorks, Paulina Olszewska the Training and Volunteer Recruitment Co-Ordinator for Citizens Advice Southampton and Denise Bentley the Chief Executive of First Love Foundation.
Registration for this event can be found here
This will be a hybrid event:

For online attendance please use the link:

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The panel talk will take place in Building 4 (Law), room 4005. There will be refreshments after the event as well as a Charity Bake Sale run by our clinic students, raising money for the Great Legal Bake.

Advocate Seminar at Twenty Essex
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00
Advocate is the Bar’s national charity, with over 4500 barristers currently signed up to volunteer to work on pro bono cases.

Come and meet two of Advocate’s Caseworkers and find out more about working with Advocate. They will share the impact that undertaking pro bono work has for career development (from second six through to KC) and on the lives of individuals in need of help.

Advocate Caseworkers will be sharing more about who Advocate is and how they make it possible for barristers to take on pro bono work.

Legal Structuring in the UK - TrustLaw
2025-11-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Online event
Join us online for a Legal Structuring Webinar to mark UK Pro Bono Week!
In celebration of UK Pro Bono Week, we’re partnering with a leading global law firm to help nonprofit organisations and early-stage social enterprises understand the UK legal landscape and choose the right structure.
The webinar aims to provide nonprofits and social enterprises with a high-level overview of key UK legal structures, then dive deeper into three main options- CICs, limited companies, and CIOs—including the main issues, principles, and pros and cons of each. After each option, lawyers will answer pre-submitted questions in a live Q&A.
Who should attend
Charities, community organisations, and early‑stage social enterprises exploring UK legal structures or considering a change
This free webinar is a practical resource to support your next steps in structuring and governance. Unfortunately, the webinar will not be recorded.
For more information and to RSVP please click here.
Online event only.

Pro Bono Week 2025: Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable - Advancing Justice Together - Faculty of Advocates’ Free Legal Advice Unit
2025-11-06 16:30 - 18:30 | Mackenzie Building, The Faculty of Advocates Parliament Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1RF
The Faculty of Advocates Free Legal Services Unit, as part of the newly formed Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable, is delighted to host an event at the Mackenzie Building on Thursday 6 November entitled Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable: Advancing Justice Together.
This in-person event will feature an innovative and interactive format, bringing together members of the newly established Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable alongside representatives from across Scotland. Together, they will explore key themes shaping the future of pro bono work. The Roundtable is currently compromised of representatives from various legal organisations, charities, and law firms not only in Scotland but nationally.
Each table will be facilitated with a Table Lead from the Roundtable and a Graphic Scribe, who will visually capture the discussions in real time—creating a compelling visual summary to be shared across Scotland to promote awareness and engagement in pro bono legal services.
The event will be chaired by Neil Mackenzie KC, Convenor of the Free Legal Services Unit and Keeper of the Library.
A networking reception will follow the discussions with a chance to have some refreshments and offering a chance to connect and reflect on the challenges facing legal services in Scotland with others across the legal and access to justice sectors who share a commitment to pro bono work.
This event will be in-person only. Registration is free and will remain open until Thursday 30 October 2025. Registration Link: Pro Bono Week 2025: Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable – Advancing Justice Together
The event will start at 4.30pm with opening remarks from 5:00pm.

The Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards 2025
2025-11-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Manchester Civil Justice Centre, 1 Bridge Street West; Manchester; ), M60 9DJ
We are pleased to notify you of the Second Annual Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards, taking place on Thursday 6th November 2025, from 5 PM to 7pm, at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre (1 Bridge Street West, Manchester, M60 9DJ).
This event will celebrate the exceptional contributions of individuals and organisations to pro bono work across Greater Manchester. It offers an opportunity to recognise and honour those who have demonstrated a deep commitment to access to justice and community service.
We are now welcoming nominations for individuals, teams, and organisations who have made a significant impact through pro bono work. Submissions should be made via Microsoft Forms using the following link: Greater Manchester Pro Bono Award Nomination Form
Please submit one form per nomination. The deadline for submissions is 9:00 AM on Monday 6th October 2025.
The awards ceremony is supported by the Committee and the Judiciary, with presentations made by senior members of both, and other key stakeholders.
Award Categories:

Chambers of the Year
Chambers Individual of the Year
Law Firm of the Year
Law Firm Individual of the Year
Junior Lawyer of the Year
Charity/Frontline Agency of the Year
Educational Institution of the Year
Student Contribution of the Year
In-House Contribution of the Year

For the criteria, description and example detail for each award, please click here – 2025 Greater Manchester Pro Bono Awards Criteria
This event forms part of a national framework supported by the Attorney General, who has expressed strong support for initiatives that promote collaboration and recognition within the pro bono community. As you will appreciate, many fundamental legal rights would not be upheld without the dedication of those who volunteer their time.
We hope your organisation will join us in celebrating the remarkable work being carried out across Greater Manchester, and we encourage your participation through both nominations and attendance.
An Eventbrite link to confirm attendance will be circulated after the submission closing date.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Warm regards,
The Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee

Pro Bono & Prosecco student/staff mixer – Glasgow Open Justice Centre and Glasgow Law School
2025-11-06 17:00 - 19:00
Glasgow Open Justice Centre as part of Glasgow Law School are proud to celebrate Pro Bono Week 2025.
This year, our student volunteers will be hosting the programme of events to mark Pro Bono Week, recognising the good work by volunteers at the Justice Centre giving free legal help to those most in need:
Monday 3rd November 6-9pm Pro Bono Pub quiz – at the Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow
Thursday 6th November 5-7pm Pro Bono & Prosecco student/staff mixer – held at the GO Justice Centre.
Friday 7th November All Day Pro Bono University of Glasgow social media takeover on Instagram
Our events are open to staff and students of Glasgow Law School and Glasgow Open Justice Centre only.

ARU Pro Bono Networking Drinks Evening - Anglia Ruskin University Pro Bono Clinic
2025-11-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT
Join us for an evening of celebration networking drinks and learn more about volunteering with The ARU Law Clinic.
For further details about this event including registering your attendance, please email caroline.allison@aru.ac.uk

North East Pro Bono Summit - North East Pro Bono Committee
2025-11-06 17:30 - 20:00 | Norton Rose Fulbright, Newcastle, 110 Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DX
North East Pro Bono Summit
Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025
Location: Norton Rose Fulbright, Quayside House, 110 Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DX

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. It is co-ordinated by Co-Chairs Nazmin Akthar and Rosie Hanlon
The committee plan to host the North East Pro Bono Summit in celebration of Pro Bono Week and will be kindly hosted by Norton Rose Fulbright.
Arrival from 5.30pm
Panel discussion from 6pm
Networking over light refreshments from 7pm
If you are interested in attending, please contact Nazmin.Akthar@wbd-uk.com and H.Alper.Tuzun@nortonrosefulbright.com

Voices for Advocate – Employment Law Association
2025-11-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Littler, 125 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7AN
As part of the Pro Bono Week 2025 celebrations, the ELA Pro Bono Committee is delighted to invite you to an evening with Advocate hosted by Littler on 6 November 2025. Please join us for a panel session, Q&A and networking event where you will have the opportunity to learn more about the important work that Advocate do, as well as hear from current volunteers about their experiences working with Advocate.
Our panel will be chaired by Caspar Glyn KC (ELA Chair and Cloisters) and include Rebecca Wilkie (Chief Executive, Advocate), Laura Robinson (of 42BR and volunteer for Advocate) and Lucas Nacif (of 42BR and volunteer for Advocate, as well as a member of the ELA Pro Bono Committee). If you have any questions about getting involved in pro bono work, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded legal professionals interested in making an impact. The panel session and Q&A will be followed by refreshments.
Time: Registration from 5.30pm, the panel session will commence at 6pm, followed by drinks and networking from 7pm
Location: Littler, 125 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7AN
Places: 16 for discussion, additional places for post event networking
Please book your places today and join us for an evening of insightful discussions and valuable connections!
You can find more information about Advocate from their website, weareadvocate.org.uk
Registration link: Voices for Advocate | Employment Lawyers Association (UK)

Join us for a celebration of pro bono at The City Law School!
2025-11-06 18:00 - 20:30 | City Law School, The City Law School, 165 Goswell Road,, London, EC1V 7HD
The City Law School are celebrating everything we do relating to pro bono during special evening event for Pro Bono Week! We would be delighted if you are able to join us as one of our valued partners, supporters, and student volunteers.
City Law School staff will talk about about the impact of our work and the difference we have made collectively towards access to justice. This will be followed by a panel discussion on how pro bono experiences can help in practice, featuring; a solicitor from a major firm, a barrister from a notably chambers, one of our alumni who is now in practice, and a Student Director from City’s multi-award-winning legal advice centre (CityCLAC).

Finally we will celebrate our work and all those who make it possible with an evening reception, where you can meet and network with like minded souls.

Date: Thursday 06 November 2025
Time: 6.00pm to 8.30pm
Location: The City Law School, 165 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7HD (Google Maps)

Agenda:
18:00 – Welcome & opening remarks from the Dean of The City Law School
18:10 – Pro Bono at City: Stories from the Clinics
18:30 – Panel Discussion: Pro Bono in Practice
19:10 – Q&A from the Audience
19:30 – Networking Reception
20:30 – Event ends

Panellists:

– Amanda Clarke, Barrister and CitySES Supervisor
– Adaora Echedolu, Advising Solicitor at CityCLAC
– George Fattal, Alumni and Barrister at St Ives Chambers
– Calvin Hartley, SPP student and CityCLAC Student Director
– Emma Rehal-Wilde, Pro Bono Counsel at Baker McKenzie
– Jess Thomas, Senior Pro Bono Lawyer at Taylor Wessing

This event is being oganised by the LawIRL Team of The City Law School, who are a part of City St George’s, University of London. Your trust is very important to us. This means City is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information.
All personal data that you provide will be stored in accordance with City’s Data protection Policy.

Pro Bono Week Parliamentary Reception & Awards - WYN Legal
2025-11-06 18:30 - 20:30 | House of Lords, Committee Room 4, Houses Of Parliament Parliament Sq,, London, SW1A 0PW
WYN Legal are proud to take part in Pro Bono Week 2025.
As part of this initiative, we are hosting an evening of celebrating Pro Bono Week with keynote speakers, inspiring stories, and awards recognising outstanding contributions.
Date: Thursday 6th November 2025
At: Committee Room 4, House of Lords
Time: 6.30pm
We welcome you to join us – limited number of spaces available.
To book a space, visit www.wyn.legal/pro-bono
In person event only.

All Day Pro Bono University of Glasgow Instagram takeover - Glasgow Law School
2025-11-07

Community Outreach Initiative - Free Legal Advice Drop-in Surgery at Hallam Legal Advice Centre, Sheffield.
2025-11-07
Date: Friday 7th November 2025
As part of the week, Sheffield Hallam Legal Advice Centre will run a Community Outreach Initiative – Free Legal Advice Drop-in Surgery.
Invitation only.

AL-HQ Law and More - Community Legal Surgery
2025-11-07 10:30 - 12:30 | AL-HQ Law, Regus - Southampton Airport International House George Curl Way, Southampton, SO18 2RZ
AL-HQ Law and More are a social enterprise law firm. We host a Free Community Legal Surgery covering many areas of law, send an email to find out if your enquiry can be supported. A social enterprise legal practice and registered law clinic for your local needs.
As part of celebrating Pro Bono Week keeping within the theme Pro Bono in Action, our next free legal clinic will take place on Friday 7th November in the business lounge of our office between 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Visit our Community Legal Surgery by reserving a free legal advice session or drop by on the day for coffee, cake & law with free resources available to all. Book early by emailing info@alhqlaw.com (legal advice sessions can be reserved) taking place in Southampton.

Coram Chambers Takeover of Dads House Family Law Clinic - Day 2
2025-11-07 14:00 - 17:00
Dad’s House are proud to celebrate and take part in Pro Bono Week 2025!
In collaboration with Coram Chambers we are doing an exciting event, the Coram Chamber’s Takeover of Dads House Family Law Clinic on Wednesday the 5th and 7th of November. Dad’s House are proud to run this event in its third year running!
During pro bono week we will have a different barrister for each client appointment at Dads House Family Law Clinic, where we advise single parents going through the family court with private child proceedings.
This event is invitation on

Pro Bono Week Panel event with Young Legal Aid Lawyers - University of Manchester Pro Bono Society
2025-11-07 15:00 - 19:30
The University of Manchester Pro Bono Society are proud to take part and celebrate Pro Bono Week 2025.
As part of highlighting ‘Pro Bono in Action’ , we will be hosting a panel talk on the 7th of November with lawyers from Young Legal Aid Lawyers (YLAL). Speakers include:
Avaia Nightingale Williams – Pupil Barrister, Parklane Plowden Chambers (Family law barrister, currently engages in substantial pro bono advocacy via Advocate)
Sian Waldron – Criminal law solicitor, currently engages in substantial pro bono work.
The panel will be broadly cover the following topics:
– Introduction of both the lawyers
– History from being a law student to working in pro bono
– How does pro bono work differ from billable work? Why is it more satisfying? (drawing on personal examples from the panel members)
– How does YLAL in particular facilitate that avenue for pro bono?
– What can students do to engage in pro bono from an early stage of their legal journey?
– How do you portray pro bono work when applying for legal roles?
This event is for University of Manchester students only.

Winter Warmer Fundraising Ball - Gateshead CAB
2025-11-07 18:30 - 23:00 | Delta Hotels by Marriott, Marconi Way, MetroCentre, Gateshead, Newcastle, NE11 9XF
On Friday 7th November, join us for the Winter Warmer Fundraising Ball at Delta Hotels Newcastle Gateshead.
This event raises vital funds for our Winter Warmer campaign, which provides packs filled with warm clothing, food vouchers, and essentials to families in Gateshead facing fuel poverty.
🎟️ Book your ticket or reserve a table of 10 for your team: Winter Warmer Fundraising Ball 2025 | Support, Celebrate, Help
Not able to attend? You can still support by:
• Donating the cost of a pack (£50)
• Offering a raffle prize
• Sharing this campaign with your network
Let’s turn compassion into action this winter.

Dundee Pro Bono society with the TayPer Law Project
2025-11-08
Dundee Pro Bono society in Partnership with the TayPer Law Project are proud to take part in and celebrate Pro Bono Week 2025 by hosting a pro bono panel, followed by a workshop.
Details TBC.
Invitation Only.

A Windrush Story – celebrating the power of pro bono (internal event) - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
2025-11-18 14:00 - 15:00
To mark Pro Bono Week at the start of November, BCLP are hosting an event showcasing the Windrush Legal Initiative – a collaboration between BCLP, the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit and seven other firms, helping victims of the Windrush scandal obtain justice and fair compensation.

We are delighted to be joined by one of our clients, who we are proud to have helped obtain a compensation award from the Windrush Compensation Fund, and by Nicola Burgess – solicitor at GMIAU and head of the Windrush Legal Initiative, for a conversation with BCLP’s EMEA pro bono partner Jamie Wiseman-Clarke. We will hear our client’s remarkable story and the ongoing struggle to obtain justice of many other Windrush victims affected by the UK government’s so-called Hostile Environment legislation and policies.
Internal Event Only

Empowering Their Voices: A Celebration of Legal Triumphs for Girls in Latin America and Beyond - Debevoise & Plimpton
2025-11-18 17:30 - 20:30 | Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, The Northcliffe 28 Tudor Street London, London, EC4Y 0AY
In celebration of UK Pro Bono Week, Debevoise & Plimpton invite you to join us for our in person London event; Empowering Their Voices: A Celebration of Legal Triumphs for Girls in Latin America and Beyond. in partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights.
In May 2019, Debevoise & Plimpton, co-counseling with the Center for Reproductive Rights, filed legal petitions before the UN Human Rights Committee on behalf of four young survivors of sexual violence. These petitions held Nicaragua, Guatemala and Ecuador accountable for violations of international human rights obligations. The litigation not only sought justice for the individual survivors but also aimed to confront the structural discrimination embedded in national laws and practices.
This landmark effort was made possible through a sustained and collaborative partnership between pro bono lawyers and human rights advocates. Over more than five years, the law firm and the NGO worked side by side, combining legal expertise, resources and advocacy strategies to build a case that ultimately helped reshape international legal standards.
We are delighted to invite you to our in person event and join the panel of experts who were directly involved in this litigation. They will share insights on how they translated this victory into lasting change.
A drinks reception will follow the discussion, offering an opportunity for further conversation and networking with colleagues.
Registration Link: Social Event 2025 -11-18 (LO) Empowering Their Voices: A Celebration of Legal Triumphs for Girls in Latin America and Beyond | RSVP Blank
Speaker details to follow.
Do you have specific questions you would like addressed? If so, please email Debevoise Events, and we will address them during the discussion or follow up separately.

Reshaping Legal Services in the South East of England - Legal Services Board with the University of Southampton
2025-12-03 16:00 - 17:30 | University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to attend the Legal Services Board’s ‘Reshaping Legal Services in the South East of England’ event on 3 December from 4pm to 5.30pm.
Hosted by the University of Southampton, it will serve as an opportunity for colleagues across the legal services sector in the South East to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the profession in the region.
The Legal Services Board is the oversight regulator for legal services in England and Wales. We oversee the performance of the sector’s regulators, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board, and CILEx Regulation. We regulate them in the public interest to promote an independent, strong, competitive, diverse, and effective legal profession.

Our Reshaping Legal Services strategy sets out our ambition to make sure regulation supports access to legal services for everyone who needs them, especially those individuals and businesses whose needs are too often unmet.  We are interested in exploring areas where regulation can have the greatest impact in addressing the challenges facing the sector. We would be particularly interested in your views and experiences in relation to:

access to justice
consumer protection
diversity and inclusion
education, training and ongoing competence
professional ethics and the rule of law
Technology and innovation

We hope you’ll be able to join us for a wide-ranging discussion at this event with legal professionals, academics, advice agencies, and consumer groups from across the South East of England. Feel free to extend the invitation to colleagues and others who might be interested in attending.

If there are issues you would like to discuss or hear more about at the event, feel free to let us know in advance.

This in-person event is taking place at the University of Southampton.

If you can attend, please RSVP to events@legalservicesboard.org.uk.
