Services for law firms

PBC has worked with a variety of law firms including Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Simmons & Simmons, Shearman & Sterling, Olswang, Ashurst, Morgan Lewis, Farrer, Hogan Lovells and CMS.

PBC is able to tailor its training to individual clients’ needs and budgets with flexibility around venue, format, schedule, duration and content and can also organise volunteering placements or help to develop dedicated advice clinics at advice agencies if required.

The attendees of PBC’s training range from partners and lawyers to trainees and pre-trainees. Most of the training includes a core element around legal advice and then focuses on one or more areas of social welfare law. We have provided training programmes ranging from a series of weekly lectures to intensive courses over one or two days. Some law firms want the training to support pre-existing relationships with Law Centres and advice agencies whilst others require PBC to place the volunteers at Law centres and advice agencies.

Benefits

Law firms benefit from employees who have received training in a range of skills necessary for practice.

Law firms derive a reputational benefit from their involvement in pro bono work, enriching the offering they can make to trainees and lawyers.

Lawyers and trainees benefit from structured training in areas of social welfare law that will equip them to work as volunteers, develop their practical knowledge of legal processes and broaden their understanding of the law.

Law firms can work with Pro Bono Community to develop their CSR activities and assist advice agencies to provide increased access to free legal advice from well-trained volunteers.

What people say about our work

“Pro Bono Community were happy to work with us to design a bespoke training programme, which sets them apart from other legal training organisations. They provided an excellent service and worked very hard to help us achieve our goals. We received positive feedback from our volunteer lawyers and the training has given them the confidence to advise individuals face to face on their housing law queries.”
Lara Adamson, Global Pro Bono Advisor, Linklaters