Pro bono work is the giving of free or subsidised legal advice to those who could not otherwise afford it. The concept has long been an established part of the US legal practice and culture and participation in university pro bono clinics is an accepted part of a young lawyer’s development.
In the UK the well-funded legal aid system meant that the pro bono concept was slower to take hold. However, with cuts to the state-funded system in recent years, the challenge of responding to the unmet need for legal services has resulted in huge growth in the pro bono movement. Pro bono is now viewed by most of the legal profession as an integral part of a lawyer’s professional commitment.
