The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, and Barclays Bank have put their weight behind a radical proposal for interest earned in law firm client accounts to be donated to charity.

Michael Napier, Lord Goldsmith’s pro bono envoy, and Barclays’ business group have both agreed to join a working party established by the Solicitors’ Pro Bono Group (SPBG) to look into the feasibility of the idea, which could generate millions of pounds for charity annually.