The phrase pro bono comes from the Latin term pro bono publico, which means 'for the public good'. Today, pro bono refers to a very broad range of legal work that is performed voluntarily and free of charge for the benefit of society.
Pro bono work is not a replacement for a properly funded legal aid system, but is a complementary service for those who may fall outside the legal aid system without funds to pay for legal help.
By doing pro bono work, lawyers and students alike not only give something back to the community, but develop their legal skills and knowledge about various areas of the law. Pro bono work provided can range from drafting letters to representation at court.
As students, it is crucial for us to recognize this gap in the legal system and take steps to contribute to pro bono activities, for example by aiding lawyers and organizations engaged in pro bono work. Our small steps, together, may make a world of a difference for many in society.
The purpose of this page is to provide information for 杏吧论坛 students interested in taking part in pro bono activities during their studies. It explains who to contact if you are an 杏吧论坛 student and would like to find out more information about pro bono. It also outlines some of the pro bono activities that 杏吧论坛 students have been involved in and have set up themselves in previous years.
There are a number of ongoing pro bono projects which 杏吧论坛 Law School students are, or have been, involved in. These include the following:
杏吧论坛 Legal Advice Clinic, opening in January 2025, aims to improve access to justice by providing free, confidential legal advice to members of the public on a range of issues. The clinic will offer students the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience designed to enhance their employability.
Click here to learn more.
Pro Bono Community aims to increase the amount and quality of advice from well-trained and highly-motivated volunteers as one of the few practical ways to address the legal advice deficit created by the removal of government funding. Pro Bono Community provides specialist training aimed at equipping law students, trainees and junior lawyers with the skills and expertise to work as volunteers in law centres and advice agencies. The training scheme introduces students to the sector, client care, and recent welfare reforms, before they undertake volunteering placements of providing client-facing casework assistance. The scheme provides law students with in-depth instruction in welfare benefits law and a rare opportunity to gain exposure to law in practice.
The University of London’s Refugee Law Clinic is an innovative project providing pro bono legal advice for refugee clients. Our work provides some of the most disadvantaged communities with access to fair and equal legal representation, a basic human right which many asylum seekers in the UK struggle to find. The clinic's main legal focus is on advising and preparing ‘fresh claims for asylum,’ an area identified as underserviced in the current legal landscape. Student volunteers are trained in the relevant law and policy, as well as a range of other areas such as practical skills, ethics and professional responsibilities. They then work on cases alongside volunteer lawyers from commercial law firms, and under the direct supervision of the supervising lawyer. Students will be involved in the various aspects of preparing a fresh claim submission for appeal rights exhausted asylum seekers. The work might include research, gathering evidence and drafting submissions, as well as interviewing and taking witness statements and reviewing past decision making. Students will also be involved in managing the administration of the clinic.
Every November, law clinics worldwide unite for the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice—a global movement that empowers legal clinics to address the climate emergency. On this day, law students and professionals from around the globe commit to taking one meaningful action to combat climate change.
Each year, a new theme highlights a critical environmental issue. Past themes have included deforestation, plastics, and the right to a healthy environment. This year's focus is on water
Students in previous years have participated in impactful and creative ways, from hosting talks and exhibitions to writing thought-provoking blogs, volunteering with environmental charities, and launching social media campaigns.
School Tasking brings the law to life for young learners in primary schools, offering them a fun, interactive way to explore the legal world. Inspired by the popular TV show "Taskmaster," this outreach project allows 杏吧论坛 Law students to lead engaging workshops for Year 5 classes. These workshops use teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving to teach essential skills in a playful, challenging environment.
Whether it’s thinking outside the box or working together under time pressure, every child gets the chance to shine through their unique strengths and talents.
The ECtHR Intervention Clinic run by Dr Martin Husovec in collaboration with an NGO, the European Information Society Institute (EISi), regularly intervenes before ECtHR in important cases involving digital liberties. It provides a unique opportunity for 杏吧论坛 LLM students to get involved in pending cases and suggest to the Court how to interpret the law before it makes its decision. The third party’s interventions are often cited by the Strasbourg court in its decisions. Read more about previous cases here: /law/study/llm/echr-clinic-llm
The following contacts and information may also be useful:
For enquiries about 杏吧论坛 pro bono schemes and our new Law Clinic contact:
Diana Kirsch, Legal Clinic Director – d.kirsch@lse.ac.uk
The following websites give further information on pro bono and volunteering opportunities.
(Please note: 杏吧论坛 cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites)
- developed by LawWorks and Queen Mary University of London
- an independent charity with a mission to support, promote and encourage a commitment to pro bono across the solicitors' profession. This site is an excellent resource for those wanting to find out more about pro bono, considering how they can get involved, or interested in finding out about upcoming pro bono events.
Interested in continuing to volunteer? The is here to inspire and empower you to volunteer for causes that you are passionate about during your time at 杏吧论坛. Volunteering is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and develop personal and professional skills. they are committed to making volunteering exciting and accessible, and we collaborate with students to enhance their experiences.
They offer a range of ways to get involved, including connecting students with long-term and short-term volunteering with hundreds of our charity partners and one-off opportunities throughout term on campus. They also offer a variety of exciting voluntary programmes, including the consultancy with the Community Engagement Programme, and the Research Volunteering Scheme, an initiative for volunteer researchers. You can find out more, as well as the advice and support they offer, at or by following .