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Gearing up for Pro Bono Week 2025

23 June 2025
Categories: Legal News , Pro Bono , Profession , Charities
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Mark your calendars: Pro Bono Week 2025 will take place across the UK from 3 to 7 November

This annual celebration shines a spotlight on the vital role the legal profession plays in providing free legal support to individuals and communities in need. This year’s theme, Pro Bono in Action, will showcase the real-world impact of pro bono work, emphasising its value not just to clients, but also to the professionals who offer their time and expertise.

The organising committee has announced three key sub-topics that will shape the week’s events:

  • Stories of Impact: Sharing powerful, frontline accounts of how pro bono advice transforms lives and strengthens communities both in the UK and abroad.

  • A Win-Win for Professional & Business Development: Exploring how lawyers and law students gain skills, grow their networks, and enhance career opportunities through pro bono work.

  • Getting Involved: Offering practical advice and insights to encourage new volunteers to take their first steps in delivering legal help to those who need it most.

The organisers are calling on law firms, chambers, legal societies, charities, in-house legal teams, universities, and law schools to join in. Whether by hosting events, launching new initiatives, or recognising outstanding contributions, there are countless ways to support and celebrate pro bono work during the week.

Participation isn’t limited to events. Supporters are encouraged to amplify the message online. From spotlighting inspiring cases to thanking dedicated volunteers, social media posts during the week will help spread the word. Follow @ProBonoWeekUK on Twitter/X, LinkedIn or Bluesky, and use the official hashtags: #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono.

To discover highlights from last year and spark inspiration, see the 2024 Pro Bono Week Report and curated Wakelets of standout articles and posts.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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