Pro Bono Week 2021 is coming and this year it will focus on the future as well as the past as the UK-wide celebrations mark its 20th anniversary next week (1–5 November).
Pro Bono Week, supported by Legal News Wales, will look ahead to the next 20 years of pro bono while shining a spotlight on key moments and cases from the past two decades.
The annual event promotes and supports the work of lawyers who volunteer their services for free to people and organisations who could not otherwise afford legal advice.
For the last two years, Legal News Wales has been delighted to lend its support to the committee and in 2020, saw over 300 attendees log onto our free, online event.
This year, we’re focusing on the rise of LawTech in the bid to increase access to justice, in our event: Plugged in pro bono: innovation, lawtech and pro bono in Wales.
Our event takes place online on Wednesday 3 November from 3:30pm and will be of interest to all those involved in Pro Bono and the wider legal sector as we report on a unique research project that spans free legal advice and the wider legal sector, utilising lawtech to enable further access to justice for local communities. The research in Wales (which is mirrored in the South West of England) takes place in Swansea Bay and is backed by UK Government funding, granted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the ICO.
Plugged in Pro Bono – 3 November
Legal News Wales is delighted to be joined by Mick Antoniw MS, Counsel General for Wales and Minister for the Constitution, who will welcome attendees and help us celebrate the significant work, investment and support of pro bono activities in Wales.
The Counsel General will be followed by our panel of speakers who will offer exclusive insight into the new research project. Our panel consists of speakers from the SRA and the project leads in Wales: the Legal Innovation Lab Wales and the Swansea University Law Clinic.
Who should attend?
Everyone! The project, its ambitions, outcomes and the challenges that face communities in Wales will be of interest to all legal sector professionals in Wales, as well as those involved in pro bono activities, academics and law students.
For more information & to book your free place at our ‘Plugged in Pro Bono’ event, CLICK HERE.
About Pro Bono Week 2021
Pro Bono Week is organised by a committee that includes representatives from the legal professional bodies across the four nations of the UK, pro bono charities, law schools and law firms. It aims to encourage members of the legal profession and law students to volunteer their time, as well as celebrating pro bono work and promoting best practice.
Chair of the national organising committee, Toby Brown, said:
“Last year’s Pro Bono Week saw 50 online events involving 5,000 lawyers, students and members of the charity sector discuss the challenges, and best practice, in providing pro bono during a pandemic.
“This year, for the 20th anniversary of Pro Bono Week, we are looking forward to taking stock at both in-person and online events and discussing how in the coming years we can continue to encourage and support the profession’s pro bono efforts.”
Launch event – in-person & online
This year’s launch event will explore the past, present and future of pro bono, with speakers Yasmin Waljee OBE, Kirsty Thomson and Emma Rehal-Wilde.
LawTech & pro bono on a global scale
LawWorks and 4AID will host a lawtech event immediately after our own pro bono innovation event for Wales, which looks at the impact of lawtech on pro bono activities on a global scale. To view details and to book, click here.
COP26
Climate change also features strongly on the events agenda with the COP26 summit taking place in Glasgow.
Stay updated
Visit the Pro Bono Week website for full details of the events taking place. Some of this year’s events are being held virtually, with others taking place in person.
Follow the #wedoprobono hashtag for current event and activity feeds now and during the week ahead.
We hope to see you there!
