Corporate social responsibility should be seen as a rewarding part of practice that can benefit firms of all sizes, writes Martin Polden


Lawyers have traditionally been active in supporting and assisting those less fortunate than themselves. Novelists and those in the media (recently even ministers) prefer to present a more antagonistic line. Charles Dickens' creation of Messrs Dodson and Fogg lingers longer in the mind than Mr Pickwick's own attorney, the amiable Mr Perker.



Against that background of good works by our profession, the thinking behind the call for corporate social responsibility (CSR) is really not a new phenomenon. What is new is the changed structure of law firms, their size and composition, expectation of clients, and the enormity in legislative and regulatory growth over the past decades. The 'family' solicitor, the 'generalist' of yesteryear, was drawn into voluntary organisations and local community affairs by a kind of natural osmosis - in effect, an unwitting performance of the CSR principle now to be observed under more formalistic terms.



What was once a voluntary matter of choice is fast becoming an essential of good practice. That there is a perceived need for establishing this as an imperative arises more from the structure of most practices and the demands made upon individual practitioners, rather than any lack of willingness. It will also be of particular significance for those firms that have converted to LLPs.



Not that the 'good works' are performed only because of some prescriptive demand. Many solicitors and law firms give time and energy voluntarily to good causes. Most clients are, at least, impressed by such activity, while others, particularly companies which publicise their own public-spirited contributions, expect their advisers to show a similar commitment.



Areas in which help is required, and where the lawyers' skills are invaluable, include issues around housing, landlord and tenant problems, benefit entitlements, 'town hall' type concerns, immigration, un-neighbourly arguments, and employment and work-related complaints.



Large firms are already appointing CSR directors in-house for compliance purposes. Smaller practices may not be able to do so. Their choice appears to be either setting up a dedicated element through a partner or associate charged with such responsibility, or at the very least working with or giving support to organisations that provide voluntary aid.



My particular experience comes from being co-founder and first chairman of the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) 15 years ago. Through a cross-disciplinary network of practitioners, of which the majority are solicitors, pro bono assistance is given to local people concerned with issues of an environmental nature to participate in decision-making and voice their concerns. We started with a membership of 20 and now have 400.



The experience ELF has gained applies, I suspect, to most aid organisations - the sense of offering something back to the community, helping out, giving a hand to one's neighbour and providing those disadvantaged with capacity to meet the more advantaged on equal terms. And there are benefits to solicitors and their firms, such as honing skills and developing experience, working with other professionals in similar or associated fields, sharing information, opportunities for trainees and raising profile locally and even nationally.



It may come as a surprise to a few, but there is a large reservoir of goodwill and community responsibility within our profession. Becoming involved with CSR has much to be commended and proves even to be an asset. Don't be afraid of CSR: embrace it as a rewarding part of practice.



Martin Polden OBE is president of the Environmental Law Foundation