C&I Group supports 'cutting red tape' on in-house pro bono

The Commerce and Industry (C&I) Group is planning to lobby the Law Society to make it easier for in-house solicitors to do pro bono work.

Society Council member Paul Gilbert became the C&I group's first pro bono director in June.

He said: 'Many in-house lawyers would like to be able to do pro bono work but to do it requires special exemption under the indemnity rules.'

He revealed plans to lobby the Law Society to 'cut unnecessary red tape' and may draft a proposal to remove regulatory hurdles for in-house lawyers who want to work for good causes.

'This is the first time the group has formalised an initiative to say that pro bono is something we should support,' he said.

Anne Mizzi