Government funding for pro bono advice via e-mailLAW WORKS: set to establish Web site to access lawyer supportThe Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) has won a 700,000 funding boost from the government to allow corporate lawyers to offer free advice by e-mail.The money will go to enhance the Law Works initiative, organised by the SPBG in co-operation with the Law Centres Federation, which enables partnerships between law firms and advice centres to provide free legal advice to people in need.Some of the money will go towards a new Web site with the aim of allowing general advice centres to access support from lawyers viae-mail, enabling the lawyers to provide pro bono services without leaving their offices.SPBG director Sue Bucknall said: 'With this grant we will be able to utilise the services of the many corporate and in-house lawyers to give legal advice to individuals and community groups, and so greatly extend the amount of pro bono legal advice given around the country'.Lord Chancellor's Department minister David Lock said: 'The government wholly supports the many lawyers who show commitment to their community by providing free legal advice.

This work compliments the Community Legal Service, providing access to justice for many more people.

It is of course no substitute for publicly funded assistance but is a welcome addition to our increased funding to legal aid'.Jeremy Fleming