All around the country poorer communities are turning to lawyers and other professionals for free help to regenerate their environs.

And where this help is provided, the results are often spectacular.A prime example is the transformation of St Matthews, an old church in London's Brixton, into a community facility for locals.

As commu nity centres go, the 'Brix' as the project is known, is a triumph, comprising a theatre, cinema, church, creche, small business units and affordable space for charitable and advice agencies.The project was co-ordinated by Business in the Community (BITC) - a body aimed at regenerating communities - and involved a major contribution from members of BITC's professional firms group.City firm, DJ Freeman provided the legal advice for the Brix.

The firm saw it right through from negotiation of the head lease from the Diocese of Southwark to formation of the 'Brix' company.

In due course it expects to be involved in letting the facility.DJ Freeman property and finance partner, Godfrey Bruce-Radcliffe handled the work with back- up from tax partner, John Boff, assistant solicitor Jane O'Sullivan and a number of trainees.

'Since 1991, it has involved quite a lot of time,' Mr Bruce-Radcliffe concedes but he has no doubts that the firm's involvement is worth it.

'It sounds a bit naff to say it is rewarding but it is very rewarding...to see bricks and mortar turned into another dimension completely'.DJ Freeman is one of ten law firms in London and 40 throughout the country which are members of BITC's professional firms groups.

Member firms commit to giving free legal services up to a suggested ceiling of £5000 annually.Nick Thorn, manager of the professional firms group in London is unaware of any firm which is committed for less than £2000 and says many overshoot the £5000 ceiling and continue to provide services.Since the London PFG was established four years ago, member law firms have been involved in scores of community projects providing advice on everything from planning law to employment contracts, charitable status to trade mark law.Examples include the Employers Forum on Disability (Turner Kenneth Brown); the Spinning Wheel community centre project in Tower Hamlets (Freshfields); the Greenwich Waterfront Development Partnership (McKenna & Co); Bromley by Bow Community Centre (Linklaters & Paines) and the Education Business Partnerships (Nabarro Nathanson).A dozen mirror PFGs have grown up around the country.

In Sheffield, Wake Smith & Co has just become involved in the Sheffield Community Enterprise Development Unit and Taylor & Emmet is advising on contracts of employment in connection with a project called Home Start.

In Northampton, Howes Percival is involved in a project to build a school and community centre and Mills & Reeve is advising two advice agencies on charitable status.Nabarro Nathanson partner, Jeffrey Greenwood is one of the founder members of the professional firms group in London.

The idea, he explains, was to provide a channel through which the 'wealth of talent which wanted to make itself available to the community' could do so.Mr Greenwood describes his firm as 'very community oriented' and younger lawyers are encouraged strongly to do pro bono work.'It is part of the normal career progression for people to do community work', he explains and the firm makes a point of giving due recognition for an effort that invariably encroaches into private time.

'It is very much a sacrifice of spare time and family time therefore we try to ensure that this is given great credit in appraisals.'None of the firms deny that involvement in the PFGs or membership of BITC can bring dividends in the form of paid for work.

Taylor & Emmet partner, Roger Dyson is more than happy to be involved in 'putting a bit back into the community'.

But he acknowledges that close contact with the other professionals - accoun tants, chartered surveyors, architects and marketing people 'does no harm'.'Undoubtedly there are opportunities from dealing with other professionals, confirms Mr Bruce-Radcliffe.

His firm's membership of BITC means that 'in literal terms we are rubbing shoulders with industry in a way that we would ordinarily not.

It has got to be valuable'A DJ Freeman memorandum on pro bono circulated to staff also points to the possible commercial advantages in doing pro bono work.

'As well as benefiting the community [pro bono work] enables the firm to obtain a higher business profile both through the projects and through contacts made with other businesses during the course of the work,' it says.When it comes to a dividend, Mr Greenwood prefers to see his firm's pro bono involvement in terms of 'the feel good factor' it generates.

But again, he acknowledges that the PFG amounts to a network and 'all networking produces work of one kind or another'.Commercial dividend or not, Nick Thorn is full of praise for the professionalism of the law firms which have helped out on projects.

And he points out, the 'benefit to community organisations runs wider than the job in hand'.By that he means, that through the PFG projects, organisations become practised users of professional services and will be better able to spot where similar services might be needed for other projects.Solicitors interested in joining BITC or one of the professional firms groups should contact Nick Thorn on 071-629 1600.