PRO PRIDE

'Pro bono is on the march,' says Lord Phillips, the president of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG).

Judging by the number of mentions of pro bono in your last two letters pages and the excellent article 'Lawyers in society' (see [2002] Gazette, 24 January, 18) by the Law Society President, David McIntosh, he is certainly correct.But who are the marchers? They come from all ranks and ages - from students through senior partners to retired solicitors.

Students are learning to give back to society at an early age through street law programmes and law clinics.Trainees and younger solicitors become involved in the LawWorks scheme and other projects such as the Young Solicitors Group (see [2002] Gazette, 24 January 17).

Retired solicitors are working on our mediation and other projects.All of them are volunteers as we have never stated that pro bono work should be compulsory and we have also clearly stated that pro bono work must never replace a properly funded community legal service.

When our new Web site link to in-depth assistance is launched, it will be front-ended with an eligibility calculator, and those who qualify for public funding will be directed accordingly.

Pro bono is there to help the many who have never been able to take advantage of public funding such as the many community groups we help.This year the SPBG will be working closely with the Law Society to showcase the good work that is happening already all over the country and to help those in the profession who wish to see what pro bono work is all about.

As our chairman, Paul Newdick, says: 'Pro bono puts the pro into professionalism.'Yes, it is free law but, as the concept of pro bono is now stretching over many professions it is the one Latin phrase that I am proud to continue to use.Susan Bucknall, chief executive, Solicitors Pro Bono Group