More pro bono help for centres

The Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) is set to link up with the Law Centres Federation next month to increase the number of City solicitors helping at centres and to match lawyers with those centres where their pro bono advice is most needed.'Law Works' will be launched officially by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, at a reception to be held on 20 June.The SPBG currently boasts a number of magic circle firms as members, including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Norton Rose, Slaughter and May, Herbert Smith and Cameron McKenna.SPBG training sessions have been hosted by Clifford Chance and Linklaters, and attended by lawyers from other firms in the group who are interested in doing pro bono work.SPBG director Sue Bucknall said this cross-firm co-operation was 'healthy and crucial' to the success of the initiative; but the SPBG needed to extend its reach to 'the next 90 firms below the magic circle', she added.Although the group does have a number of members from the medium-sized band - such as Macfarlanes, Bird & Bird, Olswang and Rowe & Maw - Ms Bucknall said she hoped that the initiative would encourage more firms to follow suit.The alliance with the Law Centres Federation will, it is hoped, replicate the success that the group has been having in negotiations with such smaller City firms as Rooks Rider.After co-operation between the SPBG and the Law Centres Federation, assistants and trainees from the Rooks Rider have undergone training to cover pro bono advice and are negotiating with Islington Law Centre with the aim of providing assistants and trainees on a rolling basis.

Jeremy Fleming