Report highlights doubts over pro bono motives

Some solicitors doubt their colleagues' motives for engaging in pro bono work, according to research released this week.

While finding a propensity for altruism in the profession, especially among younger lawyers, the qualitative study produced by the University of Westminster, revealed a culture of scepticism over commercial motives.

Solicitors at large commercial firms maintain that high street practices use pro bono work at advice agencies to generate paid work, while high street lawyers express concern about larger firms' marketing of their pro bono activities.

Sue Bucknall, director of the Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG), agreed that pro bono work can improve a firm's image.

'No-one is forced to do pro bono work, and if a by-product is that the firm is seen in a more positive light, then I see nothing wrong with that,' she said.

The report called for a formal recognition of pro bono work, and suggested producing a legal definition of pro bono which doubles as an ethical obligation for lawyers.

It claimed that a nebulous definition leads to 'doubts as to the validity of claims by legal professions that their members perform substantial amounts of pro bono work'.

Discounted or speculative work, for example, should not be included unless any fees won are contributed to a pro bono fund, it said.

Ms Bucknall said: 'The SPBG and the Bar Pro Bono Group are currently developing a pro bono protocol which stresses pro bono must always remain a voluntary activity.'

By Victoria MacCallum