Buses for the English evoke many positive thoughts of good times.

There's Cliff Richard and his mechanic mates touring Europe in 'Summer Holiday', Reg Varney and his crew chasing the clippies in 'On the Buses', and classic 1960s rockers The Who with their Magic Bus.

So, from a public relations point of view, the legal profession in England and Wales has probably scored about as big a hit as lawyers ever can with its shiny Pro Bono Bus to launch National Pro Bono Week.

Falling immediately after National Volunteers Week, Pro Bono Week is well placed to highlight that lawyers, too, play a significant part in the voluntary work done throughout the country.

As the Attorney-General's pro bono envoy says 'the ethos of pro bono work is at the root of ethics and professionalism'.

But there are also increasingly compelling business reasons for law firms to get involved.

Clients - especially those of the corporate variety - like to see their lawyers playing a pro bono role in their local communities.

Trainees and young lawyers at company-commercial-focused law firms can gain valuable client contact skills while working at advice centres.

However there should be pause for caution.

Pro bono should never been seen by the government as a replacement for an adequately funded legal aid system.

Also, the organisers of pro bono sessions must be careful to ensure that those lawyers providing the advice are sufficiently knowledgeable in the required areas of social welfare to do so without causing more problems than they solve.

Nonetheless, lawyers are in need of a PR boost - and perhaps the Pro Bono Bus will bring them just that.