Few subjects spark more debate among lawyers than pro bono.

In the firing line this week are young City lawyers, who, according to the chairman of one London legal advice centre, prefer the kudos of high-profile matters that win awards to the reality of hours at an evening clinic.

If nothing else, there is no shortage of encouragement for lawyers of all ages to engage in pro bono work, while many City firms do organise legal staff for advice centres.

Of course, they have the resources to make an impressive contribution, and the public relations machines to let the world know about it.

But that should not detract from the valuable work done by smaller firms and individuals across the country.

And legal aid lawyers say that much of what they do is effectively pro bono anyway.

Firms struggle with finding an appropriate balance in publicising pro bono work.

A leading City firm once sent journalists an annual review of its pro bono work, which it said equated to more than 2 million in fees, but insisted that no stories were written about it.

Awards have their place in recognising particularly valuable pro bono efforts, but they should not be the only reason firms do the work.

With the Legal Services Research Centre recently highlighting the level of unmet legal need, and no extra legal aid money to help cope with it, the demand for pro bono work will only increase.

And with it, it seems, the profession's soul-searching.