The Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) this week launched a helpline manned by 20 solicitors from City law firm Mishcon de Reya to assist families of victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

The lawyers will take calls and help members of the public complete an application form for legal advice, which will be loaded on to a specially-created Web site.


Solicitors who have volunteered to give pro bono legal advice will be able to log on to the site and take on cases, which will then disappear from the list. Individuals will be asked to provide the name of their insurer so that solicitors are able to avoid conflicts of interest by acting against an insurer client. The helpline number will be publicised by the Foreign Office.


Graham Bucknall, LawWorks manager at the SPBG, said: 'We have no idea what the demand will be, but I suspect we are still in the transition phase from the initial shock and grief to the stage where reality hits and people need to start considering the legal issues.'


Mishcon de Reya litigation partner Anthony Morton-Hooper, who will be manning the phones, said: 'Our lawyers will take it in turn to handle calls at the SPBG offices and deal with initial referrals.' He added: 'The government's agreement to relax the way in which families of the disaster victims can apply for probate will be a great help and is certainly a step in the right direction.'



The helpline will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays, tel: 020 7090 7363. The Web site, www.tsunamilegalhelp.org.uk, was set up for free by IT consultancy Tribal Internet.



  • In a previous article (see [2004] Gazette, 13 January, 1), we should have said that London firm JA Forrest is participating in the SPBG's scheme to supply lawyers to help the families of tsunami victims on a pro bono basis.