SPBG unveils shortlist of candidates vying for honours in National Pro Bono Week

INAUGURAL AWARDS: Clifford Chance, Covingtons and Dechert praised for LawWorks help

Six law firms and five solicitors have been shortlisted for the inaugural Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) awards, which will be handed out during next week's National Pro Bono Week.

The awards are designed to recognise the work carried out through projects the SPBG runs.

Three of the firms on the shortlist - Clifford Chance, US firm Covington & Burling and US/UK firm Dechert - are recognised for their heavy involvement in the SPBG's LawWorks for Community Groups project.

Dechert has handled 24 of the 150 cases so far begun under LawWorks, with Clifford Chance not far behind on 20.

Covingtons - which is far smaller in London than the other two and has only recently joined the project - has dealt with ten cases, and also helped LawWorks' organisation, including registering it as a trade mark.

Also shortlisted are: City firm DLA, which is taking a lead role in organising LawWorks in the north of England; Birmingham's Wragge & Co for its commitment to LawWorks in the midlands and other work, such as working with the College of Law in Birmingham to set up an employment law helpline; and national firm Irwin Mitchell, which runs a project called Outreach Docklands to help disaffected youths in that part of east London.

Covingtons last week also became the first US firm to sign the pro bono protocol of best practice launched by the SPBG and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

'We're eager to support the development of pro bono legal services in the UK,' said London managing partner Kurt Wimmer.

Two of the five solicitors up for the individual award are with City firm Clyde & Co - Nicola Higgs for setting up the pro bono clinic at Surrey Law Centre and Judith Phillip for her work on the SPBG's student programme.

The other three are: Lucy Baldwinson of City firm Allen & Overy, who has given a great deal of time to running SPBG training sessions; and Martin Hyde of Travers Smith Braithwaite and Jane Watts of the Inns of Court School of Law, who have worked together to set up a legal advice clinic at the school which is run by the students and backed by the City firm.

SPBG chief executive Sue Bucknall said it had been difficult to produce a shortlist.

'One of the aims of this charity is to recognise the good work done by our volunteers,' she explained.

The awards will be handed out at the SPBG's first summer ball, aimed at raising money for the group, while Ms Bucknall is to do a 100-mile sponsored walk next week across the South Downs way in an effort to raise further cash for the group and also Diabetes UK.

To sponsor her, tel: 020 7929 5601.

Neil Rose