Voluntary 40-hour pro bono target considered by Law Society

PRO BONO: fears that government will rely on free work

Solicitors will be asked to do 40 hours of pro bono work each year if new aspirational targets being drawn up by the Law Society are approved later this year.The targets are modelled on those set by US Bar associations such as New York.

Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) trustee Barbara Cahalane, the Society's director of communications, told a meeting last week that the aspirational targets, if approved by the Council in September, would recognise work already being done by solicitors in the sector.

Solicitors already do an average of 37 hours of pro bono each year, she claimed.However, Ms Cahalane added there were concerns that the government may latch on to the scheme and rely on solicitors to provide such advice against the background of cut-backs in civil legal aid.Fellow SPBG trustee Paul Newdick, a partner at City firm Clyde & Co, said: 'You can't force people to do pro bono work, but you can encourage them.

An aspirational target to encourage people to do more is a good thing.' He said the City has to respond to students' desire to do pro bono work.But Ian Rendell, a partner in five-partner St Austell-based firm Graham & Graham, said that although all of his firm's partners currently undertake about 40 hours of pro bono every year, it may be too onerous to expect firms such as his to extend the target to all fee-earners.

Jeremy Fleming

Coverage of YSG/Gazette pro bono awards in features