Report comment

John - who do you think is going to suffer if solicitors etc. stop working pro bono? The government? No. It'll be those who need pro bono help because they can't afford to pay for advice / representation. Been discriminated against / chucked out of your home by your landlord / unfairly dismissed / wrongfully arrested etc.? Tough - if you can't pay, there'll be no one out there to help you. Many who work pro bono (including law students, like those I teach) do so because they believe passionately that access to justice is a fundamental human right - not a luxury for those fortunate enough to be able to afford it - and won't be prepared to withdraw their pro bono labour, as they'll realise that any such action will inevitably end up hitting the wrong target. It's always the 'have nots' than suffer, never the 'haves'.