Pro bono

We believe everyone has a right to justice, but recognise that this is not always achievable. We have a long tradition of providing pro bono assistance and recognise that our lawyers find it personally rewarding as well as professionally broadening and stimulating.

Highlights include working with JUSTICE and Liberty on a third party human rights intervention at the House of Lords (nominated for The Lawyer Award), and a cross firm initiative supporting the development of small business and social enterprise in the King’s Cross area involving partners, fee earners and support staff.

We operate a number of projects internationally, in support of a diverse range of individuals and community groups. These include:

• The firm is a member of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), providing pro bono advice to development NGOs and representatives of developing country governments specifically focused on helping them to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. Highlights include advising an NGO on understanding trade and investment treaties between the EU and other regional blocs, hosting seminars for NGOs on how to draft amicus briefs as third parties in investment treaty law and disputes, and supporting five of our lawyers through the A4ID Law and Development Training Programme designed to enhance their understanding of the issues.
• As part of our support for the International Lawyers Project experienced practitioners have provided high level training to members of the local legal profession in Tanzania covering negotiation, mediation, arbitration and advocacy.
• Supporting clients on death row in Trinidad & Tobago for whom the last court of appeal is the Privy Council in London.
• UK pro bono activity includes support for litigants-in-person at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, advocacy on behalf of appellants at the Employment Tribunal, and advice for clients of a law centre local to our London office in Whitechapel.

Herbert Smith is a founding member of the UK charity LawWorks. In addition to our pro bono work, we provide funding to a number of legal charities, lectureships, chairs, and prizes. We also provide a forum for lectures on behalf of a range of legal charities including JUSTICE, Liberty, Reprieve and the Public Law Project.

For more information on our legal volunteering programme see our corporate website or email cr@herbertsmith.com.