LAW OFFICERS MARK 25 YEARS OF PRO BONO WEEK

Ellie Reeves and Andy Slaughter marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week at events promoting voluntary legal work, the Attorney General’s Office said. Reeves opened the week on Monday 2 November, paying tribute to lawyers, charities and universities supporting free legal assistance. She recalled volunteering at her law school’s legal clinic while studying for the Bar. Reeves said: “Pro bono can provide a lifeline when an everyday problem becomes a legal crisis.”

Slaughter launched the History of Pro Bono Exhibition in Parliament on 26 October, according to the Attorney General’s Office. The exhibition traces free legal help from ancient Greece and Rome, drawing on contributions from more than 50 firms, charities, universities and individuals. Advocate, the national pro bono charity for the Bar of England and Wales, marks its 30th anniversary and recorded 5,634 requests for help in 2025/26, up 35%. The UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono said its 88 member firms completed 645,453 hours of voluntary legal work in 2025, an increase of 1.29%.

The programme includes three Young Lawyers events encouraging early-career solicitors and barristers to support access to justice. The Attorney General’s Office said Slaughter encouraged participation at the Young Lawyers Event on 3 November. He also urged legal organisations to maintain and expand their commitments at an event marking 10 years of the Law Society’s Pro Bono Charter. The Student Clinical Legal Education Recognition List recognised 1,881 students across England and Wales for contributing at least 25 hours through university law clinics and other programmes.