Pro Bono Week 2020: Pro bono and the pandemic

2 - 6th November 2020 is the 19th Pro Bono Week 

Pro Bono Week will take place this year from 2^nd to 6^th November. Now its 19th year, events and campaigns in Pro Bono Week offer an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the voluntary contributions made by lawyers across the four nations of the UK in giving free legal help to those in need.

In this year of unprecedented challenges, for both the voluntary and legal sectors, the role of pro bono legal assistance has never been more important. The overarching theme of Pro Bono Week 2020 is “Pro bono: Through the pandemic and beyond”.

With the potential that social distancing will still be in place, a mixture of online and in-person events are being planned. Law firms, chambers, legal societies, charities, in-house lawyers, universities and law schools are encouraged to start planning how to use Pro Bono Week 2020, whether through private or public events, or through internal or wider communications.

Event organisers are encouraged to highlight and explore the role of pro bono in light of the pandemic. We expect to see events focusing on three key areas:

• “Celebrating pro bono” > events celebrating those who give back and recent successes in pro bono.
  
  
• “Pro bono pathways” > events exploring different ways lawyers can volunteer and the different opportunities open to them at stages of their careers.
  
  
• “Effective pro bono” > events sharing best practice and discussing what makes an effective pro bono service.

Resources and updates are at www.probonoweek.org.uk. Plan your event now and get it added to the national calendar online by emailing mary@probonoweek.org.uk or for any tips on events to hold or campaigns you can join.