Report on the Nature and Prevalence of Pro Bono Partner Roles Globally

A new report, ‘The Nature and Prevalence of Pro Bono Partner Roles Globally’, produced by law firm DLA Piper, the Australian Pro Bono Centre, the Pro Bono Institute in Washington DC and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, reveals a significant increase in the appointment of pro bono partners over the last 20 years.

From 1990 -1999, there were only six dedicated pro bono partners globally. However, as of 2019, the report found 66 known examples of dedicated pro bono partners in more than 55 law firms. This highlights the importance of this promotion in demonstrating a firm’s commitment to and credentials in pro bono and access to justice, its desire to show leadership and best practice in pro bono and that firms have seen a growing commitment to pro bono and a recognition of the value such roles bring to the broader partnership.

The report revealed that senior and experienced pro bono lawyers within the world’s largest law firms provide assistance on a wide range of issues from supporting vulnerable or low-income individuals on housing and immigration issues – either directly or through the non-profit organisations that support those in need – to advising UN agencies, Chief Justices and Prime Ministers in developing countries.

“TrustLaw works with legal teams globally to spread the practice of pro bono. There are a number of ways to structure pro bono practices effectively and we support all firms as they seek to do so with relevant pro bono opportunities and resources. This report demonstrates that pro bono partner roles are on the rise as part of a growing culture which benefits not only the clients, but also the law firms that choose this path. We recommend senior leaders in law firms do consider the report’s insights as they seek to embed pro bono further in their firm’s values and activities.” – Glen Tarman, Director of TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation