The second annual TrustLaw Pro Bono Index came up with a number of positive findings from Africa and the Middle East. This year, 24 law firms from 18 countries across the region submitted data for the Index. Though representing only a slight increase from the 23 law firms that took part in 2014, submissions last year were received from only 15 regional jurisdictions. Lawyers in the region reported significantly higher levels of pro bono work and partner engagement appears to be on the rise.
The average pro bono hours per lawyer carried out across the region in the previous 12 months increased by nearly 50 percent to 30.4 hours in the 2015 Index from 20.5 hours in 2014. This jump may be due to high levels of pro bono reported by first-time Index participants in previously unrepresented countries such as Lebanon and Uganda. In addition, firms in a number of other countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Mauritius, reported significant increases in pro bono engagement.
The average percentage of fee-earners undertaking 10 or more hours of pro bono per year increased to 42.7 percent from 33.6 percent. Partner engagement also rose with the average percentage of partners performing pro bono work increasing to 61 percent from 37 percent. In addition, the average hours of pro bono carried out on an individual basis almost doubled to 18.5 hours per partner from 9.6 hours.
These findings suggest a positive trend towards expanding pro bono across the region and growing interest among legal communities in countries without historical traditions of pro bono.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in South Africa, please see here. For further insight into the pro bono sector in Ghana, please see here.
Please note, the regional tables have been ordered alphabetically.
Sign up for our Newsletter
Index of Pro Bono2015
Data
Explore the results by region and country.
Africa & Middle East
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashurst | United Arab Emirates | 3.06 | 11.76% |
| Badri & Salim El Meouchi Law Firm | Qatar | 60.00 | 100.00% |
| Badri & Salim El Meouchi Law Firm | Lebanon | 40.00 | 88.00% |
| Bowman Gilfillan Inc. | Kenya | 0.80 | 0% |
| Bowman Gilfillan Inc. | South Africa | 24.05 | 41.62% |
| Bowman Gilfillan Inc. | Madagascar | 16.57 | 35.71% |
| Bowman Gilfillan Inc. | Uganda | 26.32 | 52.63% |
| Dechert | United Arab Emirates | 23.27 | 93.33% |
| DLA Piper | Bahrain | 47.50 | 75.00% |
| DLA Piper | Kuwait | 74.71 | 100.00% |
| DLA Piper | Qatar | 39.00 | 66.67% |
| DLA Piper | Saudi Arabia | 30.72 | 61.11% |
| DLA Piper | United Arab Emirates | 25.03 | 49.23% |
| DLA Piper | Oman | 0 | 0% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | United Arab Emirates | 3.22 | - |
| Geni & Kebe | Senegal | 1.43 | 35.71% |
| Hogan Lovells South Africa | South Africa | 63.71 | 12.20% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Qatar | 9.90 | 10.00% |
| K & L Gates LLP | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Saudi Arabia | 13.13 | 25.00% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | United Arab Emirates | 20.48 | 32.00% |
| Linklaters LLP | United Arab Emirates | 3.21 | 15.15% |
| Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados | Angola | 0.12 | 0% |
| Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados | Mozambique | 0.29 | 0% |
| Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa | South Africa | 37.85 | 77.98% |
| Reed Smith LLP | United Arab Emirates | 11.24 | 29.41% |
| Savjani & Co. | Malawi | 6.25 | 37.50% |
| Sharkawy & Sarhan Law Firm | Egypt | 65.00 | 12.50% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United Arab Emirates | 2.09 | 9.52% |
| Simba & Simba Advocates | Kenya | 30.00 | 100.00% |
| Simmons & Simmons | United Arab Emirates | 8.62 | - |
| Steptoe & Johnson | Nigeria | 20.00 | 60.00% |
| Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie | Nigeria | 0.36 | 0% |
| Uteem Chambers | Mauritius | 142.86 | 71.43% |
| Webber Wentzel | South Africa | 30.99 | 16.38% |
| White & Case | Qatar | 13.86 | 42.86% |
| White & Case | South Africa | 30.05 | 42.11% |
| White & Case | United Arab Emirates | 7.85 | 25.93% |
Qatar
Six law firms with offices in Qatar provided information on their pro bono initiatives for the 2015 Index, the same as in 2014, and four of these submitted detailed data on the quantity of pro bono work carried out by their lawyers in Qatar.
Among the most interesting findings is a marked increase in partner engagement. While all respondents in 2014 indicated that partners in Qatar performed no pro bono hours that year, this year’s results indicate that Qatar-based partners carried out an average of 17.6 pro bono hours in 2015. In addition, a number of indicators suggest the practice of pro bono is gaining ground in Qatar. For example, the average number of hours that lawyers dedicated to pro bono initiatives at respondent firms in Qatar jumped to 24.5 hours per fee-earner in 2015 from 10 hours in 2014. Further evidence of an expanding culture of pro bono among international firms in Qatar is the fact that 48 percent of all fee-earners dedicated some time to pro bono work in 2015, compared to only 13 percent the previous year.
In addition to international firms expanding their pro bono initiatives in the country, other members of the legal community have also taken actions to strengthen the culture of pro bono in Qatar. In Qatar the legal academic community has been largely responsible for promoting pro bono, which is seen as an important tool to give law students practical experience while instilling a strong public-service ethic and providing legal services to those in need. Qatari law schools have begun implementing pro bono programs similar to those found in countries with highly developed traditions of pro bono. In 2014, Qatar University joined the ranks of top universities in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland by establishing a Student Law Clinic, which provides pro bono legal advice on issues of international trade and investment.1
This year’s Index results suggest promising growth in the sector. Further analysis over coming years will show whether these findings illustrate a short-term anomaly or a sustainable, long-term trend.
1https://www.tradelab.org/clinics/qatar.html
Among the most interesting findings is a marked increase in partner engagement. While all respondents in 2014 indicated that partners in Qatar performed no pro bono hours that year, this year’s results indicate that Qatar-based partners carried out an average of 17.6 pro bono hours in 2015. In addition, a number of indicators suggest the practice of pro bono is gaining ground in Qatar. For example, the average number of hours that lawyers dedicated to pro bono initiatives at respondent firms in Qatar jumped to 24.5 hours per fee-earner in 2015 from 10 hours in 2014. Further evidence of an expanding culture of pro bono among international firms in Qatar is the fact that 48 percent of all fee-earners dedicated some time to pro bono work in 2015, compared to only 13 percent the previous year.
In addition to international firms expanding their pro bono initiatives in the country, other members of the legal community have also taken actions to strengthen the culture of pro bono in Qatar. In Qatar the legal academic community has been largely responsible for promoting pro bono, which is seen as an important tool to give law students practical experience while instilling a strong public-service ethic and providing legal services to those in need. Qatari law schools have begun implementing pro bono programs similar to those found in countries with highly developed traditions of pro bono. In 2014, Qatar University joined the ranks of top universities in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland by establishing a Student Law Clinic, which provides pro bono legal advice on issues of international trade and investment.1
This year’s Index results suggest promising growth in the sector. Further analysis over coming years will show whether these findings illustrate a short-term anomaly or a sustainable, long-term trend.
1https://www.tradelab.org/clinics/qatar.html
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm | 60.00 | 100.00% |
| DLA Piper | 39.00 | 66.67% |
| White and Case | 13.86 | 42.86% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 9.90 | 10.00% |
South Africa
South Korea has an expansive public legal aid system with 120 branch offices across the country. Enacted by the 1986 Korea Legal Aid Act, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (KLAC) provides discounted legal assistance, free legal representation for certain protected groups, and funding for legal education programmes and campaigns.1
Despite South Korea’s comprehensive public aid system and the presence of multiple legal NGOs, pro bono work is becoming increasingly popular among private law firms since legislation was enacted in 2000 that made a minimum of 20 hours of annual pro bono work mandatory for most lawyers. As government legal aid often only provides for the needs of South Korean citizens, some law firm pro bono initiatives are aimed at addressing the legal needs of South Korea’s substantial refugee and migrant populations, which number 500,000 in a country with a population of about 50 million. Many of these immigrants are women and find themselves subject to increased violence and oppression, as their unofficial status leaves them vulnerable to abuse. One large South Korean firm based in Seoul runs a legal education programme to teach immigrant women their rights under the legal system and the protections to which they are entitled under national laws.
Data submissions were received from 16 law firms with offices in South Korea this year, a four-fold increase from the data submitted in 2015. Analysis showed that while participation increased for both partners and fee earners, the average number of pro bono hours done by individuals decreased in comparison to data collected for the 2015 Index. The discrepancy in findings between 2015 and 2016 may be due to the dramatic increase in the size of the 2016 dataset. As a result, the 2016 data is likely to be a more accurate reflection of the country’s true pro bono activities.
As noted, the average hours per fee earner in South Korea dropped from 62.5 hours reported in the 2015 Index to 25.8 hours reported this year. However, the percentage of fee earners who performed 10 or more hours of pro bono work over the past year increased from 42.6 percent in the 2015 Index to 44.0 percent this year.
Levels of partner engagement reflected similar trends with average hours per partner decreasing from 35.6 hours to 28.1 hours in the 2016 Index. However, the percentage of partners who engaged in pro bono work increased from 56.2 percent to 64.3 percent in the 2016 Index.
1https://www.lw.com/admin/Upload/Documents/Global%20Pro%20Bono%20Survey/A-Survey-of-Pro-Bono-Practices-and-Opportunities.pdf
Despite South Korea’s comprehensive public aid system and the presence of multiple legal NGOs, pro bono work is becoming increasingly popular among private law firms since legislation was enacted in 2000 that made a minimum of 20 hours of annual pro bono work mandatory for most lawyers. As government legal aid often only provides for the needs of South Korean citizens, some law firm pro bono initiatives are aimed at addressing the legal needs of South Korea’s substantial refugee and migrant populations, which number 500,000 in a country with a population of about 50 million. Many of these immigrants are women and find themselves subject to increased violence and oppression, as their unofficial status leaves them vulnerable to abuse. One large South Korean firm based in Seoul runs a legal education programme to teach immigrant women their rights under the legal system and the protections to which they are entitled under national laws.
Data submissions were received from 16 law firms with offices in South Korea this year, a four-fold increase from the data submitted in 2015. Analysis showed that while participation increased for both partners and fee earners, the average number of pro bono hours done by individuals decreased in comparison to data collected for the 2015 Index. The discrepancy in findings between 2015 and 2016 may be due to the dramatic increase in the size of the 2016 dataset. As a result, the 2016 data is likely to be a more accurate reflection of the country’s true pro bono activities.
As noted, the average hours per fee earner in South Korea dropped from 62.5 hours reported in the 2015 Index to 25.8 hours reported this year. However, the percentage of fee earners who performed 10 or more hours of pro bono work over the past year increased from 42.6 percent in the 2015 Index to 44.0 percent this year.
Levels of partner engagement reflected similar trends with average hours per partner decreasing from 35.6 hours to 28.1 hours in the 2016 Index. However, the percentage of partners who engaged in pro bono work increased from 56.2 percent to 64.3 percent in the 2016 Index.
1https://www.lw.com/admin/Upload/Documents/Global%20Pro%20Bono%20Survey/A-Survey-of-Pro-Bono-Practices-and-Opportunities.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
United Arab Emirates
The 2015 Index received data from 33 firms with offices in the United States, involving almost 22,000 lawyers. This represents a dramatic increase in participation from the 23 firms that submitted data in 2014. Of those firms involved in the 2015 survey, only three were domestic United States firms without offices in other countries.
The United States is well-known as a leading jurisdiction for pro bono, with firms devoting significant and substantial resources to their pro bono practices and with many firms having well-developed and long-standing programmes. The American Lawyer’s coveted A-List1 also takes pro bono into account when assessing which are the stand-out firms in the United States, which is a clear indication that pro bono is taken seriously by firms and the legal sector alike. As with last year, this is highlighted in the data received, with high levels of engagement across the board.
The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono survey also ranked firms on their international pro bono performance as well as domestic for the first time this year, a sign of increasing internationalisation in the pro bono sector.
Law firms continue to make efforts to evolve their practices, for example by integrating new technology platforms into their practices and the legal community supporting pro bono initiatives by requiring pro bono as part of bar license application processes and allowing pro bono hours to count towards Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.2
Lawyers in the United States performed an average of 72.8 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, similar to last year’s average of 75.0 hours. This level of consistency may result from the fact that many of the pro bono practices are so well-established and that pro bono is engrained in the psyche of the legal profession in the country. A total of 71.4 percent of fee-earners performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, a slightly higher figure than last year’s 69.5 percent. Both these figures are significantly above the average across all responses for the Index and higher than any other jurisdiction.3
There was also a high level of engagement from partners in the United States who spent an average of 34.6 hours of pro bono each, and 73.7 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters. This compared to an average of 37.8 hours last year, with 61.1 percent of partners spending time on pro bono. Again, these are both world leading averages and, taken with the fee-earning averages, demonstrate very high levels of engagement at all levels across the firms.
For the Index, 36 firms with offices in the United States provided information on the structure of their pro bono practices. Again the findings demonstrate a very high level of sophistication in terms of pro bono amongst the firms in the country. Of these 94 percent have a formal pro bono policy, 92 percent have a pro bono coordinator, 89 percent have a pro bono committee in place, and 86 percent take pro bono work into account when appraising lawyers. It is very easy to draw parallels between the high engagement levels and the resources that have been put in place to support pro bono at the respondent firms.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in the United States, please see here.
1http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202498700231/The-2014-AList-20-StandOut-Firms
2http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_year_review_ 2014-15.authcheckdam.pdf
3Some other jurisdictions did have slightly higher figures, though all of these had ten or fewer lawyers at respondent firms in the jurisdiction.
The United States is well-known as a leading jurisdiction for pro bono, with firms devoting significant and substantial resources to their pro bono practices and with many firms having well-developed and long-standing programmes. The American Lawyer’s coveted A-List1 also takes pro bono into account when assessing which are the stand-out firms in the United States, which is a clear indication that pro bono is taken seriously by firms and the legal sector alike. As with last year, this is highlighted in the data received, with high levels of engagement across the board.
The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono survey also ranked firms on their international pro bono performance as well as domestic for the first time this year, a sign of increasing internationalisation in the pro bono sector.
Law firms continue to make efforts to evolve their practices, for example by integrating new technology platforms into their practices and the legal community supporting pro bono initiatives by requiring pro bono as part of bar license application processes and allowing pro bono hours to count towards Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.2
Lawyers in the United States performed an average of 72.8 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, similar to last year’s average of 75.0 hours. This level of consistency may result from the fact that many of the pro bono practices are so well-established and that pro bono is engrained in the psyche of the legal profession in the country. A total of 71.4 percent of fee-earners performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, a slightly higher figure than last year’s 69.5 percent. Both these figures are significantly above the average across all responses for the Index and higher than any other jurisdiction.3
There was also a high level of engagement from partners in the United States who spent an average of 34.6 hours of pro bono each, and 73.7 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters. This compared to an average of 37.8 hours last year, with 61.1 percent of partners spending time on pro bono. Again, these are both world leading averages and, taken with the fee-earning averages, demonstrate very high levels of engagement at all levels across the firms.
For the Index, 36 firms with offices in the United States provided information on the structure of their pro bono practices. Again the findings demonstrate a very high level of sophistication in terms of pro bono amongst the firms in the country. Of these 94 percent have a formal pro bono policy, 92 percent have a pro bono coordinator, 89 percent have a pro bono committee in place, and 86 percent take pro bono work into account when appraising lawyers. It is very easy to draw parallels between the high engagement levels and the resources that have been put in place to support pro bono at the respondent firms.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in the United States, please see here.
1http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202498700231/The-2014-AList-20-StandOut-Firms
2http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_year_review_ 2014-15.authcheckdam.pdf
3Some other jurisdictions did have slightly higher figures, though all of these had ten or fewer lawyers at respondent firms in the jurisdiction.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold & Porter LLP | United States | 136.34 | 98.32% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | United States | 118.74 | 65.16% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | United States | 113.36 | 67.63% |
| Paul Hastings | United States | 104.23 | 98.12% |
| Dechert | United States | 98.33 | 96.28% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | United States | 97.70 | 83.30% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | United States | 95.29 | 93.01% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | United States | 88.45 | 61.34% |
| Steptoe & Johnson | United States | 84.76 | 80.68% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | United States | 82.01 | 78.92% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | United States | 79.15 | 72.23% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | United States | 77.71 | 61.81% |
| DLA Piper | United States | 76.21 | 84.48% |
| Hogan Lovells | United States | 74.21 | 87.19% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | United States | 73.50 | 67.68% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | United States | 72.34 | 61.99% |
| White & Case | United States | 70.30 | 73.60% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | United States | 62.37 | - |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | United States | 57.75 | 78.01% |
| Nixon Peabody LLP | United States | 55.12 | 68.64% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United States | 52.57 | 81.01% |
| Reed Smith LLP | United States | 51.05 | 59.10% |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | United States | 49.58 | 50.72% |
| Faegre Baker Daniels LLP | United States | 49.55 | 71.43% |
| Holland & Knight LLP | United States | 49.39 | - |
| Dickstein Shapiro LLP | United States | 48.02 | 51.50% |
| Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP | United States | 41.44 | 35.58% |
| Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | United States | 36.84 | - |
| Linklaters LLP | United States | 36.75 | 48.85% |
| K & L Gates LLP | United States | 35.93 | 41.51% |
| Katherine K. Loanzon | United States | 30.00 | 100.00% |
| Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP | United States | 23.05 | 22.73% |
| Sean Morrison, PLLC | United States | 9.50 | 0% |
| Ashurst | United States | 1.00 | 2.70% |
Americas
The 2015 Index received data from 34 offices in 10 countries across the Americas, not including the United States, which was an increase of nearly 50 percent from last year’s participation by 23 offices in as many countries. Increased data has provided a sharper picture of the pro bono work happening across the region and the future looks bright.
The average hours of pro bono performed by fee-earners was 14.6, slightly higher than last year’s average of 11.2 hours. Across the region, 46.7 percent of lawyers performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, an increase of 76% over last year. A total of 39.7 percent of partners across the region worked on pro bono matters, representing a favourable increase from the 34.4 percent reported in 2014. However, the average hours that partners dedicated to pro bono work dropped from 15.0 hours in 2014 to 13.8 hours this year.
While other surveys of the region have reported low partner participation across Latin America, including the latest from the Vance Center, that was not true for our survey. Looking at just responses from South and Central America, we saw an average of 37.4 percent of partners engaging in some pro bono work, with partners performing an average of 14.8 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months. These findings reveal a small annual increase in partner participation across the region from the 34.4 percent reported in 2014.
For the purposes of the Index, data from across the Americas has been grouped together, though excluding the United States. Data was received from 10 countries in the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Colombia, please see here.
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
The average hours of pro bono performed by fee-earners was 14.6, slightly higher than last year’s average of 11.2 hours. Across the region, 46.7 percent of lawyers performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, an increase of 76% over last year. A total of 39.7 percent of partners across the region worked on pro bono matters, representing a favourable increase from the 34.4 percent reported in 2014. However, the average hours that partners dedicated to pro bono work dropped from 15.0 hours in 2014 to 13.8 hours this year.
While other surveys of the region have reported low partner participation across Latin America, including the latest from the Vance Center, that was not true for our survey. Looking at just responses from South and Central America, we saw an average of 37.4 percent of partners engaging in some pro bono work, with partners performing an average of 14.8 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months. These findings reveal a small annual increase in partner participation across the region from the 34.4 percent reported in 2014.
For the purposes of the Index, data from across the Americas has been grouped together, though excluding the United States. Data was received from 10 countries in the Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Colombia, please see here.
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allende & Brea Abogados | Argentina | 4.36 | 8.06% |
| Barros & Errázuriz Abogados | Chile | 17.00 | 65.00% |
| Basham Ringe & Correa S.C. | Mexico | 7.67 | - |
| Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP | Canada | 15.88 | 27.23% |
| Bullo Tassi Estebenet Lipera Torassa Abogados | Argentina | 28.16 | 71.43% |
| Cariola Diez Perez-Cotapos & Cia. Ltda. | Chile | 6.32 | 17.89% |
| Cavelier Abogados | Colombia | 32.50 | 53.57% |
| Creel, Garcia-Cuellar, Aiza & Enriquez, S.C. | Mexico | 4.15 | 12.31% |
| Estudio Beccar Varela | Argentina | 14.55 | 36.36% |
| Garcia Sayan Abogados | Peru | 7.44 | 27.78% |
| Gomez Pinzon Zuleta | Colombia | 32.72 | 74.07% |
| Guevara & Gutierrez S.C. | Bolivia | 7.86 | 28.57% |
| Hogan Lovells | Brazil | 5.30 | 20.00% |
| Hogan Lovells | Mexico | 28.26 | 62.67% |
| Hogan Lovells | Venezuela | 29.25 | 87.50% |
| Holland & Knight LLP | Colombia | 4.09 | - |
| Holland & Knight LLP | Mexico | 0.87 | - |
| Koury Lopes Advogados (KLA) | Brazil | 2.66 | 2.22% |
| Lima & Asociados Consultores S.A. | Bolivia | 8.40 | 20.00% |
| Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal | Argentina | 20.41 | 33.20% |
| Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. & Quiroga Advogados | Brazil | 8.45 | 14.81% |
| McCarthy Tetrault LLP | Canada | 13.96 | 28.26% |
| Morgan & Morgan | Panama | 23.12 | 44.16% |
| Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP | Canada | 14.83 | 71.97% |
| Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arntsen & Martinez de Hoz (h) | Argentina | 17.98 | 29.71% |
| Sanchez DeVanny Eseverri, S.C. | Mexico | 4.41 | 22.06% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Brazil | 0 | 0% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Canada | 13.64 | 44.44% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Brazil | 0 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Canada | 2.60 | 10.00% |
| Tufiño & Villegas | Bolivia | 198.75 | 100.00% |
| Veirano Advogados | Brazil | 30.00 | 25.00% |
| Von Wobeser & Sierra, S.C. | Mexico | 30.00 | - |
| White & Case | Brazil | 32.20 | 40.00% |
| White & Case | Mexico | 19.91 | 51.43% |
| Zapiola Guerrico & Asociados | Argentina | 27.78 | 22.22% |
Argentina
Pro bono work in Argentina appears to be increasing based on the findings of the 2015 Index. Index participation held steady from 2014, with six firms providing submissions this year, all of which were domestic firms. On average the lawyers at those firms performed 20.8 hours per fee-earner, up 30 percent from the 2014 data. This was above the regional average of 14.6 hours. Participation remained high with 41.5 percent of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono, down from 43.8 percent last year.
Partners at the Argentine firms in the survey performed on average 12.2 hours of pro bono, a slight decrease from last year. In addition, 36.3 percent of partners participated in at least one pro bono matter over the last 12 months, also a small decrease from last year’s 41.2 percent.
Although there is no formal requirement in place for lawyers to perform a minimum amount of pro bono, more than 80 percent of domestic respondent firms have a requirement in place for their lawyers to do a minimum amount of pro bono. We can assume some of these have been put in place in the last 12 months.
All of the respondent firms have some pro bono infrastructure in place. Almost all have a designated pro bono coordinator and half have a pro bono committee. Half of the respondent firms include pro bono in compensation decisions.
No strong trends emerge regarding the types of organisations or the fields pro bono clients work in although, interestingly, many of the respondent firms share a commitment to supporting disability rights. All firms support registered charities and non-profits with their pro bono and most also conduct public interest litigation. Only one performs pro bono for social enterprises. It is possible that recent initiatives that aim to promote the B Corporation model for social businesses – which originated in the United States – through the Sistema B en Sudamerica initiative may impact this number in future years.1
1http://abogados.com.ar/nuevas-tendencias-en-trabajo-pro-bono/15761
Partners at the Argentine firms in the survey performed on average 12.2 hours of pro bono, a slight decrease from last year. In addition, 36.3 percent of partners participated in at least one pro bono matter over the last 12 months, also a small decrease from last year’s 41.2 percent.
Although there is no formal requirement in place for lawyers to perform a minimum amount of pro bono, more than 80 percent of domestic respondent firms have a requirement in place for their lawyers to do a minimum amount of pro bono. We can assume some of these have been put in place in the last 12 months.
All of the respondent firms have some pro bono infrastructure in place. Almost all have a designated pro bono coordinator and half have a pro bono committee. Half of the respondent firms include pro bono in compensation decisions.
No strong trends emerge regarding the types of organisations or the fields pro bono clients work in although, interestingly, many of the respondent firms share a commitment to supporting disability rights. All firms support registered charities and non-profits with their pro bono and most also conduct public interest litigation. Only one performs pro bono for social enterprises. It is possible that recent initiatives that aim to promote the B Corporation model for social businesses – which originated in the United States – through the Sistema B en Sudamerica initiative may impact this number in future years.1
1http://abogados.com.ar/nuevas-tendencias-en-trabajo-pro-bono/15761
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Bullo Tassi Estebenet Lipera Torassa Abogados | 28.16 | 71.43% |
| Zapiola Guerrico & Asociados | 27.78 | 22.22% |
| Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal | 20.41 | 33.20% |
| Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arntsen & Martinez de Hoz (h) | 17.98 | 29.71% |
| Estudio Beccar Varela | 14.55 | 36.36% |
| Allende & Brea Abogados | 4.36 | 8.06% |
Brazil
Brazil changed long-standing regulations prohibiting private lawyers to provide free legal counsel in July 2013. This spurred a flurry of activity on behalf of pro bono organizations and corporate supporters in 2014 to raise awareness of pro bono among Brazil’s legal community.1
Seven firms with offices in Brazil submitted data for the 2015 Index, a slight increase from the five firms that participated in 2014. This included data from both domestic firms and local offices of international firms. Foreign lawyers and non-Brazilian law firms are not allowed to practice Brazilian law so international firms only offer advice on non-Brazilian matters.
Lawyers in Brazil on average performed 7.9 hours of pro bono over the past year against 6.2 hours last year though there was a wide range in the data, from 32.2 hours to none. The percentage of lawyers doing 10 or more hours of pro bono was 13.1 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from the 11.6 average hours reported last year. Partners in Brazil performed 5.1 hours of pro bono on average, compared to 13.6 hours last year, with one quarter engaging in at least one pro bono matter. These numbers paints a relatively positive picture of pro bono in the region, as generally our data shows both fee-earner participation levels and average hours per fee-earner have increased.
Given the restrictive laws across much of Brazil, it is interesting to note that all the respondent firms in Brazil have pro bono coordinators. Half of the firms in the Index have set targets for pro bono and half also include pro bono in compensation decisions.
None of the domestic firms that responded to the Index will do pro bono work for social enterprises despite the rapid expansion of those organisations in the country. They also support a range of sectors including women’s rights and economic development.
1DLA Lawyers Promote Pro Bono Work in Brazil, 27 March 2014, http://www.nationallawjournal.com/legaltimes/id=1202648622758/DLA-Lawyers-Promote-Pro-Bono-Work-in-Brazil?slreturn=20150213105316
Seven firms with offices in Brazil submitted data for the 2015 Index, a slight increase from the five firms that participated in 2014. This included data from both domestic firms and local offices of international firms. Foreign lawyers and non-Brazilian law firms are not allowed to practice Brazilian law so international firms only offer advice on non-Brazilian matters.
Lawyers in Brazil on average performed 7.9 hours of pro bono over the past year against 6.2 hours last year though there was a wide range in the data, from 32.2 hours to none. The percentage of lawyers doing 10 or more hours of pro bono was 13.1 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from the 11.6 average hours reported last year. Partners in Brazil performed 5.1 hours of pro bono on average, compared to 13.6 hours last year, with one quarter engaging in at least one pro bono matter. These numbers paints a relatively positive picture of pro bono in the region, as generally our data shows both fee-earner participation levels and average hours per fee-earner have increased.
Given the restrictive laws across much of Brazil, it is interesting to note that all the respondent firms in Brazil have pro bono coordinators. Half of the firms in the Index have set targets for pro bono and half also include pro bono in compensation decisions.
None of the domestic firms that responded to the Index will do pro bono work for social enterprises despite the rapid expansion of those organisations in the country. They also support a range of sectors including women’s rights and economic development.
1DLA Lawyers Promote Pro Bono Work in Brazil, 27 March 2014, http://www.nationallawjournal.com/legaltimes/id=1202648622758/DLA-Lawyers-Promote-Pro-Bono-Work-in-Brazil?slreturn=20150213105316
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| White & Case | 32.20 | 40.00% |
| Veirano Advogados | 30.00 | 25.00% |
| Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. & Quiroga Advogados | 8.45 | 14.81% |
| Hogan Lovells | 5.30 | 20.00% |
| Koury Lopes Advogados (KLA) | 2.66 | 2.22% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0 | 0% |
Canada
Canadian lawyers have worked for years to promote access to justice through legal aid and pro bono work. Traditionally, this has happened at a provincial level with limited efforts to coordinate nationally. In recent years, however, this has changed. With the founding of Pro Bono Canada in 2012 and their first annual conference last September, pro bono in Canada is becoming more organised on a national scale.
Five Canadian firms responded to the Index in 2015 compared to one respondent last year, and this provided enough data for a full country analysis. The firms in Canada reported that their lawyers on average performed 14.8 hours of pro bono. Over one third of fee-earners, or 36.3 percent, at participating firms undertook 10 or more hours of pro bono in the last year.
Partner participation was similar to other large jurisdictions in the Americas with 26.9 percent of partners spending time on pro bono and an average of five hours per partner.
The pro bono infrastructure at the respondent firms was relatively sophisticated. All of them had a pro bono committee, and four of the five had assigned a pro bono coordinator. While four of the firms factored pro bono into compensation discussions, only two firms had targets for pro bono.
Five Canadian firms responded to the Index in 2015 compared to one respondent last year, and this provided enough data for a full country analysis. The firms in Canada reported that their lawyers on average performed 14.8 hours of pro bono. Over one third of fee-earners, or 36.3 percent, at participating firms undertook 10 or more hours of pro bono in the last year.
Partner participation was similar to other large jurisdictions in the Americas with 26.9 percent of partners spending time on pro bono and an average of five hours per partner.
The pro bono infrastructure at the respondent firms was relatively sophisticated. All of them had a pro bono committee, and four of the five had assigned a pro bono coordinator. While four of the firms factored pro bono into compensation discussions, only two firms had targets for pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP | 15.88 | 27.27% |
| Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP | 14.83 | 71.97% |
| McCarthy Tétrault LLP | 13.96 | 28.26% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 13.64 | 44.44% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP | 2.60 | 10.00% |
Mexico
As Mexico continues to build its pro bono culture, new developments are aiming to expand the work already being done in large part by the non-profit sector and university law clinics.
Pro bono supporters in Mexico and professional organizations such as ANADE (La Asociacion Nacional de Abogados de Empresa) are taking part in efforts to expand corporate in-house pro bono participation through a number of events aimed at engaging corporate legal teams in pro bono initiatives.1 Additionally, proposed legislative changes may help to enhance Mexico’s pro bono landscape in the near future. A bill was proposed in 2014 that would make pro bono work mandatory for certain professions, including lawyers.2
The 2015 Index saw an increase in the data received from Mexico with seven firms reporting their pro bono involvement, up from four last year. With more data our results are painting what is perhaps a more accurate picture of the emerging pro bono culture in the country. Respondents reported on average 12.4 hours per fee-earner over the past year, a decrease from 23.1 hours last year. Roughly 33 percent of fee-earners undertook 10 or more hours of pro bono compared to the 50.5 percent reported in 2014. Partner engagement was on par with the other countries in the region with 35 percent of partners engaging in pro bono work for an average of 11.4 hours per partner. Analysis of data submitted in 2014 showed that 48.6 percent of partners contributed some time to pro bono projects over the previous 12 months, and individual partners at respondent firms in Mexico performed an average of 25.8 hours of qualifying pro bono over the same period.
Pro bono infrastructure at the Mexican firms was sophisticated. All reported having pro bono coordinators and nearly all have targets. Half of the firms factor pro bono work into compensation.
1http://www.acc.com/accdocket/onlineexclusives/anade-mexico.cfm
2http://www.vancecenter.org/vancecenter/images/stories/vancecenter/pro%20bono%20survey%202014.pdf
Pro bono supporters in Mexico and professional organizations such as ANADE (La Asociacion Nacional de Abogados de Empresa) are taking part in efforts to expand corporate in-house pro bono participation through a number of events aimed at engaging corporate legal teams in pro bono initiatives.1 Additionally, proposed legislative changes may help to enhance Mexico’s pro bono landscape in the near future. A bill was proposed in 2014 that would make pro bono work mandatory for certain professions, including lawyers.2
The 2015 Index saw an increase in the data received from Mexico with seven firms reporting their pro bono involvement, up from four last year. With more data our results are painting what is perhaps a more accurate picture of the emerging pro bono culture in the country. Respondents reported on average 12.4 hours per fee-earner over the past year, a decrease from 23.1 hours last year. Roughly 33 percent of fee-earners undertook 10 or more hours of pro bono compared to the 50.5 percent reported in 2014. Partner engagement was on par with the other countries in the region with 35 percent of partners engaging in pro bono work for an average of 11.4 hours per partner. Analysis of data submitted in 2014 showed that 48.6 percent of partners contributed some time to pro bono projects over the previous 12 months, and individual partners at respondent firms in Mexico performed an average of 25.8 hours of qualifying pro bono over the same period.
Pro bono infrastructure at the Mexican firms was sophisticated. All reported having pro bono coordinators and nearly all have targets. Half of the firms factor pro bono work into compensation.
1http://www.acc.com/accdocket/onlineexclusives/anade-mexico.cfm
2http://www.vancecenter.org/vancecenter/images/stories/vancecenter/pro%20bono%20survey%202014.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Von Wobeser & Sierra, S.C. | 30.00 | - |
| Hogan Lovells | 28.26 | 62.67% |
| White & Case | 19.91 | 51.43% |
| Basham Ringe & Correa, S.C. | 7.67 | - |
| Sanchez DeVanny Eseverri, S.C. | 4.41 | 22.06% |
| Creel, Garcia-Cuellar, Aiza & Enriquez, S.C. | 4.15 | 12.31% |
| Holland & Knight LLP | 0.87 | - |
Asia & Pacific
Unprecedented rates of economic development in countries across Asia and the Pacific have encouraged a number of large international law firms to establish offices in the region, helping to spread awareness and interest in pro bono within legal communities that previously lacked such traditions.1 International organisations such as the United Nations and the International Bar Association have also played a significant role in spreading the practice of pro bono across the region through partnerships with local non-government organisations and support for events such as the Asia Pro Bono Conference, which is now in its fourth year.
A total of 46 law firms in 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific provided data on their pro bono operations for the 2015 Index, a marked increase from the 31 law firms that submitted data from 15 regional jurisdictions in 2014. Lawyers performed a median average of 17.3 hours of pro bono each over the previous 12 months, a slight increase from 15.9 hours in 2014. The median percentage of lawyers carrying out 10 or more hours of pro bono across the 17 regional jurisdictions increased to 38.8 percent this year from 30 percent in 2014. Analysis of 2015 submissions indicates lawyers in South Korea performed the highest levels of pro bono by far, averaging 62.5 hours per fee-earner.
Data covering the past 12 months suggests that levels of partner engagement have increased from the previous year. The median average hours that partners dedicated to pro bono increased to 12.6 hours from 10.5 hours in the 2014 survey. Across the region, the median percentage of partners dedicating any time to pro bono matters increased to 49 percent from 35.6 percent. Despite these positive regional trends, Asia and the Pacific continue to have the lowest percentage of partners engaging in pro bono work among all six regions.
A comparative analysis of data from Asia and the Pacific across the past two years indicates that although levels of pro bono continue to lag behind other regions with stronger traditions of pro bono, the trends appear to suggest a gradual strengthening of pro bono cultures in the 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific. Data indicating higher employee and partner engagement are evidence of this trend.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Cambodia, please see here.
1http://thepbeye.probonoinst.org/2012/12/11/pbis-got-seoul/
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
A total of 46 law firms in 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific provided data on their pro bono operations for the 2015 Index, a marked increase from the 31 law firms that submitted data from 15 regional jurisdictions in 2014. Lawyers performed a median average of 17.3 hours of pro bono each over the previous 12 months, a slight increase from 15.9 hours in 2014. The median percentage of lawyers carrying out 10 or more hours of pro bono across the 17 regional jurisdictions increased to 38.8 percent this year from 30 percent in 2014. Analysis of 2015 submissions indicates lawyers in South Korea performed the highest levels of pro bono by far, averaging 62.5 hours per fee-earner.
Data covering the past 12 months suggests that levels of partner engagement have increased from the previous year. The median average hours that partners dedicated to pro bono increased to 12.6 hours from 10.5 hours in the 2014 survey. Across the region, the median percentage of partners dedicating any time to pro bono matters increased to 49 percent from 35.6 percent. Despite these positive regional trends, Asia and the Pacific continue to have the lowest percentage of partners engaging in pro bono work among all six regions.
A comparative analysis of data from Asia and the Pacific across the past two years indicates that although levels of pro bono continue to lag behind other regions with stronger traditions of pro bono, the trends appear to suggest a gradual strengthening of pro bono cultures in the 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific. Data indicating higher employee and partner engagement are evidence of this trend.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Cambodia, please see here.
1http://thepbeye.probonoinst.org/2012/12/11/pbis-got-seoul/
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnan Kelana Haryanto & Hermanto | Indonesia | 54.57 | 64.29% |
| Ahmed & Qazi Advocates & Legal Consultants | Pakistan | 0.80 | 3.33% |
| ALMT Legal | India | 0 | 0% |
| Ashurst | Hong Kong | 1.92 | 6.25% |
| Ashurst | Indonesia | 3.27 | 7.69% |
| Atsumi & Sakai | Japan | 0.80 | 0% |
| AZB & Partners | India | 3.00 | 5.00% |
| Azmi & Associates | Singapore | 0 | 0% |
| Azmi & Associates | Malaysia | 37.71 | 68.57% |
| Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | South Korea | 63.17 | 41.75% |
| Chowdhury & Ullah | Bangladesh | 28.00 | 100.00% |
| Chowdhury & Ullah | India | 0.00 | - |
| Chowdhury & Ullah | Sri Lanka | 28.00 | 100.00% |
| Colin Ng & Partners LLP | Singapore | 0.70 | 2.17% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Hong Kong | 25.94 | 20.00% |
| Dechert | China | 20.33 | 66.67% |
| Dechert | Hong Kong | 28.59 | 76.47% |
| Dechert | Kazakhstan | 40.75 | 75.00% |
| Dechert | Singapore | 0 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | China | 48.83 | 20.00% |
| DLA Piper | Hong Kong | 16.78 | 19.85% |
| DLA Piper | Japan | 34.29 | 33.33% |
| DLA Piper | Singapore | 8.50 | 16.67% |
| DLA Piper | South Korea | 36.50 | 50.00% |
| DLA Piper | Thailand | 18.72 | 31.91% |
| Drew & Napier LLC | Singapore | 1.07 | 3.56% |
| Faegre Baker Daniels LLP | China | 0.33 | 0% |
| Frasers Law Company | Vietnam | 13.00 | 20.00% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | China | 2.87 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Hong Kong | 23.08 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Japan | 11.25 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Singapore | 4.98 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Vietnam | 4.98 | - |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | Hong Kong | 4.78 | 22.22% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | Vietnam | 3.57 | - |
| JunZeJun Law Offices | China | 5.06 | 15.38% |
| K & L Gates LLP | China | 14.92 | 25.00% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Hong Kong | 17.19 | 25.93% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Japan | 5.95 | 10.53% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Singapore | 0.53 | 0% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Taiwan | 17.20 | 20.00% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | China | 0.03 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Hong Kong | 0.37 | 1.67% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | China | 12.20 | 40.00% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Hong Kong | 46.51 | 45.10% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Japan | 11.08 | 30.77% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Singapore | 8.69 | 27.78% |
| LawQuest | India | 13.63 | 75.00% |
| Lee & Li, Attorneys at Law | Taiwan | 0.25 | 0.69% |
| Leks & Co | Indonesia | 18.18 | - |
| Linklaters LLP | Hong Kong | 4.84 | 13.53% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | China | 10.80 | 22.86% |
| MNK Law Offices | India | 6.00 | 14.29% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | China | 22.67 | 50.00% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Hong Kong | 5.82 | 18.42% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Japan | 33.83 | 36.28% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Singapore | 0.50 | 0% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | China | 45.05 | 43.14% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | Japan | 50.68 | 48.15% |
| Paul Hastings | China | 53.40 | 100.00% |
| Paul Hastings | Hong Kong | 24.49 | 71.43% |
| Paul Hastings | Japan | 30.29 | 57.14% |
| Paul Hastings | South Korea | 32.13 | 100.00% |
| Pradhan & Associates | Nepal | 2.00 | 20.00% |
| Prime Law Associates | Nepal | 3.06 | 100.00% |
| Puyat Jacinto & Santos (PJSLaw) | Philippines | 3.00 | 16.67% |
| Reed Smith LLP | China | 1.95 | 5.26% |
| Reed Smith LLP | Hong Kong | 1.38 | 4.21% |
| Reed Smith LLP | Singapore | 3.92 | 8.33% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | China | 0.08 | 0.00% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | Hong Kong | 13.94 | 14.29% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | Japan | 12.36 | 18.18% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | South Korea | 0.00 | 0.00% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | China | 4.57 | 8.70% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Hong Kong | 1.13 | 6.52% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Japan | 11.50 | 29.41% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Singapore | 19.09 | 19.05% |
| Simmons & Simmons | China | 18.32 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | Singapore | 8.70 | - |
| Simpson Grierson | New Zealand | 7.80 | 12.44% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | China | 0.20 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Hong Kong | 33.30 | 35.09% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Japan | 17.50 | 60.00% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Singapore | 14.83 | 16.67% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | South Korea | 0 | 0% |
| Thanathip & Partners Legal Counselors Limited | Thailand | 15.00 | 100.00% |
| UKCA & Partners | India | 7.50 | 15.00% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | China | 0.50 | 0% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Hong Kong | 5.50 | 5.00% |
| White & Case | China | 6.61 | 18.42% |
| White & Case | Hong Kong | 9.26 | 32.26% |
| White & Case | Japan | 18.47 | 31.82% |
| White & Case | Kazakhstan | 22.38 | 62.50% |
| White & Case | Singapore | 20.54 | 51.43% |
| White & Case | Indonesia | 123.50 | 100.00% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | Hong Kong | 20.22 | 38.89% |
China
As China’s pro bono culture continues to develop, debates within the legal community in recent years have centred on identifying the most effective methods for ensuring access to justice, with pro bono supporters arguing that this requires multiple approaches including government legal aid, non-government organisation (NGO) advocacy, and pro bono assistance from private law firms.1 Although international law firms continue efforts to expand their pro bono work in China, local firms have not yet begun engaging in pro bono on a large scale. As in 2014, this year’s Index found only one domestic Chinese firm was among the 18 respondents that submitted data on pro bono work.
The lack of pro bono engagement by domestic firms is due partly to the fact that a strong pro bono culture has not traditionally existed within the Chinese legal community. In addition, some Chinese lawyers argue that the Ministry of Justice assigns an excessive number of legal aid tasks to local law firms, diminishing the resources and capacity of domestic firms to take on voluntary pro bono work. There are currently three pieces of national legislation restricting the activities of non-profit organizations, including the Regulations on Registration Administration of Associations (1998), Interim Regulations on the Administration of the Registration of Privately Owned Non-Enterprise Organizations (1998) and Regulations on Administration of Foundations (2004). There are also many relevant local regulations, the implementation of which varies across provinces.
This patchwork of complex and outdated laws makes it extremely difficult for many NGOs to establish methods of compliance that satisfy the many layers of legal provisions regulating their operations. They also struggle to access professional legal advice to ensure their practices do not inadvertently stray outside the bounds of the law. These challenges help explain why China’s NGO sector remains less developed than in other regional jurisdictions and why the pro bono market continues to be quite small.
Recent government action, however, suggests a growing awareness among the political class of the need to keep pace with international trends in the development sector. Currently the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, is drafting new laws to regulate charities and NGOs. Many welcome these reforms, hoping updated legislation will help to clarify existing law, while others worry the reforms will impose greater restrictions on the activities of NGOs. So far few details have been released regarding the content of impending legislative changes so it remains difficult to gauge the potential impact of such reforms on China’s pro bono market.
Analysis of data from 19 firms with offices in China suggests positive growth in the country’s pro bono market. Lawyers performed an average of 19.2 hours of pro bono each, an increase of nearly 28 percent on the previous year and above the regional median average of 17.3 hours per fee-earner. The percentage of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono remained steady, nudging up to 24.8 percent from 21.2 percent of lawyers at respondent firms.
China showed strong levels of partner engagement compared to other countries in the region, with partners completing on average 24.4 hours of pro bono over the past 12 months compared to 13.7 hours last year and a 2015 regional average of 14 hours. In addition, 37.3 percent of partners at respondent firms contributed some pro bono hours, a notable increase from the 16.7 percent reported last year.
1http://www.pilnet.org/events/186-three-ways-are-better-than-one-building-public-interest-law-in-china.html
The lack of pro bono engagement by domestic firms is due partly to the fact that a strong pro bono culture has not traditionally existed within the Chinese legal community. In addition, some Chinese lawyers argue that the Ministry of Justice assigns an excessive number of legal aid tasks to local law firms, diminishing the resources and capacity of domestic firms to take on voluntary pro bono work. There are currently three pieces of national legislation restricting the activities of non-profit organizations, including the Regulations on Registration Administration of Associations (1998), Interim Regulations on the Administration of the Registration of Privately Owned Non-Enterprise Organizations (1998) and Regulations on Administration of Foundations (2004). There are also many relevant local regulations, the implementation of which varies across provinces.
This patchwork of complex and outdated laws makes it extremely difficult for many NGOs to establish methods of compliance that satisfy the many layers of legal provisions regulating their operations. They also struggle to access professional legal advice to ensure their practices do not inadvertently stray outside the bounds of the law. These challenges help explain why China’s NGO sector remains less developed than in other regional jurisdictions and why the pro bono market continues to be quite small.
Recent government action, however, suggests a growing awareness among the political class of the need to keep pace with international trends in the development sector. Currently the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, is drafting new laws to regulate charities and NGOs. Many welcome these reforms, hoping updated legislation will help to clarify existing law, while others worry the reforms will impose greater restrictions on the activities of NGOs. So far few details have been released regarding the content of impending legislative changes so it remains difficult to gauge the potential impact of such reforms on China’s pro bono market.
Analysis of data from 19 firms with offices in China suggests positive growth in the country’s pro bono market. Lawyers performed an average of 19.2 hours of pro bono each, an increase of nearly 28 percent on the previous year and above the regional median average of 17.3 hours per fee-earner. The percentage of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono remained steady, nudging up to 24.8 percent from 21.2 percent of lawyers at respondent firms.
China showed strong levels of partner engagement compared to other countries in the region, with partners completing on average 24.4 hours of pro bono over the past 12 months compared to 13.7 hours last year and a 2015 regional average of 14 hours. In addition, 37.3 percent of partners at respondent firms contributed some pro bono hours, a notable increase from the 16.7 percent reported last year.
1http://www.pilnet.org/events/186-three-ways-are-better-than-one-building-public-interest-law-in-china.html
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Hastings | 53.40 | 100.00% |
| DLA Piper | 48.83 | 20.00% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 45.05 | 43.14% |
| Morrison & Foerster | 22.67 | 50.00% |
| Dechert | 20.33 | 66.67% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 18.32 | - |
| K & L Gates LLP | 14.92 | 25.00% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 12.20 | 40.00% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | 10.80 | 22.86% |
| White & Case | 6.61 | 18.42% |
| JunZeJun Law Offices | 5.06 | 15.38% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 4.57 | 8.70% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 2.87 | - |
| Reed Smith LLP | 1.95 | 5.26% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | 0.50 | 0% |
| Faegre Baker Daniels LLP | 0.33 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0.20 | 0% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | 0.08 | 0.00% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 0.03 | 0% |
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s pro bono marketplace has grown substantially in recent years despite regulatory challenges that have occasionally presented obstacles to broader acceptance of the practice. Rapid growth in the non-government organisation and social enterprise sectors has heightened demand for pro bono services but proponents still struggle to engage the legal community and gain support from law firms. Recent trends, however, indicate positive developments in favour of further institutionalizing pro bono and incorporating it into the legal culture in Hong Kong.1
In addition, an increase in pro-democracy activism in 2014 has inspired some in the legal community to volunteer their services. Following reported police abuse against protesters in democracy protests in August 2014, a number of lawyers volunteered pro bono advice to demonstrators. The willingness to offer assistance in such circumstances shows a desire from lawyers to use their professional expertise to advance social causes they believe in.2
One of the challenges facing local lawyers who wish to work on pro bono projects in Hong Kong is a regulation limiting access to indemnity insurance, which can only be taken out by law firms and is not available to individual lawyers. As foreign lawyers are prohibited from practicing law in Hong Kong, the jurisdiction’s burgeoning NGO sector is often left with few options for accessing affordable legal services.3
Analysis of data submitted by 19 participating firms in 2015 indicates that lawyers in Hong Kong performed on average 13.6 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months, slightly below the regional average of 17.3 hours but up from 10.9 hours last year.
This year, 16.9 percent of partners at 13 Hong Kong respondent firms reported contributing some time to pro bono work over the previous 12-month period, down from 27.4 percent of partners that engaged in 2014. This change, however, may be explained by more firms providing partner data with 13 giving this information in 2015 compared to seven in 2014.
1http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1517880/pro-bono-legal-work-can-help-advance-social-justice-hong
2http://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-lawyers-to-offer-pro-bono-aid-to-pro-democracy-protesters-1409224036
3http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1519480/pro-bono-legal-help-levels-playing-field-hong-kong-ngos
In addition, an increase in pro-democracy activism in 2014 has inspired some in the legal community to volunteer their services. Following reported police abuse against protesters in democracy protests in August 2014, a number of lawyers volunteered pro bono advice to demonstrators. The willingness to offer assistance in such circumstances shows a desire from lawyers to use their professional expertise to advance social causes they believe in.2
One of the challenges facing local lawyers who wish to work on pro bono projects in Hong Kong is a regulation limiting access to indemnity insurance, which can only be taken out by law firms and is not available to individual lawyers. As foreign lawyers are prohibited from practicing law in Hong Kong, the jurisdiction’s burgeoning NGO sector is often left with few options for accessing affordable legal services.3
Analysis of data submitted by 19 participating firms in 2015 indicates that lawyers in Hong Kong performed on average 13.6 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months, slightly below the regional average of 17.3 hours but up from 10.9 hours last year.
This year, 16.9 percent of partners at 13 Hong Kong respondent firms reported contributing some time to pro bono work over the previous 12-month period, down from 27.4 percent of partners that engaged in 2014. This change, however, may be explained by more firms providing partner data with 13 giving this information in 2015 compared to seven in 2014.
1http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1517880/pro-bono-legal-work-can-help-advance-social-justice-hong
2http://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-lawyers-to-offer-pro-bono-aid-to-pro-democracy-protesters-1409224036
3http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1519480/pro-bono-legal-help-levels-playing-field-hong-kong-ngos
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 46.51 | 45.10% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 33.30 | 35.09% |
| Dechert | 28.59 | 76.47% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | 25.94 | 20.00% |
| Paul Hastings | 24.49 | 71.43% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 23.08 | - |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | 20.22 | 38.89% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 17.19 | 25.93% |
| DLA Piper | 16.78 | 19.85% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | 13.94 | 14.29% |
| White & Case | 9.26 | 32.26% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | 5.82 | 18.42% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | 5.50 | 5.00% |
| Linklaters LLP | 4.84 | 13.53% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 4.78 | 22.22% |
| Ashurst | 1.92 | 6.25% |
| Reed Smith LLP | 1.38 | 4.21% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 1.13 | 6.52% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 0.37 | 1.67% |
India
Pro bono supporters have continued ongoing efforts to spread pro bono in India over the past year by holding information events and workshops to increase awareness and generate support among key stakeholders. In addition, India’s pro bono legal landscape garnered international attention in 2014 when “Forbes India” recognized the pro bono work of five women lawyers in its “30 Under 30” list1, indicating the popularity of pro bono among young lawyers in India and fuelling optimism for the further expansion of pro bono within India’s legal community.
Despite these positive developments, and strong support for pro bono among influential proponents such as Ashoka and i-Probono, this year’s Index found a notable decrease in India’s level of pro bono engagement across all key indicators. This discrepancy, however, may illustrate a short-term anomaly in which the measurable impact of recent developments intended to strengthen pro bono is simply lagging the efforts themselves. Close analysis of the data over coming years will contribute to a better understanding of the impact that ongoing advocacy efforts have had on the long-term development of the pro bono sector in India.
In addition, while the Index received responses from seven firms in India this year – one more than participated in 2014, only two firms participated both years. This suggests that the dramatic drop in pro bono participation illustrated by a comparative analysis of data submitted in 2015 and 2014 does not necessarily reflect a significant year-on-year decrease in pro bono engagement by individual firms but may simply be a result of the fact that four of the six respondent firms in 2015 did not participate in last year’s Index. Thus, the respondent pools for 2014 and 2015 are largely comprised of different law firms, limiting the conclusions that can be reasonably drawn from comparing the data across years.
As international law firms are not permitted to operate in India, all Index submissions from India were provided by domestic law firms. Data from the six participating firms this year show that lawyers in India performed significantly less pro bono work than in 2014. Fee-earners averaged 2.7 hours each over the past 12 months, a drop of nearly 50 percent on the previous year’s findings of 5.3 hours. Similarly, the percentage of lawyers doing 10 or more hours of pro bono dropped to 5.3 percent from 15.2 percent.
Data indicates that levels of partner engagement were also down. Although the percentage of partners engaged in pro bono held steady at about 33 percent, the average hours per partner fell nearly 60 percent to 1.8 hours from 4.7 hours in 2014. Partner engagement in India is markedly lower than in other countries in the region where the number of pro bono hours performed by partners over the past 12 months averaged 13.4 hours.
About half of respondent firms factored pro bono work into determining lawyer compensation, and two thirds employ a designated pro bono coordinator.
1http://forbesindia.com/firstprinciples/specialreport/30-under-30/1449/1
Despite these positive developments, and strong support for pro bono among influential proponents such as Ashoka and i-Probono, this year’s Index found a notable decrease in India’s level of pro bono engagement across all key indicators. This discrepancy, however, may illustrate a short-term anomaly in which the measurable impact of recent developments intended to strengthen pro bono is simply lagging the efforts themselves. Close analysis of the data over coming years will contribute to a better understanding of the impact that ongoing advocacy efforts have had on the long-term development of the pro bono sector in India.
In addition, while the Index received responses from seven firms in India this year – one more than participated in 2014, only two firms participated both years. This suggests that the dramatic drop in pro bono participation illustrated by a comparative analysis of data submitted in 2015 and 2014 does not necessarily reflect a significant year-on-year decrease in pro bono engagement by individual firms but may simply be a result of the fact that four of the six respondent firms in 2015 did not participate in last year’s Index. Thus, the respondent pools for 2014 and 2015 are largely comprised of different law firms, limiting the conclusions that can be reasonably drawn from comparing the data across years.
As international law firms are not permitted to operate in India, all Index submissions from India were provided by domestic law firms. Data from the six participating firms this year show that lawyers in India performed significantly less pro bono work than in 2014. Fee-earners averaged 2.7 hours each over the past 12 months, a drop of nearly 50 percent on the previous year’s findings of 5.3 hours. Similarly, the percentage of lawyers doing 10 or more hours of pro bono dropped to 5.3 percent from 15.2 percent.
Data indicates that levels of partner engagement were also down. Although the percentage of partners engaged in pro bono held steady at about 33 percent, the average hours per partner fell nearly 60 percent to 1.8 hours from 4.7 hours in 2014. Partner engagement in India is markedly lower than in other countries in the region where the number of pro bono hours performed by partners over the past 12 months averaged 13.4 hours.
About half of respondent firms factored pro bono work into determining lawyer compensation, and two thirds employ a designated pro bono coordinator.
1http://forbesindia.com/firstprinciples/specialreport/30-under-30/1449/1
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| LawQuest | 13.63 | 75.00% |
| UKCA and Partners | 7.50 | 15.00% |
| MNK Law Offices | 6.00 | 14.29% |
| AZB & Partners | 3.00 | 5.00% |
| KIAA, LLP | 0.67 | - |
| ALMT Legal | 0 | 0% |
| Chowdhury & Ullah | 0 | - |
Indonesia
Indonesia has been progressively strengthening its democratic infrastructure since emerging from authoritarian rule in the late 1990s and this has included developing the complex legal institutions necessary to ensure justice and equality in a modern democracy.
Foreign lawyers are not allowed to practice Indonesian law or establish branches of foreign law firms in Indonesia, limiting the ability of international law firms to influence the growth of pro bono to the same extent as in other developing legal systems, such as South Korea. The Indonesian Advocates Association (Perhimpunan Advokat Indonesia, or PERADI) formed a Legal Aid Centre in 2009 to increase access to justice by providing free legal assistance to those in need. This move was intended to ensure fulfilment of the Indonesian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality before the law. The Centre has worked in partnership with international groups such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to combat human rights abuses, including an initiative that provides free legal assistance and representation to victims of human trafficking.
Although the government does not directly provide free legal aid, the Indonesian Parliament passed the Legal Aid Law in 2011, which established a unique legal aid system in which independent non-profit organizations receive reimbursement from the state for providing legal aid services to those in need, defined as underprivileged individuals, involved in civil, criminal, or administrative procedure and non-litigation matters.
This year saw a notable increase in Index participation from Indonesia. Eight law firms with offices in Indonesia provided details of their pro bono structures, compared to two last year, and half of those submitted comprehensive data detailing pro bono initiatives. The four firms that submitted data represent 71 lawyers who completed an average of 36 hours of pro bono over the past 12 months. Only one firm submitted data on pro bono work in Indonesia last year so it is difficult to compare this year’s data to the 2014 Index. The fact so many more firms participated in the 2015 Index could suggest that interest in pro bono work is spreading in the legal community in Indonesia.
Fourteen partners across the four respondent firms performed on average 14.8 hours of pro bono. The majority of partners, or 57.1 percent, contributed some time to pro bono in the past year. This data suggests although Indonesia’s pro bono culture remains nascent, there is partner engagement.
Foreign lawyers are not allowed to practice Indonesian law or establish branches of foreign law firms in Indonesia, limiting the ability of international law firms to influence the growth of pro bono to the same extent as in other developing legal systems, such as South Korea. The Indonesian Advocates Association (Perhimpunan Advokat Indonesia, or PERADI) formed a Legal Aid Centre in 2009 to increase access to justice by providing free legal assistance to those in need. This move was intended to ensure fulfilment of the Indonesian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality before the law. The Centre has worked in partnership with international groups such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to combat human rights abuses, including an initiative that provides free legal assistance and representation to victims of human trafficking.
Although the government does not directly provide free legal aid, the Indonesian Parliament passed the Legal Aid Law in 2011, which established a unique legal aid system in which independent non-profit organizations receive reimbursement from the state for providing legal aid services to those in need, defined as underprivileged individuals, involved in civil, criminal, or administrative procedure and non-litigation matters.
This year saw a notable increase in Index participation from Indonesia. Eight law firms with offices in Indonesia provided details of their pro bono structures, compared to two last year, and half of those submitted comprehensive data detailing pro bono initiatives. The four firms that submitted data represent 71 lawyers who completed an average of 36 hours of pro bono over the past 12 months. Only one firm submitted data on pro bono work in Indonesia last year so it is difficult to compare this year’s data to the 2014 Index. The fact so many more firms participated in the 2015 Index could suggest that interest in pro bono work is spreading in the legal community in Indonesia.
Fourteen partners across the four respondent firms performed on average 14.8 hours of pro bono. The majority of partners, or 57.1 percent, contributed some time to pro bono in the past year. This data suggests although Indonesia’s pro bono culture remains nascent, there is partner engagement.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| White & Case | 123.50 | 100.00% |
| Adnan Kelana Haryanto & Hermanto | 54.57 | 64.29% |
| Leks & Co | 18.18 | - |
| Ashurst | 3.27 | 7.69% |
Japan
Japan has a comprehensive legal aid framework that receives funding and support from the government and local bar associations. Free or discounted legal advice is available to both citizens and foreigners who cannot afford legal assistance or who meet a number of specific means-tested criteria.1 Historically these services have proved sufficient to ensure legal representation and fill legal aid gaps without the need to develop an extensive pro bono culture within private law firms.
A number of trends, however, may be gradually increasing the demand for pro bono legal services. A growing elderly population is straining the country’s social security system and motivating the government to look for cheaper alternatives to provide social services. Often NGOs, local community organisations, and non-profit organisations step in to fill these service gaps. These organizations may become a source of growing demand for pro bono work in the future. In addition, Japan’s strict immigration laws and increasing labour migration have resulted in greater demand for free legal assistance to individuals in the complex immigration system.2
Finally, the growth of the NGO sector has been accompanied by a parallel growth in social entrepreneurship across Japan as the business community seeks sustainable economic growth that will provide a path to prosperity for Japanese society while preserving the country’s scarce natural resources and long history of responsible social and cultural stewardship.
Twelve firms with offices in Japan submitted data for this year’s Index, compared to eight in 2014. Subsequent analysis shows that lawyers in Japan completed on average 21.9 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months which is higher than the regional median average of 17.3 hours and a slight increase on the 19.5 hours reported in 2014 by respondent firms in Japan.
This year 10 firms submitted data on their partners’ pro bono participation, an increase from the nine that participated in 2014. In addition the Index saw a domestic firm participate for the first time. Although levels of partner engagement reported in 2015 by firms with offices in Japan decreased by more than 10 percentage points to 26.2 percent from 37.8 percent in 2014, findings indicate that law firms in Japan still maintain higher levels of partner engagement than their counterparts in similarly developed pro bono markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
1http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/05/04/how-tos/cut-keep-guide-getting-legal-advice-japan/#.VUNaiPldV8E
2https://www.refugee.or.jp/jar/release/2015/01/19-0001.shtml
A number of trends, however, may be gradually increasing the demand for pro bono legal services. A growing elderly population is straining the country’s social security system and motivating the government to look for cheaper alternatives to provide social services. Often NGOs, local community organisations, and non-profit organisations step in to fill these service gaps. These organizations may become a source of growing demand for pro bono work in the future. In addition, Japan’s strict immigration laws and increasing labour migration have resulted in greater demand for free legal assistance to individuals in the complex immigration system.2
Finally, the growth of the NGO sector has been accompanied by a parallel growth in social entrepreneurship across Japan as the business community seeks sustainable economic growth that will provide a path to prosperity for Japanese society while preserving the country’s scarce natural resources and long history of responsible social and cultural stewardship.
Twelve firms with offices in Japan submitted data for this year’s Index, compared to eight in 2014. Subsequent analysis shows that lawyers in Japan completed on average 21.9 hours of pro bono each over the past 12 months which is higher than the regional median average of 17.3 hours and a slight increase on the 19.5 hours reported in 2014 by respondent firms in Japan.
This year 10 firms submitted data on their partners’ pro bono participation, an increase from the nine that participated in 2014. In addition the Index saw a domestic firm participate for the first time. Although levels of partner engagement reported in 2015 by firms with offices in Japan decreased by more than 10 percentage points to 26.2 percent from 37.8 percent in 2014, findings indicate that law firms in Japan still maintain higher levels of partner engagement than their counterparts in similarly developed pro bono markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
1http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/05/04/how-tos/cut-keep-guide-getting-legal-advice-japan/#.VUNaiPldV8E
2https://www.refugee.or.jp/jar/release/2015/01/19-0001.shtml
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 50.68 | 48.15% |
| DLA Piper | 34.29 | 33.33% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | 33.83 | 36.28% |
| Paul Hastings | 30.29 | 57.14% |
| White & Case | 18.47 | 31.82% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 17.50 | 60.00% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | 12.36 | 18.18% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 11.50 | 29.41% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 11.25 | - |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 11.08 | 30.77% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 5.95 | 10.53% |
| Atsumi & Sakai | 0.80 | 0% |
Singapore
The Council of the Law Society of Singapore enacted reforms to the Legal Profession Act in March this year requiring lawyers to report their pro bono activities annually when renewing their practicing certificate.1 The changes were in lieu of earlier proposals to impose a mandatory minimum of 16 hours of pro bono per year for lawyers in Singapore. The collection of information about pro bono activity is intended to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the legal aid landscape in the country.2 Recent reforms to the Legal Aid and Advice Act complement these efforts by expanding legal aid coverage, and the government has expressed plans to increase funding for the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
Although these changes may not be fully reflected in the data collected for the 2015 Index, a sharp increase in participation from law firms in Singapore suggests these legal reforms may have already begun to influence the perception of pro bono by the legal community. In addition, they are likely to have a significant impact on the levels of pro bono work carried out by Singaporean lawyers in the near future, and continued year-on-year analysis of data submitted to the Index will help to clarify the relationship between such regulations and the development of Singapore’s pro bono landscape.
Twice as many firms with offices in Singapore submitted data for this year’s Index compared to 2014. While all of last year’s participants were international law firms with offices in Singapore, 2015 saw the first Index submission from a domestic Singaporean firm. Data submissions were received from 14 firms detailing their pro bono initiatives in Singapore, and 19 firms provided qualitative information. The resulting analysis showed a drop in the average hours of pro bono per lawyer to 4.2 hours from 8.4 hours in 2014. This shift, however, may simply reflect the broader scope of firms submitting data in 2015.
Data submitted this year detailing the percentage of partners engaged in pro bono indicates an increase in partner engagement. Firms in Singapore reported in 2014 that 16.7 percent of partners had contributed some time to pro bono work over the previous 12 months, whereas 2015 data found an increase of nearly four percentage points to 20.6 percent of partners.
1http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=CompId%3A9fa6308f-3187-48cb-a395-459244673abe;rec=0
2http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/lawyers-may-have-report-time-spent-pro-bono-work?page=1
Although these changes may not be fully reflected in the data collected for the 2015 Index, a sharp increase in participation from law firms in Singapore suggests these legal reforms may have already begun to influence the perception of pro bono by the legal community. In addition, they are likely to have a significant impact on the levels of pro bono work carried out by Singaporean lawyers in the near future, and continued year-on-year analysis of data submitted to the Index will help to clarify the relationship between such regulations and the development of Singapore’s pro bono landscape.
Twice as many firms with offices in Singapore submitted data for this year’s Index compared to 2014. While all of last year’s participants were international law firms with offices in Singapore, 2015 saw the first Index submission from a domestic Singaporean firm. Data submissions were received from 14 firms detailing their pro bono initiatives in Singapore, and 19 firms provided qualitative information. The resulting analysis showed a drop in the average hours of pro bono per lawyer to 4.2 hours from 8.4 hours in 2014. This shift, however, may simply reflect the broader scope of firms submitting data in 2015.
Data submitted this year detailing the percentage of partners engaged in pro bono indicates an increase in partner engagement. Firms in Singapore reported in 2014 that 16.7 percent of partners had contributed some time to pro bono work over the previous 12 months, whereas 2015 data found an increase of nearly four percentage points to 20.6 percent of partners.
1http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=CompId%3A9fa6308f-3187-48cb-a395-459244673abe;rec=0
2http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/lawyers-may-have-report-time-spent-pro-bono-work?page=1
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| White & Case | 20.54 | 51.43% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 19.09 | 19.05% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 14.83 | 16.67% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 8.70 | - |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 8.69 | 27.78% |
| DLA Piper | 8.50 | 16.67% |
| Reed Smith LLP | 3.92 | 8.33% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 2.78 | - |
| Drew & Napier LLC | 1.07 | 3.56% |
| Colin Ng & Partners LLP | 0.70 | 2.17% |
| K & L Gates | 0.53 | 0% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | 0.50 | 0% |
| Azmi & Associates | 0 | 0% |
| Dechert | 0 | 0% |
South Korea
South Korea has an expansive public legal aid system with 120 branch offices across the country. Enacted by the 1986 Korea Legal Aid Act, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (KLAC) provides discounted legal assistance, free legal representation for certain protected groups, and funding for legal education programmes and campaigns.1
Despite South Korea’s comprehensive public aid system and the presence of multiple legal NGOs, pro bono work is becoming increasingly popular among private law firms since legislation was enacted in 2000 that made a minimum of 20 hours of annual pro bono work mandatory for most lawyers. As government legal aid often only provides for the needs of South Korean citizens, some law firm pro bono initiatives are aimed at addressing the legal needs of South Korea’s substantial refugee and migrant populations, which number 500,000 in a country with a population of about 50 million. Many of these immigrants are women and find themselves subject to increased violence and oppression, as their unofficial status leaves them vulnerable to abuse. One large South Korean firm based in Seoul runs a legal education programme to teach immigrant women their rights under the legal system and the protections to which they are entitled under national laws.
Data submissions were received from 16 law firms with offices in South Korea this year, a four-fold increase from the data submitted in 2015. Analysis showed that while participation increased for both partners and fee earners, the average number of pro bono hours done by individuals decreased in comparison to data collected for the 2015 Index. The discrepancy in findings between 2015 and 2016 may be due to the dramatic increase in the size of the 2016 dataset. As a result, the 2016 data is likely to be a more accurate reflection of the country’s true pro bono activities.
As noted, the average hours per fee earner in South Korea dropped from 62.5 hours reported in the 2015 Index to 25.8 hours reported this year. However, the percentage of fee earners who performed 10 or more hours of pro bono work over the past year increased from 42.6 percent in the 2015 Index to 44.0 percent this year.
Levels of partner engagement reflected similar trends with average hours per partner decreasing from 35.6 hours to 28.1 hours in the 2016 Index. However, the percentage of partners who engaged in pro bono work increased from 56.2 percent to 64.3 percent in the 2016 Index.
1https://www.lw.com/admin/Upload/Documents/Global%20Pro%20Bono%20Survey/A-Survey-of-Pro-Bono-Practices-and-Opportunities.pdf
Despite South Korea’s comprehensive public aid system and the presence of multiple legal NGOs, pro bono work is becoming increasingly popular among private law firms since legislation was enacted in 2000 that made a minimum of 20 hours of annual pro bono work mandatory for most lawyers. As government legal aid often only provides for the needs of South Korean citizens, some law firm pro bono initiatives are aimed at addressing the legal needs of South Korea’s substantial refugee and migrant populations, which number 500,000 in a country with a population of about 50 million. Many of these immigrants are women and find themselves subject to increased violence and oppression, as their unofficial status leaves them vulnerable to abuse. One large South Korean firm based in Seoul runs a legal education programme to teach immigrant women their rights under the legal system and the protections to which they are entitled under national laws.
Data submissions were received from 16 law firms with offices in South Korea this year, a four-fold increase from the data submitted in 2015. Analysis showed that while participation increased for both partners and fee earners, the average number of pro bono hours done by individuals decreased in comparison to data collected for the 2015 Index. The discrepancy in findings between 2015 and 2016 may be due to the dramatic increase in the size of the 2016 dataset. As a result, the 2016 data is likely to be a more accurate reflection of the country’s true pro bono activities.
As noted, the average hours per fee earner in South Korea dropped from 62.5 hours reported in the 2015 Index to 25.8 hours reported this year. However, the percentage of fee earners who performed 10 or more hours of pro bono work over the past year increased from 42.6 percent in the 2015 Index to 44.0 percent this year.
Levels of partner engagement reflected similar trends with average hours per partner decreasing from 35.6 hours to 28.1 hours in the 2016 Index. However, the percentage of partners who engaged in pro bono work increased from 56.2 percent to 64.3 percent in the 2016 Index.
1https://www.lw.com/admin/Upload/Documents/Global%20Pro%20Bono%20Survey/A-Survey-of-Pro-Bono-Practices-and-Opportunities.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
Australia
Australia’s tight knit, collaborative pro bono community is well known as a demonstrated leader in the pro bono sector and data on the pro bono trends and benchmarks in Australia is widely available. The Australian National Pro Bono Resource Centre sets an aspirational target of 35 hours of pro bono per lawyer per year, and publishes its overall findings in its Annual Law Firm Pro Bono Survey1. Data from the Pro Bono Resource Centre’s 2014 survey showed a significant increase in the number of firms signing up to the voluntary target. However, the number of firms that recognise pro bono work as full billable hours has dropped by 10 percent since 2012 and 20 percent since 2010. There was also a drop in the percentage of firms that recognised pro bono in other ways, such as through performance appraisals.
In addition, the Australian government’s attorney general’s department publishes its annual Legal Services Expenditure Report2 with data on pro bono hours per fee-earner for all firms who provide legal services to the government. The 2013-2014 report showed data from 100 firms reported an average of 49.6 hours per fee-earner, a number constant from the previous year.
Eight Australian firms reported to the 2015 Index, double the number that submitted data in 2014. These firms reported an average of 28.9 hours per fee-earner which was down from last year’s average of 49.1 hours but the inputs varied widely from firm to firm. The Index found 36.2 percent of lawyers performed ten or more hours of pro bono, down from 61.6 percent last year. Partner engagement also decreased, although is relatively still high compared to other countries, with 49.4 percent involved in at least one pro bono matter for an average of 12.8 hours per partner compared to 63.2 percent last year when partners averaged 18.4 hours each.
Pro bono infrastructure in Australia remains sophisticated. Most firms, or 85 percent, have pro bono coordinators and over half hold pro bono targets and factor this into compensation.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Australia, please see here.
1https://wic041u.server-secure.com/vs155205_secure/CMS/files_cms/4th_National_Law_Firm_Pro_Bono_Survey_2014_Final_Report.pdf
2http://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Documents/Commonwealth%20Legal%20Services%20Expenditure/LegalServicesExpenditureReport2013-14.pdf
In addition, the Australian government’s attorney general’s department publishes its annual Legal Services Expenditure Report2 with data on pro bono hours per fee-earner for all firms who provide legal services to the government. The 2013-2014 report showed data from 100 firms reported an average of 49.6 hours per fee-earner, a number constant from the previous year.
Eight Australian firms reported to the 2015 Index, double the number that submitted data in 2014. These firms reported an average of 28.9 hours per fee-earner which was down from last year’s average of 49.1 hours but the inputs varied widely from firm to firm. The Index found 36.2 percent of lawyers performed ten or more hours of pro bono, down from 61.6 percent last year. Partner engagement also decreased, although is relatively still high compared to other countries, with 49.4 percent involved in at least one pro bono matter for an average of 12.8 hours per partner compared to 63.2 percent last year when partners averaged 18.4 hours each.
Pro bono infrastructure in Australia remains sophisticated. Most firms, or 85 percent, have pro bono coordinators and over half hold pro bono targets and factor this into compensation.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Australia, please see here.
1https://wic041u.server-secure.com/vs155205_secure/CMS/files_cms/4th_National_Law_Firm_Pro_Bono_Survey_2014_Final_Report.pdf
2http://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Documents/Commonwealth%20Legal%20Services%20Expenditure/LegalServicesExpenditureReport2013-14.pdf
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlains Law Firm | Australia | 67.57 | 100.00% |
| DLA Piper | Australia | 51.40 | 42.33% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Australia | 29.52 | 51.41% |
| Holding Redlich | Australia | 21.35 | 41.44% |
| Banki Haddock Fiora | Australia | 14.80 | 64.00% |
| McInnes Wilson Lawyers | Australia | 8.50 | 13.64% |
| Colin Biggers & Paisley | Australia | 6.06 | 7.58% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Australia | 0.20 | 0% |
England & Wales
There have been a few significant changes to the legal landscape in England and Wales over the past 12 months. The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority have continued efforts to open up the legal profession to a wider range of individuals, enabling professionals with legal experience to qualify as lawyers without completing training contracts.1 Initiatives like this are designed to respond to the perceived lack of diversity in the legal profession in England and Wales. Time will tell whether this will have an impact on levels of pro bono engagement as well.
Widely discussed cuts to legal aid in the UK continue to cause concern in the legal fraternity. Law firms have made it clear that they are not in a position to fill this gap, although the reduced support for individuals may result in a change to the way that pro bono assistance is delivered by firms to individuals.2 Partly in response to this an industry-led initiative, the Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono in the UK, has been created to help firms improve access to justice in the UK. This initiative sets an aspirational annual target of 25 hours of pro bono for each fee earner at participating law firms.
A total of 38 firms with offices in England and Wales responded to the Index this year, a sizable increase from the 27 firms that participated in 2014. Of these, 30 provided data relating to the amount of pro bono they have performed and the engagement levels of their lawyers, a similar number to last year. Among the 8,043 lawyers that the data relates to, fee-earners in England and Wales performed an average of 21.9 hours of pro bono each. This was in line with last year’s figure of 21.3 hours.
The percentage of fee-earners that performed 10 or more hours of pro bono has also remained steady from last year, dipping to 35.3 percent from 36.1 percent. This suggests a positive trend in terms of both the amount of pro bono each lawyer is undertaking and the amount of lawyers getting involved in pro bono matters.
Partner engagement showed a positive trend compared to last year. In 2015, 37.8 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters compared to 38.1 percent last year but the number of pro bono hours performed by partners increased by almost 10 percent to 14.9 hours. This is a positive sign that partners see pro bono as an increasingly important part of their work.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in England and Wales, please see here.
1http://www.sra.org.uk/students/resources/equivalent-means-information-pack.page
2http://www.dlapiperprobono.com/blog/pro-bono/2014/a-new-way-forward-in-the-post-legal-aid-era.html
Widely discussed cuts to legal aid in the UK continue to cause concern in the legal fraternity. Law firms have made it clear that they are not in a position to fill this gap, although the reduced support for individuals may result in a change to the way that pro bono assistance is delivered by firms to individuals.2 Partly in response to this an industry-led initiative, the Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono in the UK, has been created to help firms improve access to justice in the UK. This initiative sets an aspirational annual target of 25 hours of pro bono for each fee earner at participating law firms.
A total of 38 firms with offices in England and Wales responded to the Index this year, a sizable increase from the 27 firms that participated in 2014. Of these, 30 provided data relating to the amount of pro bono they have performed and the engagement levels of their lawyers, a similar number to last year. Among the 8,043 lawyers that the data relates to, fee-earners in England and Wales performed an average of 21.9 hours of pro bono each. This was in line with last year’s figure of 21.3 hours.
The percentage of fee-earners that performed 10 or more hours of pro bono has also remained steady from last year, dipping to 35.3 percent from 36.1 percent. This suggests a positive trend in terms of both the amount of pro bono each lawyer is undertaking and the amount of lawyers getting involved in pro bono matters.
Partner engagement showed a positive trend compared to last year. In 2015, 37.8 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters compared to 38.1 percent last year but the number of pro bono hours performed by partners increased by almost 10 percent to 14.9 hours. This is a positive sign that partners see pro bono as an increasingly important part of their work.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in England and Wales, please see here.
1http://www.sra.org.uk/students/resources/equivalent-means-information-pack.page
2http://www.dlapiperprobono.com/blog/pro-bono/2014/a-new-way-forward-in-the-post-legal-aid-era.html
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold & Porter LLP | England and Wales | 79.25 | 100.00% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | England and Wales | 63.17 | 65.85% |
| Dechert | England and Wales | 55.09 | 87.86% |
| Paul Hastings | England and Wales | 50.41 | 89.29% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | England and Wales | 48.24 | 59.83% |
| Faegre Baker Daniels LLP | England and Wales | 46.80 | 60.00% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | England and Wales | 45.25 | 64.79% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | England and Wales | 39.68 | 55.00% |
| Hogan Lovells | England and Wales | 34.80 | 46.99% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | England and Wales | 33.33 | 55.00% |
| Simmons & Simmons | England and Wales | 31.20 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | England and Wales | 30.74 | - |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | England and Wales | 29.08 | 51.61% |
| Reed Smith LLP | England and Wales | 26.81 | 48.16% |
| DLA Piper | England and Wales | 26.13 | 56.70% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | England and Wales | 25.68 | 38.13% |
| Bates Wells Braithwaite | England and Wales | 17.91 | 41.54% |
| K & L Gates LLP | England and Wales | 13.65 | 34.69% |
| White & Case | England and Wales | 12.38 | 27.57% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | England and Wales | 11.99 | 8.60% |
| Linklaters LLP | England and Wales | 11.89 | 14.92% |
| Ashurst | England and Wales | 11.47 | 24.42% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | England and Wales | 9.65 | 25.00% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | England and Wales | 9.64 | 21.92% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | England and Wales | 8.96 | 21.31% |
| Nabarro LLP | England and Wales | 6.71 | 17.14% |
| Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | England and Wales | 6.58 | - |
| Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP | England and Wales | 2.73 | 9.79% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | England and Wales | 1.76 | 11.76% |
| Chowdhury & Ullah | England and Wales | 0 | - |
Europe
Funding for public services across Europe has been cut due to ongoing austerity measures to try to bring state budgets under control. Legal aid and access to justice initiatives have felt the pinch as well as other services1 which may have an impact on the type of clients looking for pro bono assistance from law firms.
Pro bono has been an increasingly visible sector across Europe in recent years, with growing interest and participation on behalf of lawyers as well as non-government organisations (NGO). Organisations such as PILnet: the Global Network for Public Interest Law have worked hard to promote the practice of pro bono, sharing knowledge and information to help raise standards and impact. With decreasing levels of legal aid throughout the region, this role is ever-more important.2
Across continental Europe, data was received from firms with offices in 26 jurisdictions compared to 29 in 2014 with the vast majority from international firms and networks. Again for the 2015 index, we have separated the data for England and Wales from the rest of Europe due to the high levels of pro bono infrastructure and support for pro bono there compared to the rest of the region.
Among the 7,000 lawyers involved in the data for Europe this year, on average lawyers performed 17.7 hours of pro bono work over the last 12 months, up from an average of 11.8 hours last year. This figure is boosted by submissions from a handful of countries where the average is higher than the regional norm. For example in Iceland, lawyers averaged 55.6 hours of pro bono. And in Ukraine, despite significant social upheaval, lawyers performed an average of 55.5 hours of pro bono.
In Western Europe responses were similar to those from last year and we are watching closely to see if the trend will continue to reflect in coming years a steady increase in the average levels of pro bono performed across Europe.
On average, 29.1 percent of lawyers across the region performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, an increase from last year’s figure of 24.7 percent.
There were high levels of partner engagement across the continent, with a median average of 40.2 percent of partners recording time on pro bono matters across participating countries this year compared to 37.4 percent in 2014. On average partners across Europe recorded a median average of 11.8 hours of pro bono over the year, a positive number, compared to the 8.0 percent reported last year.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Germany, please see here.
1http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/study-austerity-undermines-fundamental-rights-across-eu-313245 2http://www.legalvoice.org.uk/2014/10/31/the-demand-is-huge-the-need-urgent-and-the-role-of-pro-bono-lawyers-is-critical/
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
Pro bono has been an increasingly visible sector across Europe in recent years, with growing interest and participation on behalf of lawyers as well as non-government organisations (NGO). Organisations such as PILnet: the Global Network for Public Interest Law have worked hard to promote the practice of pro bono, sharing knowledge and information to help raise standards and impact. With decreasing levels of legal aid throughout the region, this role is ever-more important.2
Across continental Europe, data was received from firms with offices in 26 jurisdictions compared to 29 in 2014 with the vast majority from international firms and networks. Again for the 2015 index, we have separated the data for England and Wales from the rest of Europe due to the high levels of pro bono infrastructure and support for pro bono there compared to the rest of the region.
Among the 7,000 lawyers involved in the data for Europe this year, on average lawyers performed 17.7 hours of pro bono work over the last 12 months, up from an average of 11.8 hours last year. This figure is boosted by submissions from a handful of countries where the average is higher than the regional norm. For example in Iceland, lawyers averaged 55.6 hours of pro bono. And in Ukraine, despite significant social upheaval, lawyers performed an average of 55.5 hours of pro bono.
In Western Europe responses were similar to those from last year and we are watching closely to see if the trend will continue to reflect in coming years a steady increase in the average levels of pro bono performed across Europe.
On average, 29.1 percent of lawyers across the region performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, an increase from last year’s figure of 24.7 percent.
There were high levels of partner engagement across the continent, with a median average of 40.2 percent of partners recording time on pro bono matters across participating countries this year compared to 37.4 percent in 2014. On average partners across Europe recorded a median average of 11.8 hours of pro bono over the year, a positive number, compared to the 8.0 percent reported last year.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Germany, please see here.
1http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/study-austerity-undermines-fundamental-rights-across-eu-313245 2http://www.legalvoice.org.uk/2014/10/31/the-demand-is-huge-the-need-urgent-and-the-role-of-pro-bono-lawyers-is-critical/
Please note, the regional data tables have been ordered alphabetically.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&L Goodbody | Ireland | 9.78 | 23.38% |
| Abreu Advogados | Portugal | 6.06 | 6.06% |
| Arnold & Porter LLP | Belgium | 68.88 | 87.5% |
| Ashurst | Belgium | 19.65 | 28.57% |
| Ashurst | France | 3.18 | 6.85% |
| Ashurst | Germany | 5.81 | 13.48% |
| Ashurst | Italy | 9.60 | 22.50% |
| Ashurst | Spain | 8.78 | 24.59% |
| Ashurst | UK – Scotland | 5.48 | 30.30% |
| Debarliev, Dameski & Kelesoska | Macedonia | 1.07 | 14.29% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | France | 22.93 | 40.00% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Germany | 0.17 | 0% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | Russia | 4.69 | 24.00% |
| Dechert | Belgium | 20.33 | 66.67% |
| Dechert | France | 35.87 | 84.13% |
| Dechert | Georgia | 32.20 | 100.00% |
| Dechert | Germany | 19.67 | 63.64% |
| Dechert | Ireland | 42.17 | 66.67% |
| Dechert | Luxembourg | 18.45 | 54.55% |
| Dechert | Russia | 73.67 | 93.33% |
| Divjak, Topic & Bahtijarevic Law Firm | Croatia | 2.67 | 16.67% |
| DLA Piper | Austria | 23.18 | 12.73% |
| DLA Piper | Belgium | 53.35 | 29.51% |
| DLA Piper | Czech Republic | 6.32 | 12.00% |
| DLA Piper | France | 26.75 | 13.75% |
| DLA Piper | Georgia | 19.17 | 33.33% |
| DLA Piper | Germany | 4.00 | 7.89% |
| DLA Piper | Hungary | 22.81 | 21.43% |
| DLA Piper | Italy | 4.72 | 8.78% |
| DLA Piper | Luxembourg | 0.82 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | Netherlands | 4.93 | 14.63% |
| DLA Piper | Russia | 35.92 | 19.57% |
| DLA Piper | Spain | 3.99 | 6.17% |
| DLA Piper | Norway | 8.66 | 15.71% |
| DLA Piper | Poland | 33.85 | 18.46% |
| DLA Piper | Romania | 10.25 | 25.00% |
| DLA Piper | Slovakia | 2.50 | 12.50% |
| DLA Piper | Ukraine | 55.53 | 15.63% |
| DLA Piper | UK – Scotland | 13.31 | 15.49% |
| Drzewiecki Tomaszek & Partners | Poland | 1.23 | 4.62% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Austria | 2.58 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Belgium | 21.48 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | France | 13.14 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Germany | 6.51 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Italy | 7.41 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Netherlands | 18.61 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Russia | 1.86 | - |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | Spain | 1.08 | - |
| Herguner Bilgen Ozeke | Turkey | 8.85 | 28.57% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Belgium | 0.80 | 0% |
| K & L Gates LLP | France | 0.70 | 0% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Germany | 5.43 | 14.71% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Italy | 0 | 0% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Russia | 32.00 | 37.50% |
| K & L Gates LLP | Poland | 21.04 | 43.40% |
| Korelskiy Ischuk Astafiev (KIAP), Attorneys at Law | Russia | 35.71 | 100.00% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Germany | 7.00 | 12.12% |
| Lalive | Switzerland | 4.45 | 15.38% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Belgium | 9.33 | 19.05% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | France | 50.33 | 69.62% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Germany | 53.53 | 53.55% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Italy | 36.23 | 58.97% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Russia | 111.29 | 95.24% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Spain | 36.09 | 52.17% |
| Lex Law Offices | Iceland | 55.56 | 88.89% |
| Linklaters LLP | Belgium | 5.42 | 12.00% |
| Linklaters LLP | France | 4.58 | 8.00% |
| Linklaters LLP | Italy | 3.06 | 8.82% |
| Linklaters LLP | Spain | 2.98 | 9.09% |
| Martins Alfaro, Rui Teixeira & Associados | Portugal | 22.50 | 100.00% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | Belgium | 107.88 | 87.5% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | France | 18.07 | 25.00% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | Germany | 35.75 | 45.68% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | Italy | 17.59 | 43.24% |
| Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados | Portugal | 15.04 | 22.76% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Belgium | 2.38 | 0% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | Germany | 13.53 | 36.67% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | France | 25.35 | 32.61% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | Germany | 15.38 | 24.56% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | Italy | 3.88 | 10.34% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | Russia | 22.85 | 45.45% |
| Paul Hastings | France | 37.98 | 65.00% |
| Paul Hastings | Germany | 37.25 | 66.67% |
| Paul Hastings | Italy | 41.70 | 100.00% |
| Reed Smith LLP | France | 20.80 | 32.61% |
| Reed Smith LLP | Germany | 21.45 | 57.58% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Belgium | 25.01 | 6.25% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | France | 6.12 | 5.13% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Germany | 7.89 | 22.58% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Italy | 3.92 | 4.76% |
| Sheehan & Partners | Ireland | 0 | 0% |
| Simmons & Simmons | Belgium | 33.48 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | France | 10.79 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | Germany | 10.15 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | Italy | 4.71 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | Netherlands | 3.83 | - |
| Simmons & Simmons | Spain | 4.75 | - |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Belgium | 3.09 | 11.76% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | France | 123.11 | 55.56% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Germany | 9.23 | 16.13% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Russia | 41.14 | 50.00% |
| Vieira de Almeida & Associados | Portugal | 35.64 | 42.33% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Czech Republic | 4.72 | 13.21% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | France | 7.30 | 5.68% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Germany | 5.40 | 10.64% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Hungary | 32.33 | 55.56% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | Poland | 33.58 | 36.62% |
| White & Case | Belgium | 36.41 | 50.00% |
| White & Case | Czech Republic | 27.13 | 50.00% |
| White & Case | France | 11.84 | 25.00% |
| White & Case | Germany | 5.22 | 11.02% |
| White & Case | Hungary | 34.41 | 50.00% |
| White & Case | Italy | 3.00 | 12.50% |
| White & Case | Russia | 11.46 | 23.17% |
| White & Case | Spain | 32.45 | 54.55% |
| White & Case | Finland | 13.85 | 40.00% |
| White & Case | Poland | 47.88 | 60.00% |
| White & Case | Slovakia | 29.31 | 46.15% |
| White & Case | Switzerland | 36.00 | 60.00% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | France | 2.69 | 11.54% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | Switzerland | 14.00 | 40.00% |
| Yüksel Karkın Küçük Attorney Partnership | Turkey | 0 | 0% |
Belgium
The Belgian Constitution grants all people a right to legal assistance and the differing types of assistance available, to meet varying needs and resources, demonstrates a strong commitment to legal aid by the government.
Lawyers admitted to practise in Belgium (advocaat-stagiairs/avocats stagiaires) have to complete a three year apprenticeship after being admitted that includes participation in pro bono work, either through a legal clinic or assisting with matters brought before the courts. On the Flemish side of the Brussels bar, newly-admitted lawyers are also required to take on at least 15 pro bono cases over three years.1 Given that all junior lawyers must take on pro bono, we look forward to monitoring findings from Belgium to see whether this makes lawyers more responsive to pro bono over time.
For the 2015 Index, 17 firms with offices in Belgium provided data compared to 12 in 2014. All of these were local offices of international networks based in Britain or the United States rather than domestic or Benelux firms. Given that many international firms focus mainly on European Union and competition/anti-trust law from Brussels offices, the data received only reflects the work of a particular sector of the local Belgian legal community.
For the survey 14 firms with offices in Belgium and representing more than 500 lawyers provided information on the amount of pro bono they do and their engagement levels in the country. On average lawyers in Belgium performed 27.1 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, down from an average of 35 hours last year when the figure was driven up by a few exceptionally high responses. The result, however, again compares favourably with the Europe average of 17.7 hours.
The percentage of lawyers that have performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months is lower than the European regional average at 27.2 percent compared to 29.1 percent and a drop from last year’s national figure of 42.4 percent. Time will tell whether it is the 2014 or 2015 figure that is the anomaly.
The findings relating to partner engagement tally more closely with the regional average. Partners in Belgium performed an average of 10.4 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months compared to a regional average of 11.8 hours. A total of 32.3 percent of partners said they had spent time on pro bono work, again lower than the European average of 40.2 percent. However, the regional average was swayed by a few exceptionally high responses. Again these figures are lower than in 2014, when 63.2 percent of partners in Belgium carried out some pro bono work, and those who did performed on average 15.8 hours each over the previous 12 months.
1http://www.crowell.com/Locations/Brussels/Pro-Bono-System-in-Belgium
Lawyers admitted to practise in Belgium (advocaat-stagiairs/avocats stagiaires) have to complete a three year apprenticeship after being admitted that includes participation in pro bono work, either through a legal clinic or assisting with matters brought before the courts. On the Flemish side of the Brussels bar, newly-admitted lawyers are also required to take on at least 15 pro bono cases over three years.1 Given that all junior lawyers must take on pro bono, we look forward to monitoring findings from Belgium to see whether this makes lawyers more responsive to pro bono over time.
For the 2015 Index, 17 firms with offices in Belgium provided data compared to 12 in 2014. All of these were local offices of international networks based in Britain or the United States rather than domestic or Benelux firms. Given that many international firms focus mainly on European Union and competition/anti-trust law from Brussels offices, the data received only reflects the work of a particular sector of the local Belgian legal community.
For the survey 14 firms with offices in Belgium and representing more than 500 lawyers provided information on the amount of pro bono they do and their engagement levels in the country. On average lawyers in Belgium performed 27.1 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, down from an average of 35 hours last year when the figure was driven up by a few exceptionally high responses. The result, however, again compares favourably with the Europe average of 17.7 hours.
The percentage of lawyers that have performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months is lower than the European regional average at 27.2 percent compared to 29.1 percent and a drop from last year’s national figure of 42.4 percent. Time will tell whether it is the 2014 or 2015 figure that is the anomaly.
The findings relating to partner engagement tally more closely with the regional average. Partners in Belgium performed an average of 10.4 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months compared to a regional average of 11.8 hours. A total of 32.3 percent of partners said they had spent time on pro bono work, again lower than the European average of 40.2 percent. However, the regional average was swayed by a few exceptionally high responses. Again these figures are lower than in 2014, when 63.2 percent of partners in Belgium carried out some pro bono work, and those who did performed on average 15.8 hours each over the previous 12 months.
1http://www.crowell.com/Locations/Brussels/Pro-Bono-System-in-Belgium
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | 107.88 | 87.5% |
| Arnold & Porter LLP | 68.88 | 87.5% |
| Dechert | 57.07 | 92.31% |
| DLA Piper | 53.35 | 29.51% |
| White & Case | 36.41 | 50.00% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 33.48 | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 25.01 | 6.25% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 21.48 | - |
| Ashurst | 19.65 | 28.57% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 9.33 | 19.05% |
| Linklaters LLP | 5.42 | 12.00% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 3.09 | 11.76% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | 2.38 | 0% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 0.80 | 0% |
France
The number of firms with offices in France that took part in the 2015 Index rose to 23 from the 16 that participated in 2014. While all of last year’s submissions were received from international firms or networks, 2015 saw the first contribution from a domestic French law firm. Of this year’s respondents, 17 firms provided information about fee-earner engagement levels. The Index needs to include data from domestic firms to be truly reflective of the legal community in France.
The pool of respondent firms, however, has grown markedly since last year. The 1,392 lawyers that comprise the offices at these 17 firms performed an average of 18.4 hours of pro bono, marginally higher than the regional average of 17.7, and over 16 percent higher than the 15.8 hours of pro bono performed on average by lawyers in France in 2014.
The percentage of lawyers that have performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months has held steady over the last 12 months at 25.2 percent compared to 25.8 percent. This is slightly lower than the Europe-wide average of 29.1 percent.
In contrast, the proportion of partners at these firms that recorded time on pro bono matters rose to 34.9 percent from 25 percent a year ago. The average number of pro bono hours performed by these partners has risen slightly to 7.9 hours from 7.5 hours which is steady but a little below the regional average of 11.8.
The percentage of lawyers that have performed 10 or more hours of pro bono over the last 12 months has held steady over the last 12 months at 25.2 percent compared to 25.8 percent. This is slightly lower than the Europe-wide average of 29.1 percent.
In contrast, the proportion of partners at these firms that recorded time on pro bono matters rose to 34.9 percent from 25 percent a year ago. The average number of pro bono hours performed by these partners has risen slightly to 7.9 hours from 7.5 hours which is steady but a little below the regional average of 11.8.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 123.11 | 55.56% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 50.33 | 69.62% |
| Paul Hastings | 37.98 | 65.00% |
| Dechert | 35.87 | 84.13% |
| DLA Piper | 26.75 | 13.75% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 25.35 | 32.61% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | 22.93 | 40.00% |
| Reed Smith LLP | 20.80 | 32.61% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | 18.07 | 25.00% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 13.14 | - |
| White & Case | 11.84 | 25.00% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 10.79 | - |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | 7.30 | 5.68% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 6.12 | 5.13% |
| Linklaters LLP | 4.58 | 8.00% |
| Ashurst | 3.18 | 6.85% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | 2.69 | 11.54% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 0.70 | 0% |
Germany
The legal community in Germany continues to work hard to promote pro bono in a jurisdiction where lawyers have historically been reticent to provide free legal assistance due to previous legislation (reformed in 2008) that heavily restricted the practice. Organisations such as Pro Bono Deutschland have made it their mission to help foster a culture of pro bono and partnered with key stakeholders in national government, private law firms, and proponents in other EU countries to establish best practices and guidelines to help firms incorporate pro bono into existing operations.1
In 2015, the Global Pro Bono Summit, an initiative of the Taproot Foundation and the BMW Foundation, was held in Berlin, helping to ensure pro bono remains a prominent issue within the German legal sector. Programmes that connect pro bono lawyers to non-government organisations (NGO) and social enterprises, like TrustLaw, have seen a huge increase in the number of German lawyers interested in taking on pro bono projects. These developments suggest a growing awareness of pro bono in the country, and, more importantly, a desire by lawyers and firms to engage further with the practice and with established pro bono practitioners across Europe.
This year saw the average hours of pro bono performed per lawyer in Germany rise to 12.6 hours from 11.6 hours in 2014, and this amongst a larger respondent group. The 2015 Index involved 18 firms with offices in the country comprising 1,800 lawyers, demonstrating a nearly 30 percent increase in participation from the 14 firms (representing 1,620 fee earners) that contributed data for the Index last year.
The percentage of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono over the year increased marginally to 23.8 percent from 23.2 percent, a trend mirrored across Europe. These figures are below the regional average in 2015 of 29.1 percent as they were in 2014. We look forward to seeing whether the efforts to promote pro bono in Germany result in higher levels of engagement.
The percentage of partners that provided pro bono assistance has increased since last year to 38.1 percent from 30.5 percent. But the average number of hours performed by these partners dropped to 9.1 from 11.3.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Germany, please see here.
1http://www.pro-bono-deutschland.org/en/
In 2015, the Global Pro Bono Summit, an initiative of the Taproot Foundation and the BMW Foundation, was held in Berlin, helping to ensure pro bono remains a prominent issue within the German legal sector. Programmes that connect pro bono lawyers to non-government organisations (NGO) and social enterprises, like TrustLaw, have seen a huge increase in the number of German lawyers interested in taking on pro bono projects. These developments suggest a growing awareness of pro bono in the country, and, more importantly, a desire by lawyers and firms to engage further with the practice and with established pro bono practitioners across Europe.
This year saw the average hours of pro bono performed per lawyer in Germany rise to 12.6 hours from 11.6 hours in 2014, and this amongst a larger respondent group. The 2015 Index involved 18 firms with offices in the country comprising 1,800 lawyers, demonstrating a nearly 30 percent increase in participation from the 14 firms (representing 1,620 fee earners) that contributed data for the Index last year.
The percentage of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono over the year increased marginally to 23.8 percent from 23.2 percent, a trend mirrored across Europe. These figures are below the regional average in 2015 of 29.1 percent as they were in 2014. We look forward to seeing whether the efforts to promote pro bono in Germany result in higher levels of engagement.
The percentage of partners that provided pro bono assistance has increased since last year to 38.1 percent from 30.5 percent. But the average number of hours performed by these partners dropped to 9.1 from 11.3.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in Germany, please see here.
1http://www.pro-bono-deutschland.org/en/
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 53.53 | 53.55% |
| Paul Hastings | 37.25 | 66.67% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | 35.75 | 45.68% |
| Reed Smith LLP | 21.45 | 57.58% |
| Dechert | 19.67 | 63.64% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 15.38 | 24.56% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | 13.53 | 36.67% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 10.15 | - |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 9.23 | 16.13% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 7.89 | 22.58% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 7.00 | 12.12% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 6.51 | - |
| Ashurst | 5.81 | 13.48% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 5.43 | 14.71% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | 5.40 | 10.64% |
| White & Case | 5.22 | 11.02% |
| DLA Piper | 4.00 | 7.89% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | 0.17 | 0% |
Italy
Enthusiasm for pro bono is growing in Italy but a lack of clarity under Italian law is hampering widespread engagement. There have been cases of disciplinary action taken against lawyers who have offered their services pro bono without clear guidance from professional bodies in Italy and there is a risk that this may happen again.1 The fact that Index participation by law firms in Italy has risen 25 percent from 2014 year may be evidence of this growth.
This year 15 firms responded to the Index, 13 of which are local offices of international networks. This represents a positive increase in participation by both domestic and international firms, as only 8 submissions were received from Italy last year. The participation of two domestic firms is a departure from last year, when submissions in Italy were only received from the Italian branches of international firms. Twelve respondent firms provided data on the amount of pro bono they undertook and their levels of engagement.
All respondent firms have pro bono coordinators, but only four in five have a pro bono committee. . Interestingly, only one respondent firm does not take pro bono into account when looking at fee-earner appraisals.
The Index found that the 643 lawyers in the submission group performed an average of 8.9 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months which was largely unchanged from year’s average of 8.7. The findings relating to the proportion of lawyers undertaking 10 or more hours of pro bono has also held steady since last year at 21.0 percent compared to 20.9 percent.
Partners averaged 5.3 hours of pro bono over the last year compared to 4.5 hours in 2014. While interestingly, almost a quarter of partners, or 24.8 percent, spent time on pro bono work. This represents a notable increase from the 14.5 percent reported last year. It is possible that the greater buy-in from senior members of firms will result in greater levels of engagement throughout the whole sector.
1http://www.legance.it/00651/DOCS/6-00651-25.08.2014_ItaliaOggiSette.pdf
This year 15 firms responded to the Index, 13 of which are local offices of international networks. This represents a positive increase in participation by both domestic and international firms, as only 8 submissions were received from Italy last year. The participation of two domestic firms is a departure from last year, when submissions in Italy were only received from the Italian branches of international firms. Twelve respondent firms provided data on the amount of pro bono they undertook and their levels of engagement.
All respondent firms have pro bono coordinators, but only four in five have a pro bono committee. . Interestingly, only one respondent firm does not take pro bono into account when looking at fee-earner appraisals.
The Index found that the 643 lawyers in the submission group performed an average of 8.9 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months which was largely unchanged from year’s average of 8.7. The findings relating to the proportion of lawyers undertaking 10 or more hours of pro bono has also held steady since last year at 21.0 percent compared to 20.9 percent.
Partners averaged 5.3 hours of pro bono over the last year compared to 4.5 hours in 2014. While interestingly, almost a quarter of partners, or 24.8 percent, spent time on pro bono work. This represents a notable increase from the 14.5 percent reported last year. It is possible that the greater buy-in from senior members of firms will result in greater levels of engagement throughout the whole sector.
1http://www.legance.it/00651/DOCS/6-00651-25.08.2014_ItaliaOggiSette.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Hastings | 41.70 | 100.00% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 36.23 | 58.97% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | 17.59 | 43.24% |
| Ashurst | 9.60 | 22.50% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 7.41 | - |
| DLA Piper | 4.72 | 8.78% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 4.71 | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 3.92 | 4.76% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 3.88 | 10.34% |
| Linklaters LLP | 3.06 | 8.82% |
| White & Case | 3.00 | 12.50% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 0 | 0% |
Poland
There was limited pro bono activity in Poland before 1989 but since then the efforts of non-government organisations (NGO) and international as well as domestic law firms have helped develop a thriving culture.1 Since Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004, a number of international firms and networks have opened offices there which have helped to embed an international pro bono culture in the country. In 2013, PILnet hosted the European Pro Bono Forum in Warsaw, an indication of growing enthusiasm for pro bono.
As social entrepreneurship gains prominence, a number of important stakeholders are joining forces to strengthen the existing social enterprise infrastructure. Key players include NGOs, community organizations, universities, and national and regional governments. In 2009, the Polish government acknowledged the role of social business in reducing unemployment and promoting sustainable growth. It has also directed financial assistance from the European Social Fund to support growth in the sector.2 In addition, NGOs and community organizations are partnering to create social business hubs and meeting spaces in Polish towns and cities to facilitate networking and social innovation opportunities for the public.3 Poland’s social enterprise sector shows promising potential for sustained growth, which is likely to result in increased demand for pro bono services as the number of social enterprises in need of legal advice continues to rise.
This year enough submissions have been received from firms with offices in Poland to allow a separate country analysis for the first time. Five firms provided data submissions, of which one is a domestic Polish firm, with some 300 lawyers comprising the data set. Though this represents only a small increase in participation from the four firms that submitted data last year, the first-time participation of a domestic Polish firm certainly contributes to generating a more accurate reflection of pro bono practices in Poland.
Lawyers in Poland averaged 26.9 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months with almost a third of lawyers, or 30.9 percent, performing 10 or more hours of pro bono. Both these figures are above the regional averages of 17.7 hours and 29.1 percent respectively and demonstrate a strong interest in and commitment to pro bono among respondent firms.
Partners in Poland also enjoy high engagement levels, with 31.7 percent recording time on pro bono work and partners averaging 26.4 hours of pro bono per year, which compared favourably to the regional median average of 11.8 hours and represents a significant increase over the country’s 2014 average of 6.4 hours.
1http://www.probonoinst.org/wpps/wp-content/uploads/a-survey-of-pro-bono-practices-and-opportunities-in-71-jurisdiction-2012.pdf
2https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/socialinnovationeurope/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/Social% 20Innovation%20in%20Poland%20%282011%29.pdf
3https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/socialinnovationeurope/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/Andrzej% 20Klimczuk_Poland%20SIE%20Country%20Summary%20ENGLISH.pdf
As social entrepreneurship gains prominence, a number of important stakeholders are joining forces to strengthen the existing social enterprise infrastructure. Key players include NGOs, community organizations, universities, and national and regional governments. In 2009, the Polish government acknowledged the role of social business in reducing unemployment and promoting sustainable growth. It has also directed financial assistance from the European Social Fund to support growth in the sector.2 In addition, NGOs and community organizations are partnering to create social business hubs and meeting spaces in Polish towns and cities to facilitate networking and social innovation opportunities for the public.3 Poland’s social enterprise sector shows promising potential for sustained growth, which is likely to result in increased demand for pro bono services as the number of social enterprises in need of legal advice continues to rise.
This year enough submissions have been received from firms with offices in Poland to allow a separate country analysis for the first time. Five firms provided data submissions, of which one is a domestic Polish firm, with some 300 lawyers comprising the data set. Though this represents only a small increase in participation from the four firms that submitted data last year, the first-time participation of a domestic Polish firm certainly contributes to generating a more accurate reflection of pro bono practices in Poland.
Lawyers in Poland averaged 26.9 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months with almost a third of lawyers, or 30.9 percent, performing 10 or more hours of pro bono. Both these figures are above the regional averages of 17.7 hours and 29.1 percent respectively and demonstrate a strong interest in and commitment to pro bono among respondent firms.
Partners in Poland also enjoy high engagement levels, with 31.7 percent recording time on pro bono work and partners averaging 26.4 hours of pro bono per year, which compared favourably to the regional median average of 11.8 hours and represents a significant increase over the country’s 2014 average of 6.4 hours.
1http://www.probonoinst.org/wpps/wp-content/uploads/a-survey-of-pro-bono-practices-and-opportunities-in-71-jurisdiction-2012.pdf
2https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/socialinnovationeurope/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/Social% 20Innovation%20in%20Poland%20%282011%29.pdf
3https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/socialinnovationeurope/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/Andrzej% 20Klimczuk_Poland%20SIE%20Country%20Summary%20ENGLISH.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| White & Case | 47.88 | 60.00% |
| DLA Piper | 33.85 | 18.46% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | 33.58 | 36.62% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 21.04 | 43.40% |
| Drzewiecki Tomaszek & Partners | 1.23 | 4.62% |
Portugal
Five firms with offices in Portugal provided data about their pro bono work for the 2015 Index allowing us to create a national table for the country for the first time. Four of these were domestic or Lusophone firms based in Portugal while an international firm with an office in Portugal also participated. The international firm declined to provide information on the amount of pro bono performed.
The Index found that three of the four domestic firms have a pro bono coordinator and a pro bono committee. Only one of the domestic firms factors pro bono into compensation for its lawyers while three take pro bono into account when looking at lawyers’ appraisals.
In general, the data provided by firms in Portugal was in line with averages across Europe. Over 300 lawyers were represented and they performed an average of 19.3 hours of pro bono each over the past year compared to the regional average of 17.7 hours.
Partners in Portugal performed 7.2 hours of pro bono on average over the past 12 months, below the continental average of 11.8 hours.
Engagement levels were slightly lower than the European average with 25.1 percent of lawyers in Portugal performing 10 or more hours of pro bono compared to a European average of 29.1 percent. Among partners in Portugal, 44.0 percent spent time on pro bono issues compared to a regional average of 40.2 percent.
The Portuguese Constitution guarantees access to law and judicial review for everyone. Furthermore, it prohibits denying access to justice because of a lack of financial means and confirms that everyone has the right to legal information and counsel as well as to legal aid. As a general rule, and similar to a number of other European countries, attorneys are expected to charge an adequate amount for their services and are prohibited from advertising free legal services.1 This lack of clarity may have inhibited the growth of pro bono in Portugal historically although the findings here show that engagement in pro bono is in line with European averages.
1http://www.probonoinst.org/wpps/wp-content/uploads/a-survey-of-pro-bono-practices-and-opportunities-in-71-jurisdiction-2012.pdf
The Index found that three of the four domestic firms have a pro bono coordinator and a pro bono committee. Only one of the domestic firms factors pro bono into compensation for its lawyers while three take pro bono into account when looking at lawyers’ appraisals.
In general, the data provided by firms in Portugal was in line with averages across Europe. Over 300 lawyers were represented and they performed an average of 19.3 hours of pro bono each over the past year compared to the regional average of 17.7 hours.
Partners in Portugal performed 7.2 hours of pro bono on average over the past 12 months, below the continental average of 11.8 hours.
Engagement levels were slightly lower than the European average with 25.1 percent of lawyers in Portugal performing 10 or more hours of pro bono compared to a European average of 29.1 percent. Among partners in Portugal, 44.0 percent spent time on pro bono issues compared to a regional average of 40.2 percent.
The Portuguese Constitution guarantees access to law and judicial review for everyone. Furthermore, it prohibits denying access to justice because of a lack of financial means and confirms that everyone has the right to legal information and counsel as well as to legal aid. As a general rule, and similar to a number of other European countries, attorneys are expected to charge an adequate amount for their services and are prohibited from advertising free legal services.1 This lack of clarity may have inhibited the growth of pro bono in Portugal historically although the findings here show that engagement in pro bono is in line with European averages.
1http://www.probonoinst.org/wpps/wp-content/uploads/a-survey-of-pro-bono-practices-and-opportunities-in-71-jurisdiction-2012.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Vieira de Almeida & Associados | 35.64 | 42.33% |
| Martins Alfaro, Rui Teixeira & Associados | 22.50 | 100.00% |
| Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados | 15.04 | 22.76% |
| Abreu Advogados | 6.06 | 6.06% |
Russia
For the 2015 Index, 10 law firms from Russia, including one domestic firm, provided data, which was an increase from eight last year. With high average hours of pro bono and a high proportion of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono, the findings indicate that there is enthusiasm for pro bono amongst lawyers in Russia.
On average, lawyers there performed 26.5 hours of pro bono over the last year, compared to the European average of 17.7 hours. This is also higher than the 11 hours per fee-earner recorded last year, and with the proportion of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono rising to 40.5 percent from 25.6 percent. These findings are incredibly positive about the growth of pro bono in Russia.
Partner engagement is also higher than last year and higher than regional averages. The 42 partners surveyed performed an average of 41.0 hours of pro bono against a regional average of 11.8 hours, and 45.2 percent of the partners spent time on pro bono matters compared to 30% in 2014.
This increased engagement has taken place in the context of an increasingly difficult operating environment for non-government organisations (NGO) in the country1 coupled with a rapidly weakening rouble due to sanctions imposed by the international community over Russia’s relationship with Ukrainian separatist groups. In spite of this, the high and increased engagement levels in pro bono suggest a commitment to civil society and development clients on behalf of the legal community.
1http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/20/russia-government-against-rights-groups
On average, lawyers there performed 26.5 hours of pro bono over the last year, compared to the European average of 17.7 hours. This is also higher than the 11 hours per fee-earner recorded last year, and with the proportion of lawyers performing 10 or more hours of pro bono rising to 40.5 percent from 25.6 percent. These findings are incredibly positive about the growth of pro bono in Russia.
Partner engagement is also higher than last year and higher than regional averages. The 42 partners surveyed performed an average of 41.0 hours of pro bono against a regional average of 11.8 hours, and 45.2 percent of the partners spent time on pro bono matters compared to 30% in 2014.
This increased engagement has taken place in the context of an increasingly difficult operating environment for non-government organisations (NGO) in the country1 coupled with a rapidly weakening rouble due to sanctions imposed by the international community over Russia’s relationship with Ukrainian separatist groups. In spite of this, the high and increased engagement levels in pro bono suggest a commitment to civil society and development clients on behalf of the legal community.
1http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/20/russia-government-against-rights-groups
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 111.29 | 95.24% |
| Dechert | 73.67 | 93.33% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 41.14 | 50.00% |
| DLA Piper | 35.92 | 19.57% |
| Korelskiy Ischuk Astafiev (KIAP), Attorneys at Law | 35.71 | 100.00% |
| K & L Gates LLP | 32.00 | 37.50% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | 22.85 | 45.45% |
| White & Case | 11.46 | 23.17% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | 4.69 | 24.00% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 1.86 | - |
Spain
Spain’s ongoing economic struggles continue to hinder growth and prosperity across the country. High rates of unemployment and EU-supported austerity measures have put significant strains on the Spanish economy and the legal sector has not been immune from the effects. The government has cut legal aid funding by €43m over the past four years and many argue that the legal community has borne the overwhelming cost of decreased government expenditures in the sector. In July 2014, 700 lawyers from 83 local bar associations across the country held a demonstration in Madrid against further cuts to the legal aid budget, arguing such austerity measures too often led to lower payments to lawyers which were cut by 5-10 percent in 2013 alone.1
With private law firms less able to take on pro bono work, the academic community has been the strongest champion for promoting pro bono in Spain. Professors and researchers at the Centre for Social Responsibility and Law at the Colegio de Abogados de Madrid have identified key obstacles to expanding pro bono in Spain, including a lack of guidance and knowledge on how to establish a pro bono infrastructure to implement the practice within firms.2 To address this issue, law professor Marisa Méndez has written a guide (Guía para la Implementación y la Gestión del Trabajo Pro Bono)3 to serve as a roadmap for lawyers and firms wishing to engage in the pro bono sector.
Seven firms provided data for the 2015 Index, comprising about 400 lawyers. This was a slight increase from the six firms that submitted data last year. All these firms were local offices of international networks and the lack of information from domestic firms means data for this year’s Index will not be a true reflection of the pro bono sector in Spain.
On average, lawyers performed 6.5 hours of pro bono each over the last 12 months, which is below the regional average of 17.7 hours and down from 7.8 hours last year. The proportion of lawyers at respondent firms providing 10 or more hours of pro bono over the year fell to 16.5 percent from 33.3 percent last year which was below the regional average of 29.1 percent. Given current pressures on the Spanish economy, these drops may be explained by increasing demands on lawyers to dedicate their time to revenue-generating projects rather than pro bono work.
Partners in the country performed an average of 4.3 hours of pro bono compared to 5.6 hours last year, and 24.6 percent of the 57 partners involved in the survey recorded time on pro bono matters against 11.1 percent of the 18 partners represented in the 2014 Index.
1http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/comment-and-opinion/happy-65th-birthday-legal-aid/5042438.fullarticle
2http://www.probono.cl/2015/03/miembros-de-fundacion-pro-bono-se-reunieron-con-marisa-mendez-autora-de-la-guia-para-la-implementacion-de-trabajo-pro-bono/
3http://crsa.icam.es/docs/Gu%C3%ADa%20para%20la%20implementaci%C3%B3n%20y%20gesti%C3% B3n%20dle%20trabajo%20pro%20bono.pdf
With private law firms less able to take on pro bono work, the academic community has been the strongest champion for promoting pro bono in Spain. Professors and researchers at the Centre for Social Responsibility and Law at the Colegio de Abogados de Madrid have identified key obstacles to expanding pro bono in Spain, including a lack of guidance and knowledge on how to establish a pro bono infrastructure to implement the practice within firms.2 To address this issue, law professor Marisa Méndez has written a guide (Guía para la Implementación y la Gestión del Trabajo Pro Bono)3 to serve as a roadmap for lawyers and firms wishing to engage in the pro bono sector.
Seven firms provided data for the 2015 Index, comprising about 400 lawyers. This was a slight increase from the six firms that submitted data last year. All these firms were local offices of international networks and the lack of information from domestic firms means data for this year’s Index will not be a true reflection of the pro bono sector in Spain.
On average, lawyers performed 6.5 hours of pro bono each over the last 12 months, which is below the regional average of 17.7 hours and down from 7.8 hours last year. The proportion of lawyers at respondent firms providing 10 or more hours of pro bono over the year fell to 16.5 percent from 33.3 percent last year which was below the regional average of 29.1 percent. Given current pressures on the Spanish economy, these drops may be explained by increasing demands on lawyers to dedicate their time to revenue-generating projects rather than pro bono work.
Partners in the country performed an average of 4.3 hours of pro bono compared to 5.6 hours last year, and 24.6 percent of the 57 partners involved in the survey recorded time on pro bono matters against 11.1 percent of the 18 partners represented in the 2014 Index.
1http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/comment-and-opinion/happy-65th-birthday-legal-aid/5042438.fullarticle
2http://www.probono.cl/2015/03/miembros-de-fundacion-pro-bono-se-reunieron-con-marisa-mendez-autora-de-la-guia-para-la-implementacion-de-trabajo-pro-bono/
3http://crsa.icam.es/docs/Gu%C3%ADa%20para%20la%20implementaci%C3%B3n%20y%20gesti%C3% B3n%20dle%20trabajo%20pro%20bono.pdf
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Latham & Watkins LLP | 36.09 | 52.17% |
| White & Case | 32.45 | 54.55% |
| Ashurst | 8.78 | 24.59% |
| Simmons & Simmons | 4.75 | - |
| DLA Piper | 3.99 | 6.17% |
| Linklaters LLP | 2.98 | 9.09% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | 1.08 | - |
United States
The 2015 Index received data from 33 firms with offices in the United States, involving almost 22,000 lawyers. This represents a dramatic increase in participation from the 23 firms that submitted data in 2014. Of those firms involved in the 2015 survey, only three were domestic United States firms without offices in other countries.
The United States is well-known as a leading jurisdiction for pro bono, with firms devoting significant and substantial resources to their pro bono practices and with many firms having well-developed and long-standing programmes. The American Lawyer’s coveted A-List1 also takes pro bono into account when assessing which are the stand-out firms in the United States, which is a clear indication that pro bono is taken seriously by firms and the legal sector alike. As with last year, this is highlighted in the data received, with high levels of engagement across the board.
The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono survey also ranked firms on their international pro bono performance as well as domestic for the first time this year, a sign of increasing internationalisation in the pro bono sector.
Law firms continue to make efforts to evolve their practices, for example by integrating new technology platforms into their practices and the legal community supporting pro bono initiatives by requiring pro bono as part of bar license application processes and allowing pro bono hours to count towards Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.2
Lawyers in the United States performed an average of 72.8 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, similar to last year’s average of 75.0 hours. This level of consistency may result from the fact that many of the pro bono practices are so well-established and that pro bono is engrained in the psyche of the legal profession in the country. A total of 71.4 percent of fee-earners performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, a slightly higher figure than last year’s 69.5 percent. Both these figures are significantly above the average across all responses for the Index and higher than any other jurisdiction.3
There was also a high level of engagement from partners in the United States who spent an average of 34.6 hours of pro bono each, and 73.7 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters. This compared to an average of 37.8 hours last year, with 61.1 percent of partners spending time on pro bono. Again, these are both world leading averages and, taken with the fee-earning averages, demonstrate very high levels of engagement at all levels across the firms.
For the Index, 36 firms with offices in the United States provided information on the structure of their pro bono practices. Again the findings demonstrate a very high level of sophistication in terms of pro bono amongst the firms in the country. Of these 94 percent have a formal pro bono policy, 92 percent have a pro bono coordinator, 89 percent have a pro bono committee in place, and 86 percent take pro bono work into account when appraising lawyers. It is very easy to draw parallels between the high engagement levels and the resources that have been put in place to support pro bono at the respondent firms.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in the United States, please see here.
1http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202498700231/The-2014-AList-20-StandOut-Firms
2http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_year_review_ 2014-15.authcheckdam.pdf
3Some other jurisdictions did have slightly higher figures, though all of these had ten or fewer lawyers at respondent firms in the jurisdiction.
The United States is well-known as a leading jurisdiction for pro bono, with firms devoting significant and substantial resources to their pro bono practices and with many firms having well-developed and long-standing programmes. The American Lawyer’s coveted A-List1 also takes pro bono into account when assessing which are the stand-out firms in the United States, which is a clear indication that pro bono is taken seriously by firms and the legal sector alike. As with last year, this is highlighted in the data received, with high levels of engagement across the board.
The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono survey also ranked firms on their international pro bono performance as well as domestic for the first time this year, a sign of increasing internationalisation in the pro bono sector.
Law firms continue to make efforts to evolve their practices, for example by integrating new technology platforms into their practices and the legal community supporting pro bono initiatives by requiring pro bono as part of bar license application processes and allowing pro bono hours to count towards Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.2
Lawyers in the United States performed an average of 72.8 hours of pro bono over the last 12 months, similar to last year’s average of 75.0 hours. This level of consistency may result from the fact that many of the pro bono practices are so well-established and that pro bono is engrained in the psyche of the legal profession in the country. A total of 71.4 percent of fee-earners performed 10 or more hours of pro bono, a slightly higher figure than last year’s 69.5 percent. Both these figures are significantly above the average across all responses for the Index and higher than any other jurisdiction.3
There was also a high level of engagement from partners in the United States who spent an average of 34.6 hours of pro bono each, and 73.7 percent of partners recorded time on pro bono matters. This compared to an average of 37.8 hours last year, with 61.1 percent of partners spending time on pro bono. Again, these are both world leading averages and, taken with the fee-earning averages, demonstrate very high levels of engagement at all levels across the firms.
For the Index, 36 firms with offices in the United States provided information on the structure of their pro bono practices. Again the findings demonstrate a very high level of sophistication in terms of pro bono amongst the firms in the country. Of these 94 percent have a formal pro bono policy, 92 percent have a pro bono coordinator, 89 percent have a pro bono committee in place, and 86 percent take pro bono work into account when appraising lawyers. It is very easy to draw parallels between the high engagement levels and the resources that have been put in place to support pro bono at the respondent firms.
For a practitioner's view of pro bono in the United States, please see here.
1http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202498700231/The-2014-AList-20-StandOut-Firms
2http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_year_review_ 2014-15.authcheckdam.pdf
3Some other jurisdictions did have slightly higher figures, though all of these had ten or fewer lawyers at respondent firms in the jurisdiction.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold & Porter LLP | United States | 136.34 | 98.32% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | United States | 118.74 | 65.16% |
| Morrison & Foerster LLP | United States | 113.36 | 67.63% |
| Paul Hastings | United States | 104.23 | 98.12% |
| Dechert | United States | 98.33 | 96.28% |
| Ropes & Gray LLP | United States | 97.70 | 83.30% |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | United States | 95.29 | 93.01% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | United States | 88.45 | 61.34% |
| Steptoe & Johnson | United States | 84.76 | 80.68% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | United States | 82.01 | 78.92% |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | United States | 79.15 | 72.23% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | United States | 77.71 | 61.81% |
| DLA Piper | United States | 76.21 | 84.48% |
| Hogan Lovells | United States | 74.21 | 87.19% |
| McDermott Will & Emery LLP | United States | 73.50 | 67.68% |
| Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP | United States | 72.34 | 61.99% |
| White & Case | United States | 70.30 | 73.60% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP | United States | 62.37 | - |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | United States | 57.75 | 78.01% |
| Nixon Peabody LLP | United States | 55.12 | 68.64% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United States | 52.57 | 81.01% |
| Reed Smith LLP | United States | 51.05 | 59.10% |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | United States | 49.58 | 50.72% |
| Faegre Baker Daniels LLP | United States | 49.55 | 71.43% |
| Holland & Knight LLP | United States | 49.39 | - |
| Dickstein Shapiro LLP | United States | 48.02 | 51.50% |
| Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP | United States | 41.44 | 35.58% |
| Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | United States | 36.84 | - |
| Linklaters LLP | United States | 36.75 | 48.85% |
| K & L Gates LLP | United States | 35.93 | 41.51% |
| Katherine K. Loanzon | United States | 30.00 | 100.00% |
| Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP | United States | 23.05 | 22.73% |
| Sean Morrison, PLLC | United States | 9.50 | 0% |
| Ashurst | United States | 1.00 | 2.70% |
Follow us
Newsletter sign up:
Copyright © 2018 Thomson Reuters Foundation. Thomson Reuters Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number: 1082139)