There is significant diversity in approaches to pro bono across Africa and the Middle East. For the 2022 Index, we received submissions from 98 firms in 26 countries in Africa and the Middle East. This is the first year we are including an in-depth analysis for Qatar, having received seven responses for the country.
The region reported a total of 73,656 hours of pro bono. On average, 31.5 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 21.9 hours of pro bono, with 20.7 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 33.7 percent of partners offered pro bono
services, at an average of 14.7 hours.
The legal and pro bono systems of these regions are, of course, highly varied. In some countries, the practice of pro bono is much less formal and documented, and in others it is more established. However, our data shows some formalisation of pro bono across Africa and the Middle East, with 35 percent of responding firms reporting an element of pro bono infrastructure. The presence of infrastructure is not limited to larger firms, as 73 percent of Small Firms reported the presence of some pro bono infrastructure, and 86 percent in Medium-sized Firms. Firms within the regions that had elements of pro bono infrastructure reported 26.5 hours of pro bono on average compared to an average of 3.9 hours in firms with no pro bono infrastructure.
The responding law firms obtained their pro bono briefs mostly directly from individual clients (70 percent), followed by local law societies or bar associations (44 percent), then through legal clinics (33 percent). There were some elements of a collaborative approach to pro bono, with 28 percent of firms sourcing for pro bono clients in partnership with other firms.
In terms of the reasons for engaging in pro bono, 42 of the responding firms in the region selected the desire to support the community, with 97 percent of the firms ranking it as a reason for pro bono. This is followed by training and skill development, with 28 firms ranking it as first, with 65 percent of the responding firms indicating it as a reason for engaging in pro bono. The firms’ alignment with interests of clients was third, with 15 firms ranking it first and 35 percent of the firms ranking it as a leading reason for pro bono.
The top three most selected areas of pro bono work are access to justice at 60 percent, employment at 46 percent, and education, training and employment at 40 percent.
We continue to see growing interest in working with social enterprises, with 63 percent of firms reporting that they offered advice and/or legal representation to social enterprises, alongside registered charities/non-profits (88 percent), and individuals (74 percent). The proliferation of social impact ventures and impact investors in the region, may be raising law firms’ interest in legal pro bono for the social enterprise and social impact sector.
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Index of Pro Bono2022
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Tamimi & Company | Bahrain | 2.5 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | Bahrain | 60.2 | 60% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Bahrain | 5 | 0% |
| CHILUME AND COMPANY | Botswana | - | - |
| Nyoh Law Chambers | Cameroon | 12.5 | 50% |
| ZANGUE & PARTNERS | Cameroon | - | - |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Egypt | 1.54 | 6.7% |
| Sharkawy & Sarhan Law Firm | Egypt | 2.86 | 8.6% |
| White & Case | Egypt | 2.18 | 10.7% |
| Mesfin Tafesse and Associates (MTA) | Ethiopia | 33.33 | 50% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Iraq | 1.07 | 0% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Jordan | 5.51 | 20.8% |
| Dentons | Jordan | 3.74 | 20% |
| ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN Tanzania | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | Kenya | 46.38 | 51.1% |
| Bowmans | Kenya | - | - |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | Kenya | 7.18 | 17.7% |
| Denis SEKO Advocates | Kenya | 36 | 100% |
| KIMITI & ASSOCIATES, ADVOCATES | Kenya | 5 | 100% |
| Meru and Njagi Advocates | Kenya | - | - |
| Muri Mwaniki Thige & Kageni LLP Advocates | Kenya | 10 | 100% |
| NZAMBA KITONGA ADVOCATES | Kenya | 0.38 | 37.5% |
| Njoroge Regeru & Co. Advocates | Kenya | - | - |
| WACHENJE & MARIGA LLP | Kenya | 22.5 | 100% |
| janet Jackson Susan Llp Advocates | Kenya | 1.67 | 100% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Kuwait | 0.16 | 0% |
| Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm | Lebanon | 142.86 | 100% |
| Cabinet HHH AVOCATS Law firm | Morocco | - | - |
| DLA Piper | Morocco | 2.54 | 15.4% |
| Dentons | Morocco | 1.2 | 6.7% |
| MORSAD LAW FIRM | Morocco | - | - |
| Vieira de Almeida & Associados | Mozambique | 36.78 | - |
| Aluko & Oyebode | Nigeria | 7.63 | 42.9% |
| Dean Solicitors | Nigeria | 11.67 | 100% |
| Fortis LP | Nigeria | 16.67 | 100% |
| Matrix-Solicitors | Nigeria | 11.54 | 38.5% |
| Paul - G. Elias | Nigeria | 10 | 11.1% |
| Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie | Nigeria | 3.37 | 12.3% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Oman | 0.15 | 0% |
| Dentons | Oman | 10.31 | 30% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Qatar | 0.71 | 4.2% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | Qatar | 25 | 44.4% |
| DLA Piper | Qatar | 6.89 | 0% |
| Dentons | Qatar | 0.68 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Qatar | 10 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Qatar | 3.74 | 20% |
| White & Case | Qatar | 25.29 | 42.9% |
| Better Legal Services Law Firm | Rwanda | 26 | 80% |
| Accenture | Saudi Arabia | - | - |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Saudi Arabia | 0.4 | 1.5% |
| Dentons | Saudi Arabia | 11.36 | 7.7% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | Saudi Arabia | 25.25 | 75% |
| Allen & Overy | South Africa | 19.37 | 30.2% |
| BNM Advocates | South Africa | - | - |
| Bowmans | South Africa | 18.7 | - |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | South Africa | 37.37 | 15.4% |
| DLA Piper | South Africa | 14.8 | 3.3% |
| Fasken ( South Africa) | South Africa | 58 | 53.8% |
| Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc | South Africa | 39.63 | 64% |
| Webber Wentzel | South Africa | 45.45 | - |
| White & Case | South Africa | 20.36 | 45.5% |
| ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN Tanzania | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | Tanzania | 4.39 | 50% |
| Asyla Attorneys | Tanzania | 1.36 | 9.1% |
| Bowmans | Tanzania | - | - |
| Dentons | Tanzania | 0.91 | 22.7% |
| MAXISERVE ATTORNEYS | Tanzania | 21 | 75% |
| Bowmans | Uganda | - | - |
| CR. Amanya Advocates & Solicitors | Uganda | 125 | 100% |
| MMAKS ADVOCATES | Uganda | 15.44 | 29.6% |
| Accenture | United Arab Emirates | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | United Arab Emirates | 37.69 | 53.9% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | United Arab Emirates | 3.19 | 15.5% |
| Allen & Overy | United Arab Emirates | 2.56 | 9.3% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | United Arab Emirates | 19.97 | 33.3% |
| DLA Piper | United Arab Emirates | 9.77 | 5.1% |
| Dechert LLP | United Arab Emirates | 68.86 | 100% |
| Dentons | United Arab Emirates | 1.72 | 9.8% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | United Arab Emirates | 1.85 | 2.8% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | United Arab Emirates | 15.46 | 23.9% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | United Arab Emirates | 18.08 | 41.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | United Arab Emirates | 2.22 | 11.1% |
| Latham & Watkins | United Arab Emirates | 34.7 | 75% |
| Linklaters LLP | United Arab Emirates | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | United Arab Emirates | 11.71 | 28.6% |
| Reed Smith | United Arab Emirates | 37.26 | 51.1% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United Arab Emirates | 10.36 | 34.4% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | United Arab Emirates | 7.97 | 31.8% |
| White & Case | United Arab Emirates | 18.58 | 66.7% |
| Bowmans | Zambia | - | - |
| Mweshi Banda and Associates | Zambia | 16.67 | 100% |
| KANOKANGA & PARTNERS | Zimbabwe | 12 | - |
Kenya
Kenya has a robust pro bono and legal aid culture. The Law Society of Kenya, including through its Public Interest, Legal Aid and Human Rights Committee, promotes pro bono in private practice and advocates for greater acceptance of pro bono work among its membership. The Law Society also helps more directly to enable pro bono—for example, its Nairobi branch accepts requests for pro bono support from people in need and matches them from a consolidated list of lawyers willing to provide pro bono services.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and tough economic situation, the average hours reported for fee earners were higher than the regional average. More than half of fee earners from responding firms engaged in pro bono.
The Index received submissions from 11 law firms in Kenya, with 58 percent of the fee earners recording any pro bono hours at an average of 36.4 hours, and 56 percent of them recording ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners demonstrate a commitment to the practice of pro bono, with 57 percent of them offering pro bono services at an average of 15.8 hours, and 33 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
More than 75 percent of responding law firms reported having at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, indicating a strong commitment to pro bono in the Kenyan legal market.
The most common types of pro bono clients among responding firms were registered charities/non-profits and social enterprises at 78 percent and 67 percent respectively.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus were access to justice at 78 percent, data and digital rights at 56 percent and employment at 44 percent.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and tough economic situation, the average hours reported for fee earners were higher than the regional average. More than half of fee earners from responding firms engaged in pro bono.
The Index received submissions from 11 law firms in Kenya, with 58 percent of the fee earners recording any pro bono hours at an average of 36.4 hours, and 56 percent of them recording ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners demonstrate a commitment to the practice of pro bono, with 57 percent of them offering pro bono services at an average of 15.8 hours, and 33 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
More than 75 percent of responding law firms reported having at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, indicating a strong commitment to pro bono in the Kenyan legal market.
The most common types of pro bono clients among responding firms were registered charities/non-profits and social enterprises at 78 percent and 67 percent respectively.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus were access to justice at 78 percent, data and digital rights at 56 percent and employment at 44 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| ALN | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | 46.38 | 51.1% |
| Bowmans | - | - |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | 7.18 | 17.7% |
| Denis SEKO Advocates | 36 | 100% |
| KIMITI & ASSOCIATES, ADVOCATES | 5 | 100% |
| Meru and Njagi Advocates | - | - |
| Muri Mwaniki Thige & Kageni LLP Advocates | 10 | 100% |
| NZAMBA KITONGA ADVOCATES | 0.38 | 37.5% |
| Njoroge Regeru & Co. Advocates | - | - |
| WACHENJE & MARIGA LLP | 22.5 | 100% |
| janet Jackson Susan Llp Advocates | 1.67 | 100% |
Nigeria
Pro bono practice in Nigeria enjoys the institutional support of the Nigerian Bar Association which proactively encourages its members to engage in pro bono. This commitment is documented in its Pro Bono Declaration which encourages law firms and individual lawyers to provide, on a pro bono basis, legal representation and advice to at least five indigent individuals, group of persons or communities each year. Moreover, the bar commits to strengthen the profession’s commitment to the provision and expansion of pro bono legal services by emphasising its importance and practice in legal education, and advocate and promote within the profession, the recognition and promotion of pro bono legal services as part of lawyers´ ethical standards and obligations.
Lawyers who wish to apply to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria must demonstrate they are engaged in pro bono legal service, which motivates many senior lawyers to get involved with pro bono and helps to make sense of the high average pro bono hours reported by partners compared with other fee earners (below).
This year we received submissions from six firms. The data shows that 37 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 7.3 hours with 30 percent of fee earners offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Meanwhile, 37 percent of partners rendered pro bono services at an average of 32.3 hours.
Pro bono infrastructure is relatively widespread in Nigeria, with 67 percent of firms reporting the presence of at least one element of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected thematic areas of pro bono focus were access to justice, anti-corruption and good governance, economic development, microfinance and social finance, and human rights, all at 33.3 percent. All responding firms (100 percent) reported that they offer pro bono support to individuals in need and registered charities/non-profit organisations, while 83 percent engage public interest litigation and advise social enterprises.
Lawyers who wish to apply to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria must demonstrate they are engaged in pro bono legal service, which motivates many senior lawyers to get involved with pro bono and helps to make sense of the high average pro bono hours reported by partners compared with other fee earners (below).
This year we received submissions from six firms. The data shows that 37 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 7.3 hours with 30 percent of fee earners offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Meanwhile, 37 percent of partners rendered pro bono services at an average of 32.3 hours.
Pro bono infrastructure is relatively widespread in Nigeria, with 67 percent of firms reporting the presence of at least one element of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected thematic areas of pro bono focus were access to justice, anti-corruption and good governance, economic development, microfinance and social finance, and human rights, all at 33.3 percent. All responding firms (100 percent) reported that they offer pro bono support to individuals in need and registered charities/non-profit organisations, while 83 percent engage public interest litigation and advise social enterprises.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Aluko & Oyebode | 7.63 | 42.9% |
| Dean Solicitors | 11.67 | 100% |
| Fortis LP | 16.67 | 100% |
| Matrix-Solicitors | 11.54 | 38.5% |
| Paul - G. Elias | 10 | 11.1% |
| Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie | 3.37 | 12.3% |
Qatar
This is Qatar’s first in-depth analysis in the Index. We received submissions from seven firms.
There are recent positive developments that signal increasing interest in pro bono in Qatar. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre launched a Pro Bono Service to support eligible individuals who cannot afford legal services to access pro bono legal assistance, advice, and representation. Local lawyers or firms can volunteer their time and expertise in providing pro bono services.
Among the seven firms that responded to the Index, 23 percent of fee earners rendered pro bono services and spent an average of eight hours on pro bono matters, with 13.7 percent spending ten or more hours. Meanwhile, 53 percent of the partners engaged in pro bono at an average of 15 hours of pro bono with 22 percent of them rendering ten or more hours of pro bono support.
There are recent positive developments that signal increasing interest in pro bono in Qatar. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre launched a Pro Bono Service to support eligible individuals who cannot afford legal services to access pro bono legal assistance, advice, and representation. Local lawyers or firms can volunteer their time and expertise in providing pro bono services.
Among the seven firms that responded to the Index, 23 percent of fee earners rendered pro bono services and spent an average of eight hours on pro bono matters, with 13.7 percent spending ten or more hours. Meanwhile, 53 percent of the partners engaged in pro bono at an average of 15 hours of pro bono with 22 percent of them rendering ten or more hours of pro bono support.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Al Tamimi & Company | 0.71 | 4.2% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | 25 | 44.4% |
| DLA Piper | 6.89 | 0% |
| Dentons | 0.68 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 10 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 3.74 | 20% |
| White & Case | 25.29 | 42.9% |
South Africa
There is significant diversity in approaches to pro bono across Africa and the Middle East. For the 2022 Index, we received submissions from 98 firms in 26 countries in Africa and the Middle East. This is the first year we are including an in-depth analysis for Qatar, having received seven responses for the country.
The region reported a total of 73,656 hours of pro bono. On average, 31.5 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 21.9 hours of pro bono, with 20.7 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 33.7 percent of partners offered pro bono services, at an average of 14.7 hours.
The legal and pro bono systems of these regions are, of course, highly varied. In some countries, the practice of pro bono is much less formal and documented, and in others it is more established. However, our data shows some formalisation of pro bono across Africa and the Middle East, with 35 percent of responding firms reporting an element of pro bono infrastructure. The presence of infrastructure is not limited to larger firms, as 73 percent of Small Firms reported the presence of some pro bono infrastructure, and 86 percent in Medium-sized Firms. Firms within the regions that had elements of pro bono infrastructure reported 26.5 hours of pro bono on average compared to an average of 3.9 hours in firms with no pro bono infrastructure.
The responding law firms obtained their pro bono briefs mostly directly from individual clients (70 percent), followed by local law societies or bar associations (44 percent), then through legal clinics (33 percent). There were some elements of a collaborative approach to pro bono, with 28 percent of firms sourcing for pro bono clients in partnership with other firms.
In terms of the reasons for engaging in pro bono, 42 of the responding firms in the region selected the desire to support the community, with 97 percent of the firms ranking it as a reason for pro bono. This is followed by training and skill development, with 28 firms ranking it as first, with 65 percent of the responding firms indicating it as a reason for engaging in pro bono. The firms’ alignment with interests of clients was third, with 15 firms ranking it first and 35 percent of the firms ranking it as a leading reason for pro bono.
The top three most selected areas of pro bono work are access to justice at 60 percent, employment at 46 percent, and education, training and employment at 40 percent.
We continue to see growing interest in working with social enterprises, with 63 percent of firms reporting that they offered advice and/or legal representation to social enterprises, alongside registered charities/non-profits (88 percent), and individuals (74 percent). The proliferation of social impact ventures and impact investors in the region, may be raising law firms’ interest in legal pro bono for the social enterprise and social impact sector.
The region reported a total of 73,656 hours of pro bono. On average, 31.5 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 21.9 hours of pro bono, with 20.7 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 33.7 percent of partners offered pro bono services, at an average of 14.7 hours.
The legal and pro bono systems of these regions are, of course, highly varied. In some countries, the practice of pro bono is much less formal and documented, and in others it is more established. However, our data shows some formalisation of pro bono across Africa and the Middle East, with 35 percent of responding firms reporting an element of pro bono infrastructure. The presence of infrastructure is not limited to larger firms, as 73 percent of Small Firms reported the presence of some pro bono infrastructure, and 86 percent in Medium-sized Firms. Firms within the regions that had elements of pro bono infrastructure reported 26.5 hours of pro bono on average compared to an average of 3.9 hours in firms with no pro bono infrastructure.
The responding law firms obtained their pro bono briefs mostly directly from individual clients (70 percent), followed by local law societies or bar associations (44 percent), then through legal clinics (33 percent). There were some elements of a collaborative approach to pro bono, with 28 percent of firms sourcing for pro bono clients in partnership with other firms.
In terms of the reasons for engaging in pro bono, 42 of the responding firms in the region selected the desire to support the community, with 97 percent of the firms ranking it as a reason for pro bono. This is followed by training and skill development, with 28 firms ranking it as first, with 65 percent of the responding firms indicating it as a reason for engaging in pro bono. The firms’ alignment with interests of clients was third, with 15 firms ranking it first and 35 percent of the firms ranking it as a leading reason for pro bono.
The top three most selected areas of pro bono work are access to justice at 60 percent, employment at 46 percent, and education, training and employment at 40 percent.
We continue to see growing interest in working with social enterprises, with 63 percent of firms reporting that they offered advice and/or legal representation to social enterprises, alongside registered charities/non-profits (88 percent), and individuals (74 percent). The proliferation of social impact ventures and impact investors in the region, may be raising law firms’ interest in legal pro bono for the social enterprise and social impact sector.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Tamimi & Company | Bahrain | 2.5 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | Bahrain | 60.2 | 60% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Bahrain | 5 | 0% |
| CHILUME AND COMPANY | Botswana | - | - |
| Nyoh Law Chambers | Cameroon | 12.5 | 50% |
| ZANGUE & PARTNERS | Cameroon | - | - |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Egypt | 1.54 | 6.7% |
| Sharkawy & Sarhan Law Firm | Egypt | 2.86 | 8.6% |
| White & Case | Egypt | 2.18 | 10.7% |
| Mesfin Tafesse and Associates (MTA) | Ethiopia | 33.33 | 50% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Iraq | 1.07 | 0% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Jordan | 5.51 | 20.8% |
| Dentons | Jordan | 3.74 | 20% |
| ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN Tanzania | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | Kenya | 46.38 | 51.1% |
| Bowmans | Kenya | - | - |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | Kenya | 7.18 | 17.7% |
| Denis SEKO Advocates | Kenya | 36 | 100% |
| KIMITI & ASSOCIATES, ADVOCATES | Kenya | 5 | 100% |
| Meru and Njagi Advocates | Kenya | - | - |
| Muri Mwaniki Thige & Kageni LLP Advocates | Kenya | 10 | 100% |
| NZAMBA KITONGA ADVOCATES | Kenya | 0.38 | 37.5% |
| Njoroge Regeru & Co. Advocates | Kenya | - | - |
| WACHENJE & MARIGA LLP | Kenya | 22.5 | 100% |
| janet Jackson Susan Llp Advocates | Kenya | 1.67 | 100% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Kuwait | 0.16 | 0% |
| Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm | Lebanon | 142.86 | 100% |
| Cabinet HHH AVOCATS Law firm | Morocco | - | - |
| DLA Piper | Morocco | 2.54 | 15.4% |
| Dentons | Morocco | 1.2 | 6.7% |
| MORSAD LAW FIRM | Morocco | - | - |
| Vieira de Almeida & Associados | Mozambique | 36.78 | - |
| Aluko & Oyebode | Nigeria | 7.63 | 42.9% |
| Dean Solicitors | Nigeria | 11.67 | 100% |
| Fortis LP | Nigeria | 16.67 | 100% |
| Matrix-Solicitors | Nigeria | 11.54 | 38.5% |
| Paul - G. Elias | Nigeria | 10 | 11.1% |
| Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie | Nigeria | 3.37 | 12.3% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Oman | 0.15 | 0% |
| Dentons | Oman | 10.31 | 30% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Qatar | 0.71 | 4.2% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | Qatar | 25 | 44.4% |
| DLA Piper | Qatar | 6.89 | 0% |
| Dentons | Qatar | 0.68 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Qatar | 10 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Qatar | 3.74 | 20% |
| White & Case | Qatar | 25.29 | 42.9% |
| Better Legal Services Law Firm | Rwanda | 26 | 80% |
| Accenture | Saudi Arabia | - | - |
| Al Tamimi & Company | Saudi Arabia | 0.4 | 1.5% |
| Dentons | Saudi Arabia | 11.36 | 7.7% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | Saudi Arabia | 25.25 | 75% |
| Allen & Overy | South Africa | 19.37 | 30.2% |
| BNM Advocates | South Africa | - | - |
| Bowmans | South Africa | 18.7 | - |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | South Africa | 37.37 | 15.4% |
| DLA Piper | South Africa | 14.8 | 3.3% |
| Fasken ( South Africa) | South Africa | 58 | 53.8% |
| Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc | South Africa | 39.63 | 64% |
| Webber Wentzel | South Africa | 45.45 | - |
| White & Case | South Africa | 20.36 | 45.5% |
| ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN Tanzania | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | Tanzania | 4.39 | 50% |
| Asyla Attorneys | Tanzania | 1.36 | 9.1% |
| Bowmans | Tanzania | - | - |
| Dentons | Tanzania | 0.91 | 22.7% |
| MAXISERVE ATTORNEYS | Tanzania | 21 | 75% |
| Bowmans | Uganda | - | - |
| CR. Amanya Advocates & Solicitors | Uganda | 125 | 100% |
| MMAKS ADVOCATES | Uganda | 15.44 | 29.6% |
| Accenture | United Arab Emirates | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | United Arab Emirates | 37.69 | 53.9% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | United Arab Emirates | 3.19 | 15.5% |
| Allen & Overy | United Arab Emirates | 2.56 | 9.3% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | United Arab Emirates | 19.97 | 33.3% |
| DLA Piper | United Arab Emirates | 9.77 | 5.1% |
| Dechert LLP | United Arab Emirates | 68.86 | 100% |
| Dentons | United Arab Emirates | 1.72 | 9.8% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | United Arab Emirates | 1.85 | 2.8% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | United Arab Emirates | 15.46 | 23.9% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | United Arab Emirates | 18.08 | 41.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | United Arab Emirates | 2.22 | 11.1% |
| Latham & Watkins | United Arab Emirates | 34.7 | 75% |
| Linklaters LLP | United Arab Emirates | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | United Arab Emirates | 11.71 | 28.6% |
| Reed Smith | United Arab Emirates | 37.26 | 51.1% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United Arab Emirates | 10.36 | 34.4% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | United Arab Emirates | 7.97 | 31.8% |
| White & Case | United Arab Emirates | 18.58 | 66.7% |
| Bowmans | Zambia | - | - |
| Mweshi Banda and Associates | Zambia | 16.67 | 100% |
| KANOKANGA & PARTNERS | Zimbabwe | 12 | - |
Tanzania
Legal aid is well-established and regulated in Tanzania under the Legal Aid Act, while pro bono is unregulated and less prevalent, but growing.
Among responding firms in Tanzania, 22 percent of fee earners performed pro bono services and recorded an average of 3.7 hours of pro bono. 29 percent of fee earners that performed pro bono were engaged in ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner participation in pro bono is relatively strong with a participation rate of 39 percent and an average of 8.3 hours of pro bono, with 40 percent of partners offering pro bono recording ten or more hours of pro bono.
There may be an opportunity to grow pro bono within firms through broader use of pro bono infrastructure to support such efforts.
Among responding firms in Tanzania, 22 percent of fee earners performed pro bono services and recorded an average of 3.7 hours of pro bono. 29 percent of fee earners that performed pro bono were engaged in ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner participation in pro bono is relatively strong with a participation rate of 39 percent and an average of 8.3 hours of pro bono, with 40 percent of partners offering pro bono recording ten or more hours of pro bono.
There may be an opportunity to grow pro bono within firms through broader use of pro bono infrastructure to support such efforts.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| ALN | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP and ALN | Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP | 4.39 | 50% |
| Asyla Attorneys | 1.36 | 9.1% |
| Bowmans | - | - |
| Dentons | 0.91 | 22.7% |
| MAXISERVE ATTORNEYS | 21 | 75% |
United Arab Emirates
Private law firms are the main providers of pro bono legal services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and there is opportunity for growth in local initiatives to shape a stronger pro bono and legal aid culture in the future. A Voluntary Legal Services Smart Portal, hosted by the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, was launched in 2018 to allow advocacy and legal consultancy firms to register to provide pro bono legal services to support financially disadvantaged members of the public.
The 20 responding firms for this Index were all international firms, whose fee earners recorded an average of 8.3 hours. The percentage of fee earners that provided any pro bono stood at 32 percent, and 20 percent of fee earners that engaged in pro bono provided ten or more hours of pro bono. 36 percent of partners spent an average of 12.1 hours on pro bono matters and 18 percent of partners who engaged in pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono.
The 20 responding firms for this Index were all international firms, whose fee earners recorded an average of 8.3 hours. The percentage of fee earners that provided any pro bono stood at 32 percent, and 20 percent of fee earners that engaged in pro bono provided ten or more hours of pro bono. 36 percent of partners spent an average of 12.1 hours on pro bono matters and 18 percent of partners who engaged in pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 37.69 | 53.85% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | 3.19 | 15.53% |
| Allen & Overy | 2.56 | 9.28% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 19.97 | 33.33% |
| DLA Piper | 9.77 | 5.06% |
| Dechert LLP | 68.86 | 100% |
| Dentons | 1.72 | 9.76% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 1.85 | 2.8% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 15.46 | 23.91% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 18.08 | 41.67% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 2.22 | 11.11% |
| Latham & Watkins | 34.7 | 75% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 11.71 | 28.57% |
| Reed Smith | 37.26 | 51.09% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 10.36 | 34.38% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 7.97 | 31.82% |
| White & Case | 18.58 | 66.67% |
Americas
The pro bono landscape in the Americas is strong and growing, including through the work of organisations at regional and country level that champion the practice of pro bono. These organisations provide institutional frameworks, collaborative approaches, and a rich environment for law firms to grow and sustain their pro bono practices and are steadily producing results. The Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas, launched in 2008, continues to serve as an important touchstone for pro bono in the region, with signatories agreeing to advance the practice of pro bono and to provide an average of 20 hours or more per lawyer per annum.
Local organisations and initiatives also champion pro bono, including: Alianza Pro Bono in Peru, CIDSEP UC in Paraguay; Red Federal Pro Bono Internacional in Argentina, Fundación Pro Bono de Guatemala in Guatemala, the Pro Bono Commission in Costa Rica, among others. The practice of incorporating law students into the pro bono ecosystem through legal clinics at universities, is also on the rise. The presence of pro bono institutions and a robust pro bono ecosystem, helps to engage, attract, and retain more lawyers in the practice of pro bono and promotes the sustainability of pro bono practice in the long term.
A total of 80 firms from the Americas contributed data to the 2022 Pro Bono Index, up from 64 firms in 2020. However, the geographic spread was smaller, with participants from 13 countries, down from 18 countries in 2020. This year, Peru and Ecuador debut with an in-depth analysis.
Overall, responding firms in the region spent 126,886 hours on pro bono. 42 percent of fee earners spent an average of 11.6 hours on pro bono, with 24 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono work. For partners, 32 percent offered pro bono services at an average of seven hours, with 15 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
An overwhelming 93 percent of firms in the Americas reported at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, relatively evenly distributed across Large, Medium-sized and Small Firms. 80 percent of firms reported having a pro bono policy and 41 percent reported having a formal diversity commitment for pro bono work.
The top five most selected areas of pro bono focus in the region were: access to justice at 58 percent; education, training and employment at 38 percent; economic development, microfinance and social finance at 37 percent; human rights at 37 percent; and immigration, refugees and asylum at 34 percent. Registered charities and non-profits were leading recipients of pro bono assistance, with 93 percent of firms providing pro bono to this group, followed by social enterprises at 67 percent, and individuals in need at 61 percent.
Pro bono clients were sourced directly from individual clients (71 percent), through clearinghouses (62 percent), and through local law societies or bar associations (43 percent). Collaborative approaches to pro bono are also evident, with 33 percent of the firms obtaining pro bono work in partnership with other law firms.
Local organisations and initiatives also champion pro bono, including: Alianza Pro Bono in Peru, CIDSEP UC in Paraguay; Red Federal Pro Bono Internacional in Argentina, Fundación Pro Bono de Guatemala in Guatemala, the Pro Bono Commission in Costa Rica, among others. The practice of incorporating law students into the pro bono ecosystem through legal clinics at universities, is also on the rise. The presence of pro bono institutions and a robust pro bono ecosystem, helps to engage, attract, and retain more lawyers in the practice of pro bono and promotes the sustainability of pro bono practice in the long term.
A total of 80 firms from the Americas contributed data to the 2022 Pro Bono Index, up from 64 firms in 2020. However, the geographic spread was smaller, with participants from 13 countries, down from 18 countries in 2020. This year, Peru and Ecuador debut with an in-depth analysis.
Overall, responding firms in the region spent 126,886 hours on pro bono. 42 percent of fee earners spent an average of 11.6 hours on pro bono, with 24 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono work. For partners, 32 percent offered pro bono services at an average of seven hours, with 15 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
An overwhelming 93 percent of firms in the Americas reported at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, relatively evenly distributed across Large, Medium-sized and Small Firms. 80 percent of firms reported having a pro bono policy and 41 percent reported having a formal diversity commitment for pro bono work.
The top five most selected areas of pro bono focus in the region were: access to justice at 58 percent; education, training and employment at 38 percent; economic development, microfinance and social finance at 37 percent; human rights at 37 percent; and immigration, refugees and asylum at 34 percent. Registered charities and non-profits were leading recipients of pro bono assistance, with 93 percent of firms providing pro bono to this group, followed by social enterprises at 67 percent, and individuals in need at 61 percent.
Pro bono clients were sourced directly from individual clients (71 percent), through clearinghouses (62 percent), and through local law societies or bar associations (43 percent). Collaborative approaches to pro bono are also evident, with 33 percent of the firms obtaining pro bono work in partnership with other law firms.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVOA ABOGADOS S.A. | Argentina | 2.27 | 18.2% |
| Accenture | Argentina | - | - |
| BULLÓ ABOGADOS | Argentina | 15.71 | - |
| Beccar Varela | Argentina | 32.35 | 33.6% |
| Bomchil | Argentina | - | - |
| Brons & Salas | Argentina | 20 | 100% |
| Bruchou, Fernandez Madero & Lombardi | Argentina | 13.41 | 37% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Argentina | 2.61 | 14.3% |
| Dentons | Argentina | 1.52 | 3.8% |
| Gonzalo Javier | Argentina | 17.99 | 25% |
| Grispo Abogados | Argentina | - | - |
| Keidos Impacto Legal | Argentina | 76.67 | 100% |
| Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arnsten | Argentina | 27.72 | 34.8% |
| Richards Cardinal Tutzer Zabala & Zaefferer | Argentina | 30 | 50% |
| Zang, Bergel & Viñes | Argentina | 13.5 | 27.5% |
| Dentons | Bolivia | - | - |
| Dentons Guevara & Gutierrez | Bolivia | 15 | 40% |
| Accenture | Brazil | - | - |
| Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados | Brazil | 17.88 | 61% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Brazil | 7.48 | 20% |
| Demarest | Brazil | 1.76 | 6.1% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Brazil | 7 | 50% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Brazil | - | 0% |
| KLA Advogados | Brazil | 0.93 | 2.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | Brazil | - | - |
| MOSSE IP, Fashion & Social Media Law | Brazil | 1.88 | 12.5% |
| Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice Advogados | Brazil | 7.91 | 20.3% |
| Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados | Brazil | 0.03 | 21% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Brazil | 6.86 | 18.2% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Brazil | 37.83 | 100% |
| Pinheiro Neto Advogados | Brazil | 10 | 24% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Brazil | 7 | 20% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Brazil | 0.04 | 0% |
| TozziniFreire Advogados | Brazil | 0.01 | 10.5% |
| White & Case | Brazil | 16 | 27.3% |
| BNM Advocates | Canada | - | - |
| Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP | Canada | 17.06 | 32.2% |
| DLA Piper | Canada | 7.36 | 18.6% |
| Dentons | Canada | 8.01 | 16.6% |
| Integral North | Canada | 200 | 100% |
| McCarthy Tétrault LLP | Canada | 12.11 | 21.8% |
| McInnes Cooper | Canada | 5.22 | 34.8% |
| McMillan LLP | Canada | - | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Canada | 18.2 | 70% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Canada | 1.58 | 0% |
| Accenture | Colombia | - | - |
| Brigard & Urrutia | Colombia | 22.07 | - |
| Dentons | Colombia | 4.21 | 14.3% |
| Gómez-Pinzón | Colombia | 41.75 | 100% |
| Lloreda Camacho | Colombia | 6 | 20% |
| Muñoz Tamayo & Asociados | Colombia | 35.29 | 21.4% |
| PHILIPPI PRIETOCARRIZOSA FERRERO DU & URÍA | Colombia | 17.65 | 22% |
| Posse Herrera Ruiz | Colombia | 23.45 | 48.8% |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | Colombia | - | - |
| Alta Batalla | Costa Rica | 34.29 | 71.4% |
| CENTRAL LAW | Costa Rica | 250 | 100% |
| Consortium Legal | Costa Rica | 2.67 | 8.8% |
| Consortium Legal | El Salvador | 5.22 | 17.1% |
| MORGAN & MORGAN | Panama | 12.97 | 39.4% |
| Ferrere Abogados | Paraguay | - | - |
| Pablo | Paraguay | 3 | 20% |
| Dentons | Peru | 3.98 | 16.7% |
| Estudio Osterling | Peru | - | - |
| GARCIA SAYAN ABOGADOS | Peru | 8.91 | 25% |
| LEON E IPARRAGUIRRE ABOGADOS | Peru | - | - |
| Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría | Peru | 5.41 | 18.4% |
| Rodrigo, Elias y Medrano Abogados | Peru | 7.35 | 6% |
| Dentons | Venezuela | 21.68 | 20% |
| LEĜA | Venezuela | 16.67 | 22.2% |
Argentina
The Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas continues to support the steady growth of pro bono in Argentina. Generally, pro bono is seen as an impactful way of practicing the law and driving change. Large law firms in Buenos Aires tend to have the most institutionalized pro bono practices, but small and medium-sized law firms and legal teams throughout the country are also committing to and engaging in more pro bono work.
Pro bono work in Argentina entails not only supporting with advisory cases and litigation, but also sharing knowledge and developing legal resources of all kinds. Pro bono culture is promoted to new generation of law students through contests to identify social issues and potential legal solutions. Initiatives from bar associations like the Federal Pro Bono Network by Pro Bono Commission of Lawyers of the City of Buenos Aires are committed to promoting the practice of pro bono in Argentina and continue to create a robust ecosystem for the sustained growth of pro bono in Argentina.
Fifteen law firms with offices in Argentina participated in the 2022 Index, a marked increase from the previous Index. All but one are local law firms, with a single regional law firm providing data about their work in Argentina.
Fee earners performed 14.5 hours of pro bono on average, with 20 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono. Fee earners performed an average 14.7 hours of pro bono with 20 percent of them recording ten or more hours. Among partners, 34 percent offered pro bono services, at an average of 9.3 hours—higher than the regional average, with 16 percent of fee earners offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
92 percent of firms had the presence of pro bono infrastructure, pointing to a well-established practice of pro bono. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Argentinian firms were access to justice, data and digital rights, and disability rights all at 42 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum at 33 percent, and anti-corruption and good governance at 25 percent.
Pro bono work in Argentina entails not only supporting with advisory cases and litigation, but also sharing knowledge and developing legal resources of all kinds. Pro bono culture is promoted to new generation of law students through contests to identify social issues and potential legal solutions. Initiatives from bar associations like the Federal Pro Bono Network by Pro Bono Commission of Lawyers of the City of Buenos Aires are committed to promoting the practice of pro bono in Argentina and continue to create a robust ecosystem for the sustained growth of pro bono in Argentina.
Fifteen law firms with offices in Argentina participated in the 2022 Index, a marked increase from the previous Index. All but one are local law firms, with a single regional law firm providing data about their work in Argentina.
Fee earners performed 14.5 hours of pro bono on average, with 20 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono. Fee earners performed an average 14.7 hours of pro bono with 20 percent of them recording ten or more hours. Among partners, 34 percent offered pro bono services, at an average of 9.3 hours—higher than the regional average, with 16 percent of fee earners offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
92 percent of firms had the presence of pro bono infrastructure, pointing to a well-established practice of pro bono. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Argentinian firms were access to justice, data and digital rights, and disability rights all at 42 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum at 33 percent, and anti-corruption and good governance at 25 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| AVOA ABOGADOS S.A. | 2.27 | 18.2% |
| Accenture | - | - |
| BULLÓ ABOGADOS | 15.71 | - |
| Beccar Varela | 32.35 | 33.6% |
| Bomchil | - | - |
| Brons & Salas | 20 | 100% |
| Bruchou, Fernandez Madero & Lombardi | 13.41 | 37% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 2.61 | 14.3% |
| Dentons | 1.52 | 3.8% |
| Gonzalo Javier | 17.99 | 25% |
| Grispo Abogados | - | - |
| Keidos Impacto Legal | 76.67 | 100% |
| Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arnsten | 27.72 | 34.8% |
| Richards Cardinal Tutzer Zabala & Zaefferer | 30 | 50% |
| Zang, Bergel & Viñes | 13.5 | 27.5% |
Brazil
After regulatory restrictions limiting the practice of pro bono in Brazil were lifted in 2015, most large law firms in Brazil scaled up their pro bono work as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes. Today large law firms lead the pro bono movement in the country, alongside a growing number of small and medium-sized firms to contribute to social impact.
Seventeen law firms participated in the 2022 Index, up from 14 in 2020, comprising mostly of local firms of varying sizes, ranging from those with established pro bono practices and those that are growing. The average number of hours of pro bono per fee earner was 3.9 hours with 34 percent of the fee earners in the responding firms performing pro bono. 17 percent of the fee earners offering pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono. 34 percent of partners in responding firms performed pro bono, at an average of 5.3 hours, with 9 percent of partners offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
Pro bono in Brazil is increasingly formalised, with 96 percent of responding firms reporting at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. These factors, combined with a rich, enabling pro bono ecosystem, including local clearing houses and annual pro bono conferences, will ensure that pro bono continues to grow in Brazil.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus in Brazil were access to justice and human rights at 57.1 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum and LGBT+ rights at 42.8 percent and women’s rights at 39 percent. The most selected pro bono clients were non-profit organisations at 96 percent, followed by individuals in need at 71 percent, then social enterprises at 64 percent.
Seventeen law firms participated in the 2022 Index, up from 14 in 2020, comprising mostly of local firms of varying sizes, ranging from those with established pro bono practices and those that are growing. The average number of hours of pro bono per fee earner was 3.9 hours with 34 percent of the fee earners in the responding firms performing pro bono. 17 percent of the fee earners offering pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono. 34 percent of partners in responding firms performed pro bono, at an average of 5.3 hours, with 9 percent of partners offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
Pro bono in Brazil is increasingly formalised, with 96 percent of responding firms reporting at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. These factors, combined with a rich, enabling pro bono ecosystem, including local clearing houses and annual pro bono conferences, will ensure that pro bono continues to grow in Brazil.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus in Brazil were access to justice and human rights at 57.1 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum and LGBT+ rights at 42.8 percent and women’s rights at 39 percent. The most selected pro bono clients were non-profit organisations at 96 percent, followed by individuals in need at 71 percent, then social enterprises at 64 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto Advogados | 17.88 | 61% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 7.48 | 20% |
| Demarest | 1.76 | 6.1% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 7 | 50% |
| K&L Gates LLP | - | 0% |
| KLA Advogados | 0.93 | 2.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| MOSSE IP, Fashion & Social Media Law | 1.88 | 12.5% |
| Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice Advogados | 7.91 | 20.3% |
| Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados | 0.03 | 21% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 6.86 | 18.2% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 37.83 | 100% |
| Pinheiro Neto Advogados | 10 | 24% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 7 | 20% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0.04 | 0% |
| TozziniFreire Advogados | 0.01 | 10.5% |
| White & Case | 16 | 27.3% |
Canada
The pro bono landscape in Canada continues to evolve. The pro bono market is robust, with many firms continuing to grow their practices and an enriching, supportive and enabling pro bono environment created by the legal professional bodies and the state.
Federal and provincial bar associations and pro bono organisations (e.g., Pro Bono Canada, Pro Bono Law Ontario, Access Pro Bono in British Columbia, and Justice Pro Bono in Québec) raise awareness of pro bono practices within the profession by providing lawyers in various provinces with access to pro bono resources and programming. As in other jurisdictions, Canada has seen an increase in demand for pro bono services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the Index received submissions from ten Canadian firms. The average number of hours spent by the 46 percent of the fee earners who spent any time on pro bono work in the reporting firms was 11.5 hours, with 24 percent of them spending ten hours or more on pro bono. 24 percent of partners recorded pro bono hours at an average of 5.2 hours, with 12 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
67 percent of participating firms reported having at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. Access to justice was the most selected area of pro bono focus among Canadian firms at 100 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum at 67 percent, then anti-corruption and good governance, disability rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, employment, human rights and land and water rights all at 33 percent.
Federal and provincial bar associations and pro bono organisations (e.g., Pro Bono Canada, Pro Bono Law Ontario, Access Pro Bono in British Columbia, and Justice Pro Bono in Québec) raise awareness of pro bono practices within the profession by providing lawyers in various provinces with access to pro bono resources and programming. As in other jurisdictions, Canada has seen an increase in demand for pro bono services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the Index received submissions from ten Canadian firms. The average number of hours spent by the 46 percent of the fee earners who spent any time on pro bono work in the reporting firms was 11.5 hours, with 24 percent of them spending ten hours or more on pro bono. 24 percent of partners recorded pro bono hours at an average of 5.2 hours, with 12 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
67 percent of participating firms reported having at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. Access to justice was the most selected area of pro bono focus among Canadian firms at 100 percent, followed by immigration, refugees and asylum at 67 percent, then anti-corruption and good governance, disability rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, employment, human rights and land and water rights all at 33 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| BNM Advocates | - | - |
| Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP | 17.06 | 32.2% |
| DLA Piper | 7.36 | 18.6% |
| Dentons | 8.01 | 16.6% |
| Integral North | 200 | 100% |
| McCarthy Tétrault LLP | 12.11 | 21.8% |
| McInnes Cooper | 5.22 | 34.8% |
| McMillan LLP | - | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 18.2 | 70% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 1.58 | 0% |
Chile
Chile has a broad network of law firms offering pro bono services with a strong presence spreading the practice of pro bono in the region. The Chilean Pro Bono Foundation is a key player that provides a wide variety of pro bono assistance on different legal matters and works in partnership with regional pro bono networks.
Law students are encouraged to engage in pro bono by means of a contest to identify social issues that could be addressed through the law and propose solutions, and states of emergency are tackled through a pro bono legal advice programme developed in 2010.
For this 2022 Index of Pro Bono, we received responses from six firms, and we saw that fee earners recorded an average of 16.5 hours of pro bono with 45 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono, from the 56 percent who recorded any pro bono hours. 36 percent of partners recorded an average of 2.7 hours of pro bono, with 22 percent of them recording ten or more hours of pro bono. The percentage of partners that performed any pro bono stood at 22 percent with 36 percent of them recording ten or more hours. 60 percent of firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Chilean firms were access to justice and data and digital rights at 67 percent, followed by aid and development, COVID-19, disability rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, education, training and employment, freedom of the media and expression, human rights, immigration, refugees and asylum and LGBT+ rights all at 33 percent.
Law students are encouraged to engage in pro bono by means of a contest to identify social issues that could be addressed through the law and propose solutions, and states of emergency are tackled through a pro bono legal advice programme developed in 2010.
For this 2022 Index of Pro Bono, we received responses from six firms, and we saw that fee earners recorded an average of 16.5 hours of pro bono with 45 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono, from the 56 percent who recorded any pro bono hours. 36 percent of partners recorded an average of 2.7 hours of pro bono, with 22 percent of them recording ten or more hours of pro bono. The percentage of partners that performed any pro bono stood at 22 percent with 36 percent of them recording ten or more hours. 60 percent of firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Chilean firms were access to justice and data and digital rights at 67 percent, followed by aid and development, COVID-19, disability rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, education, training and employment, freedom of the media and expression, human rights, immigration, refugees and asylum and LGBT+ rights all at 33 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Albagli Zaliasnik | 37.36 | 85.1% |
| Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos and Sargent & Krahn (associated IP firm) | 14.93 | 37.3% |
| Dentons | 5.5 | 16.7% |
| ObradorDigital.Legal | 0.6 | 40% |
| SokSiphana&associates | - | 100% |
Colombia
Pro bono in Colombia has been growing in recent years. Most large local law firms have institutionalized pro bono practice as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes and implemented internal policies and structures to improve their pro bono work. Today there is a robust network of law firms and Fundación Pro Bono Colombia, the strongest local clearinghouse, working in partnership with regional and global pro bono networks.
We had nine firms participate in the 2022 Index, up from four firms in 2020. The percentage of fee earners who performed any pro bono stood at 56 percent, each giving an average of 23 hours of pro bono work, with 35 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners performed an average of 6 hours of pro bono. 35 percent of partners performed any pro bono work, while 17 percent offered more than 10 hours of pro bono. All the responding firms in Colombia reported at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, which indicates that the practice of pro bono is well established. This also correlates with the high number of hours by the fee earners which is well above the regional average.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Colombian firms were employment at 80 percent, followed by anti-corruption and good governance, data and digital rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, education, training and employment, environment and climate change and older people’s rights all at 60 percent.
We had nine firms participate in the 2022 Index, up from four firms in 2020. The percentage of fee earners who performed any pro bono stood at 56 percent, each giving an average of 23 hours of pro bono work, with 35 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners performed an average of 6 hours of pro bono. 35 percent of partners performed any pro bono work, while 17 percent offered more than 10 hours of pro bono. All the responding firms in Colombia reported at least one element of pro bono infrastructure, which indicates that the practice of pro bono is well established. This also correlates with the high number of hours by the fee earners which is well above the regional average.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among Colombian firms were employment at 80 percent, followed by anti-corruption and good governance, data and digital rights, economic development, microfinance and social finance, education, training and employment, environment and climate change and older people’s rights all at 60 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Brigard & Urrutia | 22.07 | - |
| Dentons | 4.21 | 14.3% |
| Gómez-Pinzón | 41.75 | 100% |
| Lloreda Camacho | 6 | 20% |
| Muñoz Tamayo & Asociados | 35.29 | 21.4% |
| PHILIPPI PRIETOCARRIZOSA FERRERO DU & URÍA | 17.65 | 22% |
| Posse Herrera Ruiz | 23.45 | 48.8% |
Mexico
Mexico is at the forefront of the pro bono movement in the region. The pro bono culture continues to blossom with the growth of pro bono practice inside large and small and medium-sized law firms as well as the work done by well-known clearinghouses such as Appleseed Mexico and other non-profits specialized in legal pro bono.
In 2018, a group of law firms, clearing houses and non-profits created the Pro Bono Standards to provide for guidelines of what should be considered as legal pro bono and how to structure its practice, as well as to establish a working group to promote pro bono work and address the most pressing concerns in Mexico. This has contributed to the strengthening of the pro bono ecosystem.
Pro bono in Mexico is carried out through local, regional, and global networks and is regarded as a tool to offer support to low-income individuals and families, indigenous communities, vulnerable groups, and non-profit organizations, to name just a few.
This year fifteen law firms participated in the 2022 Index, a welcome increase from the nine submissions in 2020. Fee earners recorded an average of 21 hours of pro bono, with 50 percent offering any pro bono services and 43 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. On the other hand, 52 percent of partners recorded an average of 17.4 hours of pro bono, with 38 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
66 percent of the reporting firms had at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. The most selected areas of pro bono among Mexican firms were access to justice at 50 percent, aid and development, COVID-19, economic development, microfinance and social finance, environment and climate change at 40 percent.
In 2018, a group of law firms, clearing houses and non-profits created the Pro Bono Standards to provide for guidelines of what should be considered as legal pro bono and how to structure its practice, as well as to establish a working group to promote pro bono work and address the most pressing concerns in Mexico. This has contributed to the strengthening of the pro bono ecosystem.
Pro bono in Mexico is carried out through local, regional, and global networks and is regarded as a tool to offer support to low-income individuals and families, indigenous communities, vulnerable groups, and non-profit organizations, to name just a few.
This year fifteen law firms participated in the 2022 Index, a welcome increase from the nine submissions in 2020. Fee earners recorded an average of 21 hours of pro bono, with 50 percent offering any pro bono services and 43 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. On the other hand, 52 percent of partners recorded an average of 17.4 hours of pro bono, with 38 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
66 percent of the reporting firms had at least one element of pro bono infrastructure. The most selected areas of pro bono among Mexican firms were access to justice at 50 percent, aid and development, COVID-19, economic development, microfinance and social finance, environment and climate change at 40 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Creel, Garcia-Cuellar, Aiza y Enriquez SC | 12.37 | 48.7% |
| DLA Piper | 20.23 | 57.7% |
| Dentons | - | - |
| Fundación Enyx, A.C. | 4 | 20% |
| GALICIA ABOGADOS, S.C. | 12.79 | 54.7% |
| Hogan Lovells México | 87.3 | 88.8% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 2.5 | 14.3% |
| Michelle | 10.44 | 17.8% |
| Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. | 24.66 | 60.9% |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | - | - |
| Sanchez Devanny Eseverri, S.C. | 4.3 | 12% |
| VILA | - | - |
| Von Wobeser y Sierra | 17.73 | 31.8% |
| White & Case | 31.04 | 80.7% |
Peru
Pro bono in Peru is still emerging and growing. Since the Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas in 2008, the pro bono movement in the country has been expanding to a wider array of matters and acquiring a formal structure, leading to the creation of Alianza Pro Bono, a local network established by the largest law firms in the country, and now a leading voice championing pro bono in Peru.
Six Peruvian law firms participated in the 2022 Index, with 20 percent of fee earners providing an average of 6.9 hours and 12 percent providing ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners rendered an average of 10.3 hours of pro bono, with 25 percent of partners at responding firms reporting pro bono participation and 12 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. All firms (100 percent) indicated the presence of at least one element of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was employment at 83 percent, access to justice followed at 50 percent, then aid and development, economic development, microfinance and social finance and human rights, all at 33 percent.
Six Peruvian law firms participated in the 2022 Index, with 20 percent of fee earners providing an average of 6.9 hours and 12 percent providing ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners rendered an average of 10.3 hours of pro bono, with 25 percent of partners at responding firms reporting pro bono participation and 12 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. All firms (100 percent) indicated the presence of at least one element of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was employment at 83 percent, access to justice followed at 50 percent, then aid and development, economic development, microfinance and social finance and human rights, all at 33 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Dentons | 3.98 | 16.7% |
| Estudio Osterling | - | - |
| GARCIA SAYAN ABOGADOS | 8.91 | 25% |
| LEON E IPARRAGUIRRE ABOGADOS | - | - |
| Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría | 5.41 | 18.4% |
| Rodrigo, Elias y Medrano Abogados | 7.35 | 6% |
Asia & Pacific
The Index received submissions from 167 law firms in 22 countries across Asia and the Pacific region in comparison to 151 firms from 20 jurisdictions in 2020. The total number of pro bono hours by responding firms in this region were 94,447.
Fee earners recorded an average of 6.2 hours of pro bono, with 17 percent going over the ten-hour mark. 20 percent of partners recorded an average of 6.6 pro bono hours with 14 percent reporting ten or more hours. The pro bono landscape in the region continues to vary with some countries registering high rates of engagement.
With respect to pro bono infrastructure, 88 percent of responding firms reported the presence of an element of pro bono infrastructure, with 100 percent of the Large and Medium-sized Firms reporting some elements and Small Firms at 70 percent. 58 percent of the responding firms reported the presence of a formal pro bono policy, and 19 percent had a formal diversity commitment.
In order of ranking, pro bono services within the region were offered to registered charities and non-profits at 82 percent, individuals in need at 72 percent and social enterprises at 66.7 percent. Pro bono work was sourced mainly directly from individuals at 64 percent, followed by local law societies and bar associations at 52 percent and legal clinics at 45 percent.
The top five most selected focus areas for pro bono among firms in the region were access to justice at 57 percent, immigration, refugees and asylum at 46 percent, economic development, micro finance and social finance at 34 percent, employment at 33 percent and human rights at 31 percent.
We anticipate that the presence of robust pro bono infrastructure in the firms and sustained initiatives including the annual Asia Pro Bono Conference (APBC) and Asia Pacific Pro Bono Summit will promote pro bono practice in this region in the coming years.
Fee earners recorded an average of 6.2 hours of pro bono, with 17 percent going over the ten-hour mark. 20 percent of partners recorded an average of 6.6 pro bono hours with 14 percent reporting ten or more hours. The pro bono landscape in the region continues to vary with some countries registering high rates of engagement.
With respect to pro bono infrastructure, 88 percent of responding firms reported the presence of an element of pro bono infrastructure, with 100 percent of the Large and Medium-sized Firms reporting some elements and Small Firms at 70 percent. 58 percent of the responding firms reported the presence of a formal pro bono policy, and 19 percent had a formal diversity commitment.
In order of ranking, pro bono services within the region were offered to registered charities and non-profits at 82 percent, individuals in need at 72 percent and social enterprises at 66.7 percent. Pro bono work was sourced mainly directly from individuals at 64 percent, followed by local law societies and bar associations at 52 percent and legal clinics at 45 percent.
The top five most selected focus areas for pro bono among firms in the region were access to justice at 57 percent, immigration, refugees and asylum at 46 percent, economic development, micro finance and social finance at 34 percent, employment at 33 percent and human rights at 31 percent.
We anticipate that the presence of robust pro bono infrastructure in the firms and sustained initiatives including the annual Asia Pro Bono Conference (APBC) and Asia Pacific Pro Bono Summit will promote pro bono practice in this region in the coming years.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S & Associates | Bangladesh | 4.8 | 40% |
| Dr Kamal Hossain and Associates | Bangladesh | 88.16 | 100% |
| Grays Chambers | Bangladesh | 16 | 25% |
| Husky and Partners Law Firm | Cambodia | 1 | 20% |
| SokSiphana&associates | Cambodia | - | 100% |
| Accenture | China | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | China | 1.38 | 12.5% |
| Allen & Overy | China | 5.39 | 10.6% |
| Arnold & Porter | China | 13.53 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | China | 0.64 | 0% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | China | 0 | 0% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | China | 8.8 | 20% |
| DLA Piper | China | 5.16 | 12% |
| Dechert LLP | China | 33 | 100% |
| Dentons | China | 0.27 | 0.2% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | China | 5.81 | 4.2% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | China | 18.33 | 66.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | China | 0.67 | 0% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | China | 0 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | China | 8 | 15% |
| Linklaters LLP | China | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | China | 21.29 | 57.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | China | 13.15 | 30.8% |
| Orrick | China | 52.29 | 100% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | China | 30.71 | 71.4% |
| Reed Smith | China | 35.03 | 32.2% |
| Ropes & Gray | China | 30.27 | 100% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | China | 12.83 | 25% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | China | 1.01 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | China | 14.47 | 24.4% |
| Steptoe | China | 10.29 | 57.1% |
| White & Case | China | 3.96 | 12.5% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | China | 49.6 | 75% |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Hong Kong | 40.9 | 57.9% |
| Allen & Overy | Hong Kong | 7.34 | 15.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | Hong Kong | 3.05 | 10.1% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Hong Kong | 0.06 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | Hong Kong | 28.02 | 40.6% |
| Dechert LLP | Hong Kong | 91.57 | 100% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | Hong Kong | 1 | 5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Hong Kong | 24.52 | 35.9% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Hong Kong | 40.62 | 64.3% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | Hong Kong | 0.96 | 2.6% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Hong Kong | 3.03 | 10.4% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Hong Kong | 13.06 | 39.1% |
| Linklaters LLP | Hong Kong | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Hong Kong | 21.91 | 42% |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | Hong Kong | 27.95 | 79.6% |
| Morrison Foerster | Hong Kong | 13.92 | 20% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Hong Kong | 8.63 | 12.5% |
| Reed Smith | Hong Kong | 6.59 | 10.1% |
| Ropes & Gray | Hong Kong | 19.37 | 47.4% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Hong Kong | 4.95 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Hong Kong | 10.66 | 22.5% |
| Steptoe | Hong Kong | 36.2 | 40% |
| White & Case | Hong Kong | 19.41 | 67.6% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | Hong Kong | - | - |
| Accenture | India | - | - |
| Altacit Global | India | 83.33 | 20.8% |
| Ashu Thakur & Associates | India | 11.25 | 25% |
| BTG Legal | India | 0 | 0% |
| Durgesh Gupta & Associate | India | 1 | 100% |
| J Sagar Associates | India | 3.8 | 3.1% |
| KIAA,LLP | India | 1.67 | 16.7% |
| RNA Technology & IP Attorneys | India | 1.6 | 8% |
| SAIKAT BARDHAN | India | - | - |
| Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co. | India | 0.47 | 1.1% |
| Adnan Kelana Haryanto & Hermanto | Indonesia | 11.11 | 22.2% |
| Allen & Overy | Indonesia | 14.1 | 53.9% |
| Ashurst LLP | Indonesia | 29.99 | 44.4% |
| Linklaters LLP | Indonesia | - | - |
| White & Case | Indonesia | 28.1 | 80% |
| Accenture | Japan | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Japan | 16.33 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | Japan | 7.75 | 11.1% |
| DLA Piper | Japan | 27.27 | 42.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Japan | 15.35 | 17.4% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Japan | 14.46 | 4.6% |
| Latham & Watkins | Japan | 53.7 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | Japan | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Japan | 10.13 | 25% |
| Morrison Foerster | Japan | 36.03 | 41% |
| Orrick | Japan | 213.23 | 91.7% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Japan | 84.4 | 80% |
| Ropes & Gray | Japan | 12.3 | 20% |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | Japan | - | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Japan | 40.25 | 21.4% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Japan | 0.42 | 0% |
| White & Case | Japan | 19.51 | 58.5% |
| Dentons | Kazakhstan | 27.79 | 50% |
| Reed Smith | Kazakhstan | 0 | 0% |
| Kinstellar | Kazakhstan | 0.38 | 0% |
| White & Case | Kazakhstan | 65.8 | 100% |
| Kalikova & Associates | Kyrgyzstan | - | - |
| Accenture | Malaysia | - | - |
| Christopher & Lee Ong | Malaysia | - | 1.1% |
| MahWengKwai & Associates | Malaysia | 1.44 | 11.1% |
| Pradhan & Associates Pvt. Ltd. | Nepal | 3.33 | 16.7% |
| Prime Law Associates | Nepal | - | - |
| DLA Piper | New Zealand | 26.26 | 51.1% |
| Dentons | New Zealand | 11.85 | 35.2% |
| Simpson Grierson | New Zealand | 16.39 | 39.8% |
| Minhas Law Associates Ltd. | Pakistan | 16.67 | 83.3% |
| Ashurst LLP | Papua New Guinea | 4.82 | 10% |
| Accenture | Philippines | - | - |
| Puyat Jacinto & Santos | Philippines | 0.6 | 4% |
| SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan | Philippines | 1.7 | 3.5% |
| Tiongco Siao Bello and Associates | Philippines | 8.82 | - |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Russia | 0 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | Russia | 19.65 | 4.1% |
| Dechert LLP | Russia | 104 | 100% |
| Dentons | Russia | 1 | 3.5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Russia | 17.26 | 19.2% |
| Latham & Watkins | Russia | 52.73 | 88.5% |
| Linklaters LLP | Russia | - | - |
| Accenture | Singapore | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Singapore | 36 | 57.1% |
| Allen & Overy | Singapore | 10.41 | 18.2% |
| Ashurst LLP | Singapore | 1.03 | 2.4% |
| DLA Piper | Singapore | 6.96 | 21.7% |
| Dechert LLP | Singapore | 62.2 | 100% |
| Dentons | Singapore | - | - |
| Duane Morris LLP | Singapore | 10.56 | 22.2% |
| Eugene Thuraisingam LLP | Singapore | - | 100% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Singapore | 31.94 | 33.3% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Singapore | 58.53 | 63.2% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Singapore | 41.73 | 46.7% |
| Linklaters LLP | Singapore | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Singapore | 8.95 | 19.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | Singapore | 16.3 | 39.1% |
| Nakoorsha Law Corporation | Singapore | 100 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | Singapore | 23.41 | 36.1% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Singapore | 16.07 | 39.1% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Singapore | 0.41 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Singapore | 17.75 | 66.7% |
| White & Case | Singapore | 20.81 | 72.1% |
| Arnold & Porter | South Korea | 15.65 | 50% |
| Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | South Korea | 25.08 | 30.6% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | South Korea | 1.7 | 10% |
| DLA Piper | South Korea | 1.4 | 0% |
| Jipyong LLC | South Korea | 30.7 | 66.1% |
| K&L Gates LLP | South Korea | 14.33 | 33.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | South Korea | - | - |
| Paul Hastings LLP | South Korea | 49.4 | 100% |
| Ropes & Gray | South Korea | 10.25 | 75% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | South Korea | 0 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | South Korea | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | South Korea | 7.91 | 36.4% |
| Sudath Perera Associates | Sri Lanka | 3.87 | 9.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Taiwan | 3.17 | 16.7% |
| Allen & Overy | Thailand | 9.03 | 24.2% |
| Anglo-Thai Legal | Thailand | 5 | 73.3% |
| DLA Piper | Thailand | 9.79 | 0% |
| Kudun and Partners | Thailand | - | - |
| Lanna Lawyers | Thailand | 62.5 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | Thailand | - | - |
| Pisut & Partners | Thailand | 1.71 | 7.1% |
| Dentons | Uzbekistan | 16.98 | 41.7% |
| Silvia | Uzbekistan | - | 0% |
| Allen & Overy | Vietnam | 1.73 | 4.6% |
| Duane Morris LLP | Vietnam | 6.14 | 21.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Vietnam | 13.25 | 25% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | Vietnam | 0 | 0% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Vietnam | 65.5 | 75% |
China
In China, the concept of pro bono is often connected to public interest services. The institutionalisation of pro bono in China is seen as an effort to develop professional responsibility amongst lawyers in China.
The All-China Lawyers Association (ACLA) plays a key role in developing pro bono services and instilling its values in Chinese legal professionals. The ACLA and local bar associations offer guidance and direction to legal professionals by making professional regulations and codes of conduct for lawyers.
Data from 29 responding law firms with offices in China shows that there was a good level of pro bono engagement despite China being one of the countries most affected by the pandemic and lockdowns. Fee earners reported an average of 13 hours of pro bono and 31 percent of them performed ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners reported engaging in some type of pro bono work. The average pro bono hours by partners stood at 19 hours, with 37 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
44 percent of firms in China stated that they required lawyers to perform a specified amount of pro bono each year, with 8 percent of them having a mandatory target. Moreover, 86 percent of the firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
Of participating firms, 32 percent shared that the impact of the pandemic resulted in a change in the firm’s pro bono priorities, with 28 percent of firms indicating that COVID-19 was one of their firm’s primary focus areas. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were immigration, refugees and asylum at 80 percent, access to justice at 68 percent, LGBT+ rights at 48 percent and human rights at 44 percent.
The All-China Lawyers Association (ACLA) plays a key role in developing pro bono services and instilling its values in Chinese legal professionals. The ACLA and local bar associations offer guidance and direction to legal professionals by making professional regulations and codes of conduct for lawyers.
Data from 29 responding law firms with offices in China shows that there was a good level of pro bono engagement despite China being one of the countries most affected by the pandemic and lockdowns. Fee earners reported an average of 13 hours of pro bono and 31 percent of them performed ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners reported engaging in some type of pro bono work. The average pro bono hours by partners stood at 19 hours, with 37 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
44 percent of firms in China stated that they required lawyers to perform a specified amount of pro bono each year, with 8 percent of them having a mandatory target. Moreover, 86 percent of the firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
Of participating firms, 32 percent shared that the impact of the pandemic resulted in a change in the firm’s pro bono priorities, with 28 percent of firms indicating that COVID-19 was one of their firm’s primary focus areas. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were immigration, refugees and asylum at 80 percent, access to justice at 68 percent, LGBT+ rights at 48 percent and human rights at 44 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 1.38 | 12.5% |
| Allen & Overy | 5.39 | 10.6% |
| Arnold & Porter | 13.53 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | 0.64 | 0% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | 8.8 | 20% |
| DLA Piper | 5.16 | 12% |
| Dechert LLP | 33 | 100% |
| Dentons | 0.27 | 0.2% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 5.81 | 4.2% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 18.33 | 66.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 0.67 | 0% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 8 | 15% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 21.29 | 57.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | 13.15 | 30.8% |
| Orrick | 52.29 | 100% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 30.71 | 71.4% |
| Reed Smith | 35.03 | 32.2% |
| Ropes & Gray | 30.27 | 100% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 12.83 | 25% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 1.01 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 14.47 | 24.4% |
| Steptoe | 10.29 | 57.1% |
| White & Case | 3.96 | 12.5% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | 49.6 | 75% |
Hong Kong
While there are no mandated pro bono hour requirements in Hong Kong, the cost of legal counsel and limits of the government-funded legal aid system mean there is significant need for pro bono legal assistance.
Many law firms are working to strengthen their pro bono structures. Particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many global firms, local firms, and barristers stepped up their pro bono services. Data from firms in Hong Kong shows that 25 percent have an aspirational pro bono target, with 16 percent of the firms reporting the presence of pro bono infrastructure. There are numerous pro bono partnership programmes run by NGOs such as the Justice Centre Hong Kong and PILnet that partner with law firms to assist with their casework in exchange for training in human rights law to volunteer lawyers from the firms.
Data from 25 firms in Hong Kong showed that fee earners performed an average of 18.1 hours of pro bono and the percentage of fee earners who performed ten or more hours stood at 46 percent. 31 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and they, on average, performed 12.8 hours.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were access to justice and immigration, refugees and asylum at 100 percent, followed by human rights at 75 percent, COVID-19, disability rights and economic development, microfinance and social finance, each at 50 percent.
Many law firms are working to strengthen their pro bono structures. Particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many global firms, local firms, and barristers stepped up their pro bono services. Data from firms in Hong Kong shows that 25 percent have an aspirational pro bono target, with 16 percent of the firms reporting the presence of pro bono infrastructure. There are numerous pro bono partnership programmes run by NGOs such as the Justice Centre Hong Kong and PILnet that partner with law firms to assist with their casework in exchange for training in human rights law to volunteer lawyers from the firms.
Data from 25 firms in Hong Kong showed that fee earners performed an average of 18.1 hours of pro bono and the percentage of fee earners who performed ten or more hours stood at 46 percent. 31 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and they, on average, performed 12.8 hours.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were access to justice and immigration, refugees and asylum at 100 percent, followed by human rights at 75 percent, COVID-19, disability rights and economic development, microfinance and social finance, each at 50 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 40.9 | 57.9% |
| Allen & Overy | 7.34 | 15.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | 3.05 | 10.1% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 0.06 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | 28.02 | 40.6% |
| Dechert LLP | 91.57 | 100% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 1 | 5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 24.52 | 35.9% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 40.62 | 64.3% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 0.96 | 2.6% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 3.03 | 10.4% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 13.06 | 39.1% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 21.91 | 42% |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | 27.95 | 79.6% |
| Morrison Foerster | 13.92 | 20% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 8.63 | 12.5% |
| Reed Smith | 6.59 | 10.1% |
| Ropes & Gray | 19.37 | 47.4% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 4.95 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 10.66 | 22.5% |
| Steptoe | 36.2 | 40% |
| White & Case | 19.41 | 67.6% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | - | - |
India
India has a decades-old practice of providing legal aid with the right to free legal aid is enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Yet private lawyers are not mandated to provide pro bono support or report pro bono work. Increasingly, law firms and corporate in-house teams are setting up pro bono infrastructure, but most do not set pro bono requirements for associates and scaling up remains an issue. There are NGOs that provide pro bono legal services such as the Lawyers Collective, the Human Rights Law Network, the Alternative Law Forum, and Majlis. In 2017, the Department of Justice launched a tele-law mobile application “Nyaya Bandhu” with the aim of establishing a framework for pro bono legal services in the country. As of July 2022, 4,454 advocates had signed up to volunteer their time and services to eligible marginalised beneficiaries.
Eleven firms in India submitted data for the 2022 Index, up from eight in 2020. The data indicates that 6 percent of fee earners rendered an average of 2.24 hours of pro bono, with 7 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 39.4 percent, averaging 3.4 hours of pro bono with 12 percent volunteering ten or more hours of pro bono. 81 percent of the firms indicated the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among Indian firms were economic development, microfinance and social finance at 67 percent, followed by access to justice, aid and development and employment at 46 percent.
Eleven firms in India submitted data for the 2022 Index, up from eight in 2020. The data indicates that 6 percent of fee earners rendered an average of 2.24 hours of pro bono, with 7 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 39.4 percent, averaging 3.4 hours of pro bono with 12 percent volunteering ten or more hours of pro bono. 81 percent of the firms indicated the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among Indian firms were economic development, microfinance and social finance at 67 percent, followed by access to justice, aid and development and employment at 46 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Altacit Global | 83.33 | 20.8% |
| Ashu Thakur & Associates | 11.25 | 25% |
| BTG Legal | 0 | 0% |
| Durgesh Gupta & Associate | 1 | 100% |
| J Sagar Associates | 3.8 | 3.1% |
| KIAA,LLP | 1.67 | 16.7% |
| RNA Technology & IP Attorneys | 1.6 | 8% |
| SAIKAT BARDHAN | - | - |
| Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co. | 0.47 | 1.1% |
Japan
Japan has a strong system of legal aid but a relatively young pro bono culture, which is still growing. Japanese attorneys are not required by law to perform a certain number of hours of pro bono work, and there are other governmental or non-governmental organizations that provide access to justice for free or at a low cost, such as the Japan Legal Support Center (JLSC), Duty Attorney Systems, legal counselling centres established by local bar associations, and legal expenses insurance initiated by the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA).
Law firms increasingly contribute to pro bono schemes and make it a requirement for their lawyers as well.
We saw an increase in the number of submitting firms from 13 in 2020 to 17 in 2022. As in 2020, our contributors were all international firms with offices in Japan. Our data indicates average pro bono hours among the 40 percent of fee earners who rendered any pro bono was 27.5 hours. 30.4 percent of them preformed ten or more hours of pro bono. 33 percent of partners engaged in pro bono work, at an average rate of 17.7 hours, with 19 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
Law firms increasingly contribute to pro bono schemes and make it a requirement for their lawyers as well.
We saw an increase in the number of submitting firms from 13 in 2020 to 17 in 2022. As in 2020, our contributors were all international firms with offices in Japan. Our data indicates average pro bono hours among the 40 percent of fee earners who rendered any pro bono was 27.5 hours. 30.4 percent of them preformed ten or more hours of pro bono. 33 percent of partners engaged in pro bono work, at an average rate of 17.7 hours, with 19 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 16.33 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | 7.75 | 11.1% |
| DLA Piper | 27.27 | 42.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 15.35 | 17.4% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 14.46 | 4.6% |
| Latham & Watkins | 53.7 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 10.13 | 25% |
| Morrison Foerster | 36.03 | 41% |
| Orrick | 213.23 | 91.7% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 84.4 | 80% |
| Ropes & Gray | 12.3 | 20% |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | - | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 40.25 | 21.4% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0.42 | 0% |
| White & Case | 19.51 | 58.5% |
Singapore
In Singapore, the government is prominent in the legal landscape. It plays a significant role in access to justice by funding legal aid and promoting and encouraging pro bono, together with organisations like the Law Society Pro Bono Services and the Community Justice Centre.
With the support of the Law Society Pro Bono Services, a registered charity, the Joint International Pro Bono Committee was set up, which is an initiative of a group of international and Singaporean law practices. The purpose of the committee is to match interested Singapore and international law practices with cross-border pro bono opportunities involving economic and social development in emerging markets.5 The Law Society also offers several schemes to help law firms optimise their pro bono services. All responding firms in Singapore indicated that they source pro bono work through local law societies or bar associations. Lawyers also have opportunities to get involved in pro bono by volunteering at legal clinics run by many NGOs such as AWARE, Singapore Association of Women Lawyers, Special Needs Trust Company and others.
22 firms from Singapore submitted data for the 2022 Index. Fee earners from these firms performed an average of 18.8 hours, with 45 percent performed ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners reported an average of 17 hours of pro bono and 43 percent of them engaged in some type of pro bono work.
With the support of the Law Society Pro Bono Services, a registered charity, the Joint International Pro Bono Committee was set up, which is an initiative of a group of international and Singaporean law practices. The purpose of the committee is to match interested Singapore and international law practices with cross-border pro bono opportunities involving economic and social development in emerging markets.5 The Law Society also offers several schemes to help law firms optimise their pro bono services. All responding firms in Singapore indicated that they source pro bono work through local law societies or bar associations. Lawyers also have opportunities to get involved in pro bono by volunteering at legal clinics run by many NGOs such as AWARE, Singapore Association of Women Lawyers, Special Needs Trust Company and others.
22 firms from Singapore submitted data for the 2022 Index. Fee earners from these firms performed an average of 18.8 hours, with 45 percent performed ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners reported an average of 17 hours of pro bono and 43 percent of them engaged in some type of pro bono work.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 36 | 57.1% |
| Allen & Overy | 10.41 | 18.2% |
| Ashurst LLP | 1.03 | 2.4% |
| DLA Piper | 6.96 | 21.7% |
| Dechert LLP | 62.2 | 100% |
| Dentons | - | - |
| Duane Morris LLP | 10.56 | 22.2% |
| Eugene Thuraisingam LLP | - | 100% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 31.94 | 33.3% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 58.53 | 63.2% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 41.73 | 46.7% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 8.95 | 19.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | 16.3 | 39.1% |
| Nakoorsha Law Corporation | 100 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | 23.41 | 36.1% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 16.07 | 39.1% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 0.41 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 17.75 | 66.7% |
| White & Case | 20.81 | 72.1% |
South Korea
Since 2000, lawyers in South Korea have been mandated to provide a minimum of 30 pro bono hours, with some exceptions for unusual circumstances. Many public interest lawyers' organisations are emerging that also provide pro bono services. Examples include Advocates for Public Interest Law, GongGam Human Rights Foundation, Korean Lawyers for Public Interest and Human Rights.
We received submissions from 12 firms, a 50 percent increase in participation from 2020 from South Korea. We see strong engagement in pro bono from fee earners at a rate of 70 percent, and an average of 26.2 hours of pro bono, with 43 percent rendering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners are highly engaged in pro bono, at a rate of 77 percent, and reported an average of 33.9 hours of pro bono, with 55 percent of partners crossing the ten-hour mark.
We received submissions from 12 firms, a 50 percent increase in participation from 2020 from South Korea. We see strong engagement in pro bono from fee earners at a rate of 70 percent, and an average of 26.2 hours of pro bono, with 43 percent rendering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners are highly engaged in pro bono, at a rate of 77 percent, and reported an average of 33.9 hours of pro bono, with 55 percent of partners crossing the ten-hour mark.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Arnold & Porter | 15.65 | 50% |
| Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | 25.08 | 30.6% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 1.7 | 10% |
| DLA Piper | 1.4 | 0% |
| Jipyong LLC | 30.7 | 66.1% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 14.33 | 33.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 49.4 | 100% |
| Ropes & Gray | 10.25 | 75% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | 7.91 | 36.4% |
Thailand
In Thailand, the legal pro bono culture is not formalised, and is driven mostly through referrals provided by non-profit organisations and a willingness of legal professionals to respond to the need. Pro bono legal services are provided by a mix of law firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Thai bar associations, and university legal clinics.
There are no specific laws to regulate pro bono in Thailand or to require lawyers to provide a minimum number of pro bono hours. A new generation of Thai lawyers is showing growing interest in pro bono, however, and there is an opportunity for law firms to develop more consistent pro bono practice to meet and maintain this interest.
Promisingly, nine firms participated in this Index, up from six firms in 2020. Our data shows that 25.9 percent of fee earners offered an average of 9.5 hours with 24 percent performing ten or more hours. The 24 percent of partners engaged in pro bono performing an average of 3.4 hours, with 12 percent of them doing ten or more hours. Three firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure, and the most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was COVID-19.
There are no specific laws to regulate pro bono in Thailand or to require lawyers to provide a minimum number of pro bono hours. A new generation of Thai lawyers is showing growing interest in pro bono, however, and there is an opportunity for law firms to develop more consistent pro bono practice to meet and maintain this interest.
Promisingly, nine firms participated in this Index, up from six firms in 2020. Our data shows that 25.9 percent of fee earners offered an average of 9.5 hours with 24 percent performing ten or more hours. The 24 percent of partners engaged in pro bono performing an average of 3.4 hours, with 12 percent of them doing ten or more hours. Three firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure, and the most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was COVID-19.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 9.03 | 24.2% |
| Anglo-Thai Legal | 5 | 73.3% |
| DLA Piper | 9.79 | 0% |
| Kudun and Partners | - | - |
| Lanna Lawyers | 62.5 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Pisut & Partners | 1.71 | 7.1% |
| SokSiphana&associates | - | 100% |
Vietnam
Vietnam has institutionalised the practice of pro bono. Lawyers are mandated to provide a minimum of four hours of legal pro bono per year and the Ministry of Justice gives awards to lawyers for their pro bono legal services. Beyond the mandated hours, the number of pro bono hours dedicated largely depends on law firm culture. In addition, organisations such as Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE) work with universities, law students, law faculties, and members of the legal community to raise awareness of pro bono initiatives.
For the 2022 Index, six firms submitted responses on pro bono practices in the country, including two domestic firms. Fee earners performed an average of 7 hours of pro bono and 14 percent of fee earners performed ten or more hours of pro bono. The country saw relatively strong partner engagement, with 56 percent of partners working in these firms participating in pro bono work, each contributing an average of 9 hours of pro bono.
For the 2022 Index, six firms submitted responses on pro bono practices in the country, including two domestic firms. Fee earners performed an average of 7 hours of pro bono and 14 percent of fee earners performed ten or more hours of pro bono. The country saw relatively strong partner engagement, with 56 percent of partners working in these firms participating in pro bono work, each contributing an average of 9 hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 1.73 | 4.6% |
| Duane Morris LLP | 6.14 | 21.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 13.25 | 25% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | 0 | 0% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 65.5 | 75% |
| SokSiphana&associates | - | - |
Australia
Australia has a well-developed pro bono culture, one that functions through the will of the legal fraternity, rather than through legal mandates. A structured approach to pro bono in Australia has developed over the past 15 years and is supported widely by government and non-government agencies. In 2007, the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target (better known as National Pro Bono Target) for lawyers, of 35 hours per lawyer was established.
Although pro bono legal services are still voluntary, the large network of Australian organizations that support the strategic delivery of pro bono legal services provides those in need with greater access to justice. In 2020 the Australian Pro Bono Centre, in consultation with the In-house Pro Bono Steering Committee, opened the National Pro Bono Target to in-house signatories. This allows in-house lawyers to commit to performing at least 20 hours of pro bono legal services per year.
Responding firms from Australia reported a total of 128,558 hours, delivered by Large Firms at 138,404.7 hours and 50 hours by Small Firms.
Among responding firms, fee earners recorded an average of 42 hours, at a rate of engagement of 66 percent, with 41 percent of those engaged in pro bono offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged at a rate of 53 percent and provided an average of 15.2 hours of pro bono, with 21 percent of those engaged in pro bono going over ten hours. The average fee earner reported 25.2 hours of pro bono on average, with 41 percent performing ten or more hours.
Although pro bono legal services are still voluntary, the large network of Australian organizations that support the strategic delivery of pro bono legal services provides those in need with greater access to justice. In 2020 the Australian Pro Bono Centre, in consultation with the In-house Pro Bono Steering Committee, opened the National Pro Bono Target to in-house signatories. This allows in-house lawyers to commit to performing at least 20 hours of pro bono legal services per year.
Responding firms from Australia reported a total of 128,558 hours, delivered by Large Firms at 138,404.7 hours and 50 hours by Small Firms.
Among responding firms, fee earners recorded an average of 42 hours, at a rate of engagement of 66 percent, with 41 percent of those engaged in pro bono offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged at a rate of 53 percent and provided an average of 15.2 hours of pro bono, with 21 percent of those engaged in pro bono going over ten hours. The average fee earner reported 25.2 hours of pro bono on average, with 41 percent performing ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture | Australia | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Australia | 22.52 | 56.1% |
| Ashurst LLP | Australia | 43.91 | 45.7% |
| DLA Piper | Australia | 53.82 | 43.6% |
| Dentons | Australia | 9.3 | 15.4% |
| Johnson Winter & Slattery | Australia | 46.8 | 52.8% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Australia | 17.77 | 40.9% |
| King & Wood Mallesons | Australia | 56.71 | 37.9% |
| Lanna Lawyers | Australia | ||
| White & Case | Australia | 39.32 | 71.2% |
China
In China, the concept of pro bono is often connected to public interest services. The institutionalisation of pro bono in China is seen as an effort to develop professional responsibility amongst lawyers in China.
The All-China Lawyers Association (ACLA) plays a key role in developing pro bono services and instilling its values in Chinese legal professionals. The ACLA and local bar associations offer guidance and direction to legal professionals by making professional regulations and codes of conduct for lawyers.
Data from 29 responding law firms with offices in China shows that there was a good level of pro bono engagement despite China being one of the countries most affected by the pandemic and lockdowns. Fee earners reported an average of 13 hours of pro bono and 31 percent of them performed ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners reported engaging in some type of pro bono work. The average pro bono hours by partners stood at 19 hours, with 37 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
44 percent of firms in China stated that they required lawyers to perform a specified amount of pro bono each year, with 8 percent of them having a mandatory target. Moreover, 86 percent of the firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
Of participating firms, 32 percent shared that the impact of the pandemic resulted in a change in the firm’s pro bono priorities, with 28 percent of firms indicating that COVID-19 was one of their firm’s primary focus areas. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were immigration, refugees and asylum at 80 percent, access to justice at 68 percent, LGBT+ rights at 48 percent and human rights at 44 percent.
The All-China Lawyers Association (ACLA) plays a key role in developing pro bono services and instilling its values in Chinese legal professionals. The ACLA and local bar associations offer guidance and direction to legal professionals by making professional regulations and codes of conduct for lawyers.
Data from 29 responding law firms with offices in China shows that there was a good level of pro bono engagement despite China being one of the countries most affected by the pandemic and lockdowns. Fee earners reported an average of 13 hours of pro bono and 31 percent of them performed ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners reported engaging in some type of pro bono work. The average pro bono hours by partners stood at 19 hours, with 37 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
44 percent of firms in China stated that they required lawyers to perform a specified amount of pro bono each year, with 8 percent of them having a mandatory target. Moreover, 86 percent of the firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure.
Of participating firms, 32 percent shared that the impact of the pandemic resulted in a change in the firm’s pro bono priorities, with 28 percent of firms indicating that COVID-19 was one of their firm’s primary focus areas. The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were immigration, refugees and asylum at 80 percent, access to justice at 68 percent, LGBT+ rights at 48 percent and human rights at 44 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 1.38 | 12.5% |
| Allen & Overy | 5.39 | 10.6% |
| Arnold & Porter | 13.53 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | 0.64 | 0% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | 8.8 | 20% |
| DLA Piper | 5.16 | 12% |
| Dechert LLP | 33 | 100% |
| Dentons | 0.27 | 0.2% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 5.81 | 4.2% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 18.33 | 66.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 0.67 | 0% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 8 | 15% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 21.29 | 57.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | 13.15 | 30.8% |
| Orrick | 52.29 | 100% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 30.71 | 71.4% |
| Reed Smith | 35.03 | 32.2% |
| Ropes & Gray | 30.27 | 100% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 12.83 | 25% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 1.01 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 14.47 | 24.4% |
| Steptoe | 10.29 | 57.1% |
| White & Case | 3.96 | 12.5% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | 49.6 | 75% |
Hong Kong
While there are no mandated pro bono hour requirements in Hong Kong, the cost of legal counsel and limits of the government-funded legal aid system mean there is significant need for pro bono legal assistance.
Many law firms are working to strengthen their pro bono structures. Particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many global firms, local firms, and barristers stepped up their pro bono services. Data from firms in Hong Kong shows that 25 percent have an aspirational pro bono target, with 16 percent of the firms reporting the presence of pro bono infrastructure. There are numerous pro bono partnership programmes run by NGOs such as the Justice Centre Hong Kong and PILnet that partner with law firms to assist with their casework in exchange for training in human rights law to volunteer lawyers from the firms.
Data from 25 firms in Hong Kong showed that fee earners performed an average of 18.1 hours of pro bono and the percentage of fee earners who performed ten or more hours stood at 46 percent. 31 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and they, on average, performed 12.8 hours.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were access to justice and immigration, refugees and asylum at 100 percent, followed by human rights at 75 percent, COVID-19, disability rights and economic development, microfinance and social finance, each at 50 percent.
Many law firms are working to strengthen their pro bono structures. Particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, many global firms, local firms, and barristers stepped up their pro bono services. Data from firms in Hong Kong shows that 25 percent have an aspirational pro bono target, with 16 percent of the firms reporting the presence of pro bono infrastructure. There are numerous pro bono partnership programmes run by NGOs such as the Justice Centre Hong Kong and PILnet that partner with law firms to assist with their casework in exchange for training in human rights law to volunteer lawyers from the firms.
Data from 25 firms in Hong Kong showed that fee earners performed an average of 18.1 hours of pro bono and the percentage of fee earners who performed ten or more hours stood at 46 percent. 31 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and they, on average, performed 12.8 hours.
The most selected areas of pro bono focus among responding firms were access to justice and immigration, refugees and asylum at 100 percent, followed by human rights at 75 percent, COVID-19, disability rights and economic development, microfinance and social finance, each at 50 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 40.9 | 57.9% |
| Allen & Overy | 7.34 | 15.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | 3.05 | 10.1% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 0.06 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | 28.02 | 40.6% |
| Dechert LLP | 91.57 | 100% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 1 | 5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 24.52 | 35.9% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 40.62 | 64.3% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 0.96 | 2.6% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 3.03 | 10.4% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 13.06 | 39.1% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 21.91 | 42% |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | 27.95 | 79.6% |
| Morrison Foerster | 13.92 | 20% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 8.63 | 12.5% |
| Reed Smith | 6.59 | 10.1% |
| Ropes & Gray | 19.37 | 47.4% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 4.95 | 12.5% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 10.66 | 22.5% |
| Steptoe | 36.2 | 40% |
| White & Case | 19.41 | 67.6% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | - | - |
India
India has a decades-old practice of providing legal aid with the right to free legal aid is enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Yet private lawyers are not mandated to provide pro bono support or report pro bono work. Increasingly, law firms and corporate in-house teams are setting up pro bono infrastructure, but most do not set pro bono requirements for associates and scaling up remains an issue. There are NGOs that provide pro bono legal services such as the Lawyers Collective, the Human Rights Law Network, the Alternative Law Forum, and Majlis. In 2017, the Department of Justice launched a tele-law mobile application “Nyaya Bandhu” with the aim of establishing a framework for pro bono legal services in the country. As of July 2022, 4,454 advocates had signed up to volunteer their time and services to eligible marginalised beneficiaries.
Eleven firms in India submitted data for the 2022 Index, up from eight in 2020. The data indicates that 6 percent of fee earners rendered an average of 2.24 hours of pro bono, with 7 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 39.4 percent, averaging 3.4 hours of pro bono with 12 percent volunteering ten or more hours of pro bono. 81 percent of the firms indicated the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among Indian firms were economic development, microfinance and social finance at 67 percent, followed by access to justice, aid and development and employment at 46 percent.
Eleven firms in India submitted data for the 2022 Index, up from eight in 2020. The data indicates that 6 percent of fee earners rendered an average of 2.24 hours of pro bono, with 7 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 39.4 percent, averaging 3.4 hours of pro bono with 12 percent volunteering ten or more hours of pro bono. 81 percent of the firms indicated the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among Indian firms were economic development, microfinance and social finance at 67 percent, followed by access to justice, aid and development and employment at 46 percent.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Altacit Global | 83.33 | 20.8% |
| Ashu Thakur & Associates | 11.25 | 25% |
| BTG Legal | 0 | 0% |
| Durgesh Gupta & Associate | 1 | 100% |
| J Sagar Associates | 3.8 | 3.1% |
| KIAA,LLP | 1.67 | 16.7% |
| RNA Technology & IP Attorneys | 1.6 | 8% |
| SAIKAT BARDHAN | - | - |
| Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co. | 0.47 | 1.1% |
Japan
Japan has a strong system of legal aid but a relatively young pro bono culture, which is still growing. Japanese attorneys are not required by law to perform a certain number of hours of pro bono work, and there are other governmental or non-governmental organizations that provide access to justice for free or at a low cost, such as the Japan Legal Support Center (JLSC), Duty Attorney Systems, legal counselling centres established by local bar associations, and legal expenses insurance initiated by the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA).
Law firms increasingly contribute to pro bono schemes and make it a requirement for their lawyers as well.
We saw an increase in the number of submitting firms from 13 in 2020 to 17 in 2022. As in 2020, our contributors were all international firms with offices in Japan. Our data indicates average pro bono hours among the 40 percent of fee earners who rendered any pro bono was 27.5 hours. 30.4 percent of them preformed ten or more hours of pro bono. 33 percent of partners engaged in pro bono work, at an average rate of 17.7 hours, with 19 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
Law firms increasingly contribute to pro bono schemes and make it a requirement for their lawyers as well.
We saw an increase in the number of submitting firms from 13 in 2020 to 17 in 2022. As in 2020, our contributors were all international firms with offices in Japan. Our data indicates average pro bono hours among the 40 percent of fee earners who rendered any pro bono was 27.5 hours. 30.4 percent of them preformed ten or more hours of pro bono. 33 percent of partners engaged in pro bono work, at an average rate of 17.7 hours, with 19 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 16.33 | 16.7% |
| Ashurst LLP | 7.75 | 11.1% |
| DLA Piper | 27.27 | 42.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 15.35 | 17.4% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 14.46 | 4.6% |
| Latham & Watkins | 53.7 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 10.13 | 25% |
| Morrison Foerster | 36.03 | 41% |
| Orrick | 213.23 | 91.7% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 84.4 | 80% |
| Ropes & Gray | 12.3 | 20% |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | - | - |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 40.25 | 21.4% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0.42 | 0% |
| White & Case | 19.51 | 58.5% |
Singapore
In Singapore, the government is prominent in the legal landscape. It plays a significant role in access to justice by funding legal aid and promoting and encouraging pro bono, together with organisations like the Law Society Pro Bono Services and the Community Justice Centre.
With the support of the Law Society Pro Bono Services, a registered charity, the Joint International Pro Bono Committee was set up, which is an initiative of a group of international and Singaporean law practices. The purpose of the committee is to match interested Singapore and international law practices with cross-border pro bono opportunities involving economic and social development in emerging markets.5 The Law Society also offers several schemes to help law firms optimise their pro bono services. All responding firms in Singapore indicated that they source pro bono work through local law societies or bar associations. Lawyers also have opportunities to get involved in pro bono by volunteering at legal clinics run by many NGOs such as AWARE, Singapore Association of Women Lawyers, Special Needs Trust Company and others.
22 firms from Singapore submitted data for the 2022 Index. Fee earners from these firms performed an average of 18.8 hours, with 45 percent performed ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners reported an average of 17 hours of pro bono and 43 percent of them engaged in some type of pro bono work.
With the support of the Law Society Pro Bono Services, a registered charity, the Joint International Pro Bono Committee was set up, which is an initiative of a group of international and Singaporean law practices. The purpose of the committee is to match interested Singapore and international law practices with cross-border pro bono opportunities involving economic and social development in emerging markets.5 The Law Society also offers several schemes to help law firms optimise their pro bono services. All responding firms in Singapore indicated that they source pro bono work through local law societies or bar associations. Lawyers also have opportunities to get involved in pro bono by volunteering at legal clinics run by many NGOs such as AWARE, Singapore Association of Women Lawyers, Special Needs Trust Company and others.
22 firms from Singapore submitted data for the 2022 Index. Fee earners from these firms performed an average of 18.8 hours, with 45 percent performed ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners reported an average of 17 hours of pro bono and 43 percent of them engaged in some type of pro bono work.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 36 | 57.1% |
| Allen & Overy | 10.41 | 18.2% |
| Ashurst LLP | 1.03 | 2.4% |
| DLA Piper | 6.96 | 21.7% |
| Dechert LLP | 62.2 | 100% |
| Dentons | - | - |
| Duane Morris LLP | 10.56 | 22.2% |
| Eugene Thuraisingam LLP | - | 100% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 31.94 | 33.3% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 58.53 | 63.2% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 41.73 | 46.7% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 8.95 | 19.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | 16.3 | 39.1% |
| Nakoorsha Law Corporation | 100 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | 23.41 | 36.1% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 16.07 | 39.1% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 0.41 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 17.75 | 66.7% |
| White & Case | 20.81 | 72.1% |
South Korea
Since 2000, lawyers in South Korea have been mandated to provide a minimum of 30 pro bono hours, with some exceptions for unusual circumstances. Many public interest lawyers' organisations are emerging that also provide pro bono services. Examples include Advocates for Public Interest Law, GongGam Human Rights Foundation, Korean Lawyers for Public Interest and Human Rights.
We received submissions from 12 firms, a 50 percent increase in participation from 2020 from South Korea. We see strong engagement in pro bono from fee earners at a rate of 70 percent, and an average of 26.2 hours of pro bono, with 43 percent rendering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners are highly engaged in pro bono, at a rate of 77 percent, and reported an average of 33.9 hours of pro bono, with 55 percent of partners crossing the ten-hour mark.
We received submissions from 12 firms, a 50 percent increase in participation from 2020 from South Korea. We see strong engagement in pro bono from fee earners at a rate of 70 percent, and an average of 26.2 hours of pro bono, with 43 percent rendering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners are highly engaged in pro bono, at a rate of 77 percent, and reported an average of 33.9 hours of pro bono, with 55 percent of partners crossing the ten-hour mark.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Arnold & Porter | 15.65 | 50% |
| Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | 25.08 | 30.6% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 1.7 | 10% |
| DLA Piper | 1.4 | 0% |
| Jipyong LLC | 30.7 | 66.1% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 14.33 | 33.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 49.4 | 100% |
| Ropes & Gray | 10.25 | 75% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | 7.91 | 36.4% |
Thailand
In Thailand, the legal pro bono culture is not formalised, and is driven mostly through referrals provided by non-profit organisations and a willingness of legal professionals to respond to the need. Pro bono legal services are provided by a mix of law firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Thai bar associations, and university legal clinics.
There are no specific laws to regulate pro bono in Thailand or to require lawyers to provide a minimum number of pro bono hours. A new generation of Thai lawyers is showing growing interest in pro bono, however, and there is an opportunity for law firms to develop more consistent pro bono practice to meet and maintain this interest.
Promisingly, nine firms participated in this Index, up from six firms in 2020. Our data shows that 25.9 percent of fee earners offered an average of 9.5 hours with 24 percent performing ten or more hours. The 24 percent of partners engaged in pro bono performing an average of 3.4 hours, with 12 percent of them doing ten or more hours. Three firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure, and the most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was COVID-19.
There are no specific laws to regulate pro bono in Thailand or to require lawyers to provide a minimum number of pro bono hours. A new generation of Thai lawyers is showing growing interest in pro bono, however, and there is an opportunity for law firms to develop more consistent pro bono practice to meet and maintain this interest.
Promisingly, nine firms participated in this Index, up from six firms in 2020. Our data shows that 25.9 percent of fee earners offered an average of 9.5 hours with 24 percent performing ten or more hours. The 24 percent of partners engaged in pro bono performing an average of 3.4 hours, with 12 percent of them doing ten or more hours. Three firms reported the presence of pro bono infrastructure, and the most selected area of pro bono focus among responding firms was COVID-19.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 9.03 | 24.2% |
| Anglo-Thai Legal | 5 | 73.3% |
| DLA Piper | 9.79 | 0% |
| Kudun and Partners | - | - |
| Lanna Lawyers | 62.5 | 100% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Pisut & Partners | 1.71 | 7.1% |
| SokSiphana&associates | - | 100% |
Vietnam
Vietnam has institutionalised the practice of pro bono. Lawyers are mandated to provide a minimum of four hours of legal pro bono per year and the Ministry of Justice gives awards to lawyers for their pro bono legal services. Beyond the mandated hours, the number of pro bono hours dedicated largely depends on law firm culture. In addition, organisations such as Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE) work with universities, law students, law faculties, and members of the legal community to raise awareness of pro bono initiatives.
For the 2022 Index, six firms submitted responses on pro bono practices in the country, including two domestic firms. Fee earners performed an average of 7 hours of pro bono and 14 percent of fee earners performed ten or more hours of pro bono. The country saw relatively strong partner engagement, with 56 percent of partners working in these firms participating in pro bono work, each contributing an average of 9 hours of pro bono.
For the 2022 Index, six firms submitted responses on pro bono practices in the country, including two domestic firms. Fee earners performed an average of 7 hours of pro bono and 14 percent of fee earners performed ten or more hours of pro bono. The country saw relatively strong partner engagement, with 56 percent of partners working in these firms participating in pro bono work, each contributing an average of 9 hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 1.73 | 4.6% |
| Duane Morris LLP | 6.14 | 21.4% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 13.25 | 25% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | 0 | 0% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 65.5 | 75% |
| SokSiphana&associates | - | - |
England & Wales
The success of pro bono in England and Wales is due in part to the support of robust infrastructure. In the last 20 years, several NGOs have been established to provide specialised pro bono opportunities to lawyers in England and Wales, ranging from international organisations to human rights focused services, from those sourcing pro bono opportunities for barristers in England and Wales to citizen advice centres offering legal clinics, and services specialised in sourcing corporate and commercial pro bono support for NGOs and social enterprises.
Law firms have also been proactive. In 2014, the UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono was set up to develop the UK’s pro bono infrastructure and encourage more law firms to commit to a minimum of 25 pro bono hours per fee earner per year. The Collaborative Plan has been increasing both in terms of membership – at the time of writing, over 60 leading national and international law firms were members – and in the amount of pro bono work completed by its members, with over 50 percent of lawyers engaged in pro bono (according to 2019 figures) . The success of the UK Collaborative Plan in increasing pro bono provision also inspired, in 2019, the creation of the In-House Pro Bono Group, an association of in-house counsel that aims to foster a pro bono culture among in-house lawyers .
The strong presence of pro bono within the legal profession in England and Wales is evident in the annual UK Pro Bono Week. In 2021, the 20th edition of the celebration featured more than 50 events and, for the first time, representatives from across the UK organised sessions .
Following years when social impact organisations and society have suffered the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turbulence, we expect need for pro bono in England and Wales to grow. Lawyers are preparing themselves to expand the amount of pro bono they deliver, and this is shown in at least three trends. First, local pro bono groups are being established across England and Wales to coordinate pro bono support outside of London and to be in closer contact with the beneficiaries, be they individuals or local NGOs. Second, there is a growing interest in pro bono among in-house legal teams, a development that has the potential to hugely increase the number of lawyers working pro bono to support and offer business expertise to UK-based NGOs and social enterprises. Finally, pro bono culture is becoming more institutionalised in law firm operations. In 2019, 88 percent of members of the UK Collaborative Plan counted pro bono work toward determining bonuses, and 30 out of 45 UK law firms that took part in the UK Collaborative Plan Report employed a (full- or part-time) pro bono professional. Moreover, an increasing number of leading law firms are hiring dedicated pro bono associates.
The responding firms from England & Wales contributed a total of 369,329 hours of pro bono. and this year 54 firms and in house teams in England & Wales responded to the pro bono Index survey, with 48.8 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono at an average of 25.7 hours with 35 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and reported an average of 11.5 hours. 23 percent of the partners rendered ten or more hours of pro bono.
This year 54 firms and in house teams in England & Wales responded to the pro bono Index survey, with 48.8 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono at an average of 25.7 hours with 35 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and reported an average of 11.5 hours. 23 percent of the partners rendered ten or more hours of pro bono.
The data shows that the pro bono infrastructure in this region is well established, with all the responding firms indicating that they have some elements of infrastructure in place. 94.1 percent have a formal pro bono policy and 88 percent have formal pro bono eligibility criteria, however only 12 percent had a formal diversity commitment in place. Firms with a pro bono policy in place reported an average of 41.2 hours of pro bono compared to 29 hours where there was none. Similarly, firms with formal eligibility criteria recorded an average of 42.9 hours, compared to 9.4 hours where there was none.
Legal clinics and individual clients were the leading source of pro bono clients, followed by clearing houses and partnerships with other law firms then law societies and other sources. In terms of most selected areas of pro bono focus, access to justice ranked highest (71 percent), then immigration, refugees and asylum (65 percent), followed jointly by LGBT+ rights (59 percent) and human rights (59 percent).
Law firms have also been proactive. In 2014, the UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono was set up to develop the UK’s pro bono infrastructure and encourage more law firms to commit to a minimum of 25 pro bono hours per fee earner per year. The Collaborative Plan has been increasing both in terms of membership – at the time of writing, over 60 leading national and international law firms were members – and in the amount of pro bono work completed by its members, with over 50 percent of lawyers engaged in pro bono (according to 2019 figures) . The success of the UK Collaborative Plan in increasing pro bono provision also inspired, in 2019, the creation of the In-House Pro Bono Group, an association of in-house counsel that aims to foster a pro bono culture among in-house lawyers .
The strong presence of pro bono within the legal profession in England and Wales is evident in the annual UK Pro Bono Week. In 2021, the 20th edition of the celebration featured more than 50 events and, for the first time, representatives from across the UK organised sessions .
Following years when social impact organisations and society have suffered the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turbulence, we expect need for pro bono in England and Wales to grow. Lawyers are preparing themselves to expand the amount of pro bono they deliver, and this is shown in at least three trends. First, local pro bono groups are being established across England and Wales to coordinate pro bono support outside of London and to be in closer contact with the beneficiaries, be they individuals or local NGOs. Second, there is a growing interest in pro bono among in-house legal teams, a development that has the potential to hugely increase the number of lawyers working pro bono to support and offer business expertise to UK-based NGOs and social enterprises. Finally, pro bono culture is becoming more institutionalised in law firm operations. In 2019, 88 percent of members of the UK Collaborative Plan counted pro bono work toward determining bonuses, and 30 out of 45 UK law firms that took part in the UK Collaborative Plan Report employed a (full- or part-time) pro bono professional. Moreover, an increasing number of leading law firms are hiring dedicated pro bono associates.
The responding firms from England & Wales contributed a total of 369,329 hours of pro bono. and this year 54 firms and in house teams in England & Wales responded to the pro bono Index survey, with 48.8 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono at an average of 25.7 hours with 35 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and reported an average of 11.5 hours. 23 percent of the partners rendered ten or more hours of pro bono.
This year 54 firms and in house teams in England & Wales responded to the pro bono Index survey, with 48.8 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono at an average of 25.7 hours with 35 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. 43 percent of partners engaged in some kind of pro bono work and reported an average of 11.5 hours. 23 percent of the partners rendered ten or more hours of pro bono.
The data shows that the pro bono infrastructure in this region is well established, with all the responding firms indicating that they have some elements of infrastructure in place. 94.1 percent have a formal pro bono policy and 88 percent have formal pro bono eligibility criteria, however only 12 percent had a formal diversity commitment in place. Firms with a pro bono policy in place reported an average of 41.2 hours of pro bono compared to 29 hours where there was none. Similarly, firms with formal eligibility criteria recorded an average of 42.9 hours, compared to 9.4 hours where there was none.
Legal clinics and individual clients were the leading source of pro bono clients, followed by clearing houses and partnerships with other law firms then law societies and other sources. In terms of most selected areas of pro bono focus, access to justice ranked highest (71 percent), then immigration, refugees and asylum (65 percent), followed jointly by LGBT+ rights (59 percent) and human rights (59 percent).
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture | UK - England and Wales | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | UK - England and Wales | 33.91 | 26.1% |
| Allen & Overy | UK - England and Wales | 19.73 | 34.2% |
| Anglo-Thai Legal | UK - England and Wales | 52 | 100% |
| Arnold & Porter | UK - England and Wales | 57.6 | 89.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | UK - England and Wales | 24.33 | 33.3% |
| Bates Wells | UK - England and Wales | 17.94 | 44.9% |
| Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP | UK - England and Wales | 7.2 | 6.6% |
| Charles Russell Speechlys | UK - England and Wales | 6.89 | 15.9% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | UK - England and Wales | 16.35 | 35.8% |
| Cooley LLP | UK - England and Wales | 36.03 | 48.1% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | UK - England and Wales | 14.56 | 32.4% |
| DLA Piper | UK - England and Wales | 26.5 | 33.3% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | UK - England and Wales | 63.8 | 66.4% |
| Dechert LLP | UK - England and Wales | 93.97 | 102.6% |
| Dentons | UK - England and Wales | 17.41 | 48.2% |
| Duane Morris LLP | UK - England and Wales | 36.32 | 73.7% |
| Faegre Drinker | UK - England and Wales | 17.27 | 24.2% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | UK - England and Wales | 53.89 | 44.1% |
| GSK | UK - England and Wales | 12.91 | - |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | UK - England and Wales | 48.85 | 57.1% |
| Gide Loyrette Nouel | UK - England and Wales | 9.43 | 33.3% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | UK - England and Wales | 10.02 | 27% |
| Hogan Lovells LLP | UK - England and Wales | 45.23 | 62.1% |
| Jenner & Block LLP | UK - England and Wales | 132.33 | 109.5% |
| K&L Gates LLP | UK - England and Wales | 22.8 | 44.8% |
| KINGSLEY NAPLEY | UK - England and Wales | 14.67 | 31.9% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | UK - England and Wales | 17.49 | 34.3% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | UK - England and Wales | 13.33 | 44.6% |
| Latham & Watkins | UK - England and Wales | 35.28 | 59% |
| Linklaters LLP | UK - England and Wales | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | UK - England and Wales | 22.26 | 42.2% |
| McGuireWoods LLP | UK - England and Wales | 5.5 | 16.7% |
| Milbank LLP | UK - England and Wales | 31.67 | 58.1% |
| Minhas Law Associates Ltd. | UK - England and Wales | 20 | 60% |
| Mishcon de Reya LLP | UK - England and Wales | 18.79 | 31.8% |
| Morrison Foerster | UK - England and Wales | 55.32 | 63.3% |
| Orrick | UK - England and Wales | 67.27 | 95.2% |
| Osborne Clarke | UK - England and Wales | 3.8 | 11.5% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | UK - England and Wales | 29.54 | 56.1% |
| Reed Smith | UK - England and Wales | 77.12 | 65.6% |
| Ropes & Gray | UK - England and Wales | 35.51 | 70.1% |
| Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP | UK - England and Wales | 3.15 | 15% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | UK - England and Wales | 54.76 | 60.7% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | UK - England and Wales | 18.75 | 12.7% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | UK - England and Wales | 63.19 | 66.2% |
| Steptoe | UK - England and Wales | 16.68 | 14.7% |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | UK - England and Wales | 8.53 | 20.8% |
| White & Case | UK - England and Wales | 16.84 | 40.7% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | UK - England and Wales | 11.44 | 33.3% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | UK - England and Wales | - | - |
| Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP | UK - England and Wales | 0.69 | 1.6% |
Europe
The practice of pro bono in Europe is mature and established, with a robust pro bono ecosystem of lawyers dedicated to providing pro bono, clearing houses, legal aid organisations and a large network of firms possessing strong pro bono infrastructure.
The presence of many international firms influences the pro bono culture in Europe, with many firms able to coalesce around and respond to emerging global crises. For example, the Rule 39 Initiative is a collaboration between the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD), a human rights lawyer and eight law firms, where pro bono lawyers are trained to support non-profit organisations to make to assist migrants in Italy, Greece and Turkey to seek reprieve in the European Court of Human Rights for rights violations. Such collaborative approaches by firms and different pro bono players are replicated within different countries within the region, weaving a tapestry of pro bono legal services across a variety of thematic areas.
The region contributed a total of 222,809 hours of pro bono and, Index received 197 data sets from law firms and their offices across 26 countries in Europe, an increase from 183 data sets from law firms and their offices in 31 countries in 2020. 31 percent of fee earners provided pro bono services at an average of 12.2 hours, and 21 percent of them provided ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners had an engagement rate of 36 percent and recorded an average of 10.5 hours of pro bono, with 19.3 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
84 percent of responding firms reported the presence of at least on element of pro bono infrastructure, with firms without infrastructure reporting an average of 3.7 hours in comparison to 34.7 hours where infrastructure was present. 68 percent of the firms reported the presence of a formal pro bono policy, while 72 percent reported having formal pro bono eligibility criteria and 24 percent had a formal diversity commitment. The presence of policies continues to appear to have an impact on average hours with average hours where there was a policy being 34.7 hours compared to 14.3 hours where there was none.
The top three types of pro bono clients were registered charities, individuals, and social enterprises, who were mainly sourced directly from individuals, through clearing houses and in partnership with other law firms. The most commonly selected areas of pro bono focus were human rights (72 percent), access to justice (52 percent), immigration, refugees and asylum (52 percent), education, training and employment (48 percent), and women’s rights (44 percent).
The presence of many international firms influences the pro bono culture in Europe, with many firms able to coalesce around and respond to emerging global crises. For example, the Rule 39 Initiative is a collaboration between the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD), a human rights lawyer and eight law firms, where pro bono lawyers are trained to support non-profit organisations to make to assist migrants in Italy, Greece and Turkey to seek reprieve in the European Court of Human Rights for rights violations. Such collaborative approaches by firms and different pro bono players are replicated within different countries within the region, weaving a tapestry of pro bono legal services across a variety of thematic areas.
The region contributed a total of 222,809 hours of pro bono and, Index received 197 data sets from law firms and their offices across 26 countries in Europe, an increase from 183 data sets from law firms and their offices in 31 countries in 2020. 31 percent of fee earners provided pro bono services at an average of 12.2 hours, and 21 percent of them provided ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners had an engagement rate of 36 percent and recorded an average of 10.5 hours of pro bono, with 19.3 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
84 percent of responding firms reported the presence of at least on element of pro bono infrastructure, with firms without infrastructure reporting an average of 3.7 hours in comparison to 34.7 hours where infrastructure was present. 68 percent of the firms reported the presence of a formal pro bono policy, while 72 percent reported having formal pro bono eligibility criteria and 24 percent had a formal diversity commitment. The presence of policies continues to appear to have an impact on average hours with average hours where there was a policy being 34.7 hours compared to 14.3 hours where there was none.
The top three types of pro bono clients were registered charities, individuals, and social enterprises, who were mainly sourced directly from individuals, through clearing houses and in partnership with other law firms. The most commonly selected areas of pro bono focus were human rights (72 percent), access to justice (52 percent), immigration, refugees and asylum (52 percent), education, training and employment (48 percent), and women’s rights (44 percent).
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAJIC Law Firm | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4.17 | 25% |
| Kinstellar | Bulgaria | 0.17 | 0% |
| Savoric & Partner | Croatia | 4 | 80% |
| Allen & Overy | Czech Republic | 21.87 | 40% |
| DLA Piper | Czech Republic | 2.5 | 10% |
| Dentons | Czech Republic | 19.2 | 49.4% |
| Kinstellar | Czech Republic | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | Czech Republic | 10.28 | 28% |
| DLA Piper | Denmark | 47.68 | 61.3% |
| DLA Piper | Finland | 4.5 | 18% |
| White & Case | Finland | 12.06 | 44.4% |
| Accenture | France | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | France | 12.53 | 27.9% |
| Ashurst LLP | France | 7.2 | 16.4% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | France | 10.6 | 28.9% |
| DLA Piper | France | 44.62 | 26.2% |
| Dechert LLP | France | 62.31 | 100% |
| Dentons | France | 5.42 | 14.5% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | France | 3.13 | 6.9% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | France | 9.42 | 15% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | France | 47.12 | 58.1% |
| Gide Loyrette Nouel | France | 2.91 | 11% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | France | 0.01 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | France | 0.71 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | France | 1.33 | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | France | 47.89 | 94.1% |
| Linklaters LLP | France | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | France | 10.77 | 26% |
| Orrick | France | 47.75 | 81% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | France | 7.06 | 19.2% |
| Reed Smith | France | 42.62 | 52.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | France | 29.91 | 30.3% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | France | 15.24 | 28.1% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | France | 105.64 | 69.2% |
| White & Case | France | 18.09 | 35.3% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | France | - | - |
| Dentons | Georgia | 6.72 | 25% |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Germany | 19.67 | 66.7% |
| Allen & Overy | Germany | 4.29 | 12.5% |
| Arnold & Porter | Germany | 17.5 | 100% |
| Ashurst LLP | Germany | 13.22 | 24.1% |
| BNM Advocates | Germany | - | - |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Germany | 7.43 | 17.5% |
| DLA Piper | Germany | 14.35 | 33.5% |
| Dechert LLP | Germany | 59.26 | 100% |
| Dentons | Germany | 7.4 | 9.6% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | Germany | 2.52 | 5.7% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Germany | 5.85 | 8.5% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | Germany | 66.57 | 57.1% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | Germany | 0.26 | 0% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | Germany | - | - |
| GvW Graf von Westphalen | Germany | 1.36 | 3.9% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Germany | 1.21 | 5.8% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Germany | 25.33 | 75% |
| Latham & Watkins | Germany | 21.37 | 52.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | Germany | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Germany | 14.94 | 38.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | Germany | 34.8 | 57.8% |
| Orrick | Germany | 43.85 | 92.5% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Germany | 47.2 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | Germany | 36.44 | 47.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | Germany | 5.1 | 13.3% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Germany | 2.25 | 4.3% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Germany | 40.12 | 46.7% |
| White & Case | Germany | 10.68 | 31.4% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | Germany | 5.69 | 13.8% |
| Reed Smith | Greece | 44.33 | 63.9% |
| Allen & Overy | Hungary | 16.09 | 27.3% |
| DLA Piper | Hungary | 18.65 | 52.6% |
| Dentons | Hungary | 19.09 | 34% |
| Kinstellar | Hungary | 1.18 | 3.7% |
| LEX law offices | Iceland | 1.75 | 5% |
| A&A STUDIO LEGALE | Italy | 40 | 40% |
| Accenture | Italy | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Italy | 1.75 | 7.8% |
| Ashurst LLP | Italy | 19.67 | 48.7% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | Italy | 6.49 | 13% |
| DLA Piper | Italy | 12.2 | 17.1% |
| Dentons | Italy | 3.94 | 13.3% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Italy | 2.54 | 6.2% |
| K&L Gates LLP | Italy | 0.23 | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | Italy | 21.24 | 40.5% |
| Linklaters LLP | Italy | - | - |
| Orrick | Italy | 51.28 | 84.1% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Italy | 0.85 | 3.1% |
| White & Case | Italy | 24.79 | 82.7% |
| mazzeschi srl | Italy | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Poland | 5.63 | 20.9% |
| DLA Piper | Poland | 11.6 | 25.4% |
| Dentons | Poland | 12.79 | 17.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | Poland | - | - |
| White & Case | Poland | 4.02 | 14.3% |
| Accenture | Portugal | - | - |
| DLA Piper | Portugal | 3.68 | 11.3% |
| Linklaters LLP | Portugal | - | - |
| Vieira de Almeida & Associados | Portugal | 28.12 | - |
| DLA Piper | Romania | 5.76 | 0% |
| Dentons | Romania | 15.91 | 34.8% |
| Kinstellar | Romania | 0 | 0% |
| Kinstellar | Serbia | 0 | 0% |
| Accenture | Slovakia | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Slovakia | 56.93 | 39.3% |
| DLA Piper | Slovakia | 54 | 0% |
| Dentons | Slovakia | 22.88 | 44.1% |
| Kinstellar | Slovakia | 0.61 | 4.6% |
| Accenture | Spain | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | Spain | 9.97 | 30.2% |
| Ashurst LLP | Spain | 14.75 | 40.3% |
| DLA Piper | Spain | 24.04 | 6.3% |
| Dentons | Spain | 15.87 | 32.9% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | Spain | 3.14 | 9.5% |
| Latham & Watkins | Spain | 45.42 | 97.6% |
| Linklaters LLP | Spain | - | - |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | Spain | - | - |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | Spain | 0.48 | 0% |
| White & Case | Spain | 41.58 | 100% |
| Accenture | Sweden | - | - |
| DLA Piper | Sweden | - | - |
| Linklaters LLP | Sweden | - | - |
| White & Case | Sweden | 5.07 | 19.1% |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Switzerland | 48.2 | 60% |
| MANGEAT Attorneys at Law LLC | Switzerland | 12.5 | 25% |
| Orrick | Switzerland | 29.77 | 80% |
| White & Case | Switzerland | 16.5 | 40% |
Belgium
As state-subsidised legal aid is widely available, the provision of pro bono services has remained largely voluntary with no legal requirement for aspiring or qualified lawyers to provide pro bono assistance. With funding cuts to legal aid, there has been growing attention on the critical need for pro bono to support low-income individuals and NGOs. In addition, several international law firms and companies with UK and US roots have opened offices in Belgium, which has contributed to a rise in pro bono work as lawyers strive to meet internationally set pro bono targets.
A large NGO (non-governmental organisation) presence in Belgium is also helping to raise awareness among local law firms. Firms are embracing a collaborative approach to pro bono. For example, recently 15 law firms, the Brussels Bar, BAJ and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen collaborated to provide pro bono assistance to forcibly displaced people in Belgium.
Twenty-four law firms, mostly international, responded to the Index survey in 2022, up from 22 in 2020. Our data indicates that 48.8 percent of fee earners provided an average of 27.1 hours of pro bono, with 38.6 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner engagement remained strong in Belgium. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 44.9 percent and 26 percent of them offered ten or more hours of pro bono, at an average of 13.1 hours.
A large NGO (non-governmental organisation) presence in Belgium is also helping to raise awareness among local law firms. Firms are embracing a collaborative approach to pro bono. For example, recently 15 law firms, the Brussels Bar, BAJ and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen collaborated to provide pro bono assistance to forcibly displaced people in Belgium.
Twenty-four law firms, mostly international, responded to the Index survey in 2022, up from 22 in 2020. Our data indicates that 48.8 percent of fee earners provided an average of 27.1 hours of pro bono, with 38.6 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner engagement remained strong in Belgium. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 44.9 percent and 26 percent of them offered ten or more hours of pro bono, at an average of 13.1 hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 22.37 | 46.2% |
| Arnold & Porter | 58.59 | 78.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | 14.52 | 30.4% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 12.83 | 14.6% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | 23.4 | 40% |
| DLA Piper | 86.16 | 58.7% |
| Dechert LLP | 97.4 | 110% |
| Dentons | 29.7 | 38.5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 8.52 | 26.3% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 66.92 | 66.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 7.27 | 20% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | - | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | 19 | 51.4% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 2.1 | 10% |
| Morrison Foerster | 92.8 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | 16.4 | 30.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 11.45 | 50% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 15.63 | 47.4% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 1.77 | 4.4% |
| Steptoe | 6.21 | 20.8% |
| Van Bael & Bellis | 13.48 | 17.1% |
| White & Case | 31.52 | 59.7% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | 42.56 | 72.7% |
Czechia
As state-subsidised legal aid is widely available, the provision of pro bono services has remained largely voluntary with no legal requirement for aspiring or qualified lawyers to provide pro bono assistance. With funding cuts to legal aid, there has been growing attention on the critical need for pro bono to support low-income individuals and NGOs. In addition, several international law firms and companies with UK and US roots have opened offices in Belgium, which has contributed to a rise in pro bono work as lawyers strive to meet internationally set pro bono targets.
A large NGO (non-governmental organisation) presence in Belgium is also helping to raise awareness among local law firms. Firms are embracing a collaborative approach to pro bono. For example, recently 15 law firms, the Brussels Bar, BAJ and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen collaborated to provide pro bono assistance to forcibly displaced people in Belgium.
Twenty-four law firms, mostly international, responded to the Index survey in 2022, up from 22 in 2020. Our data indicates that 48.8 percent of fee earners provided an average of 27.1 hours of pro bono, with 38.6 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner engagement remained strong in Belgium. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 44.9 percent and 26 percent of them offered ten or more hours of pro bono, at an average of 13.1 hours.
A large NGO (non-governmental organisation) presence in Belgium is also helping to raise awareness among local law firms. Firms are embracing a collaborative approach to pro bono. For example, recently 15 law firms, the Brussels Bar, BAJ and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen collaborated to provide pro bono assistance to forcibly displaced people in Belgium.
Twenty-four law firms, mostly international, responded to the Index survey in 2022, up from 22 in 2020. Our data indicates that 48.8 percent of fee earners provided an average of 27.1 hours of pro bono, with 38.6 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Partner engagement remained strong in Belgium. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 44.9 percent and 26 percent of them offered ten or more hours of pro bono, at an average of 13.1 hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 22.37 | 46.2% |
| Arnold & Porter | 58.59 | 78.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | 14.52 | 30.4% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 12.83 | 14.6% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | 23.4 | 40% |
| DLA Piper | 86.16 | 58.7% |
| Dechert LLP | 97.4 | 110% |
| Dentons | 29.7 | 38.5% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 8.52 | 26.3% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 66.92 | 66.7% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 7.27 | 20% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | - | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | 19 | 51.4% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 2.1 | 10% |
| Morrison Foerster | 92.8 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | 16.4 | 30.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 11.45 | 50% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 15.63 | 47.4% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 1.77 | 4.4% |
| Steptoe | 6.21 | 20.8% |
| Van Bael & Bellis | 13.48 | 17.1% |
| White & Case | 31.52 | 59.7% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | 42.56 | 72.7% |
France
France continues to be a pro bono powerhouse in the region, with a substantial number of local and international law firms actively engaging in pro bono activities. The presence of non-profit organisations mobilising lawyers to offer legal assistance contributes to the vibrance of pro bono practice. In 2021 France celebrated its third Pro Bono Day, bringing together experts from different sectors to share their vision for pro bono.
Reflecting the regional pro bono trends around collaborative approaches to pro bono, new collaborations continue to grow, for example the Alliance Française Pro Bono pour les Afghans (AFPBA) project, which was launched in February 2022 between Safe Passage and fourteen law firms who work on humanitarian visa and family reunification applications for Afghan individuals and families seeking a legal pathway to France.
Fee earners in the 25 firms who submitted data performed an average of 17.6 hours of pro bono. 36.4 percent of fee earners were engaged in offering any pro bono and 28 percent went over the ten-hour mark. For partners, 36 percent engaged in pro bono at an average of 12.1 hours, with 22 percent recording ten or more pro bono hours.
Reflecting the regional pro bono trends around collaborative approaches to pro bono, new collaborations continue to grow, for example the Alliance Française Pro Bono pour les Afghans (AFPBA) project, which was launched in February 2022 between Safe Passage and fourteen law firms who work on humanitarian visa and family reunification applications for Afghan individuals and families seeking a legal pathway to France.
Fee earners in the 25 firms who submitted data performed an average of 17.6 hours of pro bono. 36.4 percent of fee earners were engaged in offering any pro bono and 28 percent went over the ten-hour mark. For partners, 36 percent engaged in pro bono at an average of 12.1 hours, with 22 percent recording ten or more pro bono hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 12.53 | 27.9% |
| Ashurst LLP | 7.2 | 16.4% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 10.6 | 28.9% |
| DLA Piper | 44.62 | 26.2% |
| Dechert LLP | 62.31 | 100% |
| Dentons | 5.42 | 14.5% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 3.13 | 6.9% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 9.42 | 15% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 47.12 | 58.1% |
| Gide Loyrette Nouel | 2.91 | 11% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 0.01 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 0.71 | 0% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 1.33 | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | 47.89 | 94.1% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 10.77 | 26% |
| Orrick | 47.75 | 81% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 7.06 | 19.2% |
| Reed Smith | 42.62 | 52.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 29.91 | 30.3% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 15.24 | 28.1% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 105.64 | 69.2% |
| White & Case | 18.09 | 35.3% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | - | - |
Germany
Pro bono in Germany continues to take root. Historically, the institutionalisation of pro bono has been slow in Germany, for two main reasons. First, the legal aid system is relatively robust leading to the perception that pro bono work is not needed. Second, German law prohibits lawyers from charging clients lower than the minimum statutory fees, which was traditionally interpreted as a ban on (free) pro bono legal work.
In response, German and international law firms have advocated for and provided pro bono support to both local and foreign clients. Several leading firms organised themselves as Pro Bono Deutschland eV in 2011, with the aim of informing German lawyers and NGOs about pro bono. This group also set up the local clearinghouse UPJ Pro Bono Rechtsberatung in 2018, and these efforts are gradually bearing fruit. Most recently, German law firms were among the organisers of the European Pro Bono Week in 2021, with lawyers celebrating pro bono work across the country.
Pro bono in Germany has been part of the regional trend towards collaborative pro bono efforts. This is evidenced by the recent launch of the Deutsches Bündnis für Afghanische Flüchtlinge (DBAF) project, launched by the International Rescue Committee in May 2022, in collaboration with nine international law firms to provide pro bono legal support to Afghan refugees seeking resettlement in Europe, including Germany, following the Taliban insurgency in August 2021. The German Bar, along with the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, were also instrumental in establishing a charitable organisation called ELiL (European Lawyers in Lesvos) to give legal advice to refugees on the Greek island of Lesvos.
Twenty-nine law firms submitted data to the Index this year for Germany compared to 28 in 2020. 26 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 10.6 hours with 20 percent offering more than ten hours of pro bono. Partners averaged 11.6 hours and were engaged in pro bono at a rate of 36 percent, with 21 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
In response, German and international law firms have advocated for and provided pro bono support to both local and foreign clients. Several leading firms organised themselves as Pro Bono Deutschland eV in 2011, with the aim of informing German lawyers and NGOs about pro bono. This group also set up the local clearinghouse UPJ Pro Bono Rechtsberatung in 2018, and these efforts are gradually bearing fruit. Most recently, German law firms were among the organisers of the European Pro Bono Week in 2021, with lawyers celebrating pro bono work across the country.
Pro bono in Germany has been part of the regional trend towards collaborative pro bono efforts. This is evidenced by the recent launch of the Deutsches Bündnis für Afghanische Flüchtlinge (DBAF) project, launched by the International Rescue Committee in May 2022, in collaboration with nine international law firms to provide pro bono legal support to Afghan refugees seeking resettlement in Europe, including Germany, following the Taliban insurgency in August 2021. The German Bar, along with the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, were also instrumental in establishing a charitable organisation called ELiL (European Lawyers in Lesvos) to give legal advice to refugees on the Greek island of Lesvos.
Twenty-nine law firms submitted data to the Index this year for Germany compared to 28 in 2020. 26 percent of fee earners offered pro bono services at an average of 10.6 hours with 20 percent offering more than ten hours of pro bono. Partners averaged 11.6 hours and were engaged in pro bono at a rate of 36 percent, with 21 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 19.67 | 66.7% |
| Allen & Overy | 4.29 | 12.5% |
| Arnold & Porter | 17.5 | 100% |
| Ashurst LLP | 13.22 | 24.1% |
| BNM Advocates | - | - |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 7.43 | 17.5% |
| DLA Piper | 14.35 | 33.5% |
| Dechert LLP | 59.26 | 100% |
| Dentons | 7.4 | 9.6% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 2.52 | 5.7% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 5.85 | 8.5% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 66.57 | 57.1% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 0.26 | 0% |
| Grünkorn & Partner Law Co., Ltd | - | - |
| GvW Graf von Westphalen | 1.36 | 3.9% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 1.21 | 5.8% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | 25.33 | 75% |
| Latham & Watkins | 21.37 | 52.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 14.94 | 38.1% |
| Morrison Foerster | 34.8 | 57.8% |
| Orrick | 43.85 | 92.5% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | 47.2 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | 36.44 | 47.8% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 5.1 | 13.3% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 2.25 | 4.3% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | 40.12 | 46.7% |
| White & Case | 10.68 | 31.4% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | 5.69 | 13.8% |
Hungary
Hungary is a strong voice for pro bono in the region, along with Poland, having hosted various European and Global Pro Bono events such as the European Pro Bono Forum. It has a long active history of pro bono, driven by the presence of PILNet and its Hungarian clearinghouse, along with the increasing presence of international law firms and large in-house teams in the country.
Several law firms drafted and signed the Public Interest Law Initiative's Pro Bono Declaration in 2006, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the public good by taking on more pro bono clients. The Hungarian Bar has set up a formal scheme run by the General Secretary of the Budapest Bar to coordinate pro bono efforts in Budapest and for other Hungarian Bars.
This is the second time Hungary has appeared in the Index. We received data from five firms which indicates that 44 percent of fee earners rendered pro bono services at average of 11.1 hours of pro bono each, with 26 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. Encouragingly, 54 percent of the partners offered pro bono services at an average of 8.6 hours with 36 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
Several law firms drafted and signed the Public Interest Law Initiative's Pro Bono Declaration in 2006, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the public good by taking on more pro bono clients. The Hungarian Bar has set up a formal scheme run by the General Secretary of the Budapest Bar to coordinate pro bono efforts in Budapest and for other Hungarian Bars.
This is the second time Hungary has appeared in the Index. We received data from five firms which indicates that 44 percent of fee earners rendered pro bono services at average of 11.1 hours of pro bono each, with 26 percent recording ten or more hours of pro bono. Encouragingly, 54 percent of the partners offered pro bono services at an average of 8.6 hours with 36 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 16.09 | 27.3% |
| DLA Piper | 18.65 | 52.6% |
| Dentons | 19.09 | 34% |
| Kinstellar | 1.18 | 3.7% |
Ireland
In 2019, the first Pro Bono Week Ireland took place with numerous collaborative events across law firms, in-house legal teams, NGOs, social enterprises, and pro bono clearinghouses, and a number of commercial law firms joined the UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono. Subsequent Pro Bono Week Ireland activities took place in 2020 and 2021, bringing together an increasing number of actors in the pro bono space.
The Pro Bono Pledge was launched in 2020 as Ireland's first collaborative effort to articulate lawyers' shared professional responsibility to promote access to justice and provide pro bono legal assistance to those in need. The Pledge was created by an independent group of law firms, barristers, and in-house legal teams with a presence in Ireland who have joined forces to affirm their commitment to providing pro bono services. The Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) coordinates the initiative, which provides a common definition of pro bono, a commitment to a minimum aspirational target of 20 pro bono hours per lawyer per year, and a mechanism to benchmark progress through annual reporting of anonymous pro bono data. This initiative, targeted at growing the pro bono culture in Ireland, is a welcome step in the right direction.
A total of 6 firms submitted data for Ireland, with 23.1 percent of fee earners averaging 13.7 hours of pro bono and 28 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Among partners, the rate of engagement was 42 percent, at an average of 9.4 hours, with 15 percent providing ten or more hours of pro bono.
The Pro Bono Pledge was launched in 2020 as Ireland's first collaborative effort to articulate lawyers' shared professional responsibility to promote access to justice and provide pro bono legal assistance to those in need. The Pledge was created by an independent group of law firms, barristers, and in-house legal teams with a presence in Ireland who have joined forces to affirm their commitment to providing pro bono services. The Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) coordinates the initiative, which provides a common definition of pro bono, a commitment to a minimum aspirational target of 20 pro bono hours per lawyer per year, and a mechanism to benchmark progress through annual reporting of anonymous pro bono data. This initiative, targeted at growing the pro bono culture in Ireland, is a welcome step in the right direction.
A total of 6 firms submitted data for Ireland, with 23.1 percent of fee earners averaging 13.7 hours of pro bono and 28 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Among partners, the rate of engagement was 42 percent, at an average of 9.4 hours, with 15 percent providing ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| A&L Goodbody | 29.29 | 56.7% |
| Accenture | - | - |
| Arthur Cox | 26.3 | 49% |
| DLA Piper | 0.06 | 2.6% |
| Dechert LLP | 38.11 | 105.3% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 7.7 | 35.7% |
Italy
In Italy, several legal clinics offer pro bono to individuals and non-profit associations and a domestic clearinghouse, Pro Bono Italia, was founded in 2017. Italy has a rich, well-developed, and diverse ecosystem of non-profit organisations and social enterprises. It is estimated that it is home to more than 300,000 NGOs and 25,000 social enterprises. Social cooperatives are the eminent form of social enterprise in Italy, representing approximately a third of such enterprises, and they also play an active role in the pro bono ecosystem.
Keeping with the collaborative trends observed across the region, the Collaborazione Italiana Pro Bono per I Rifugiati Afghani (CIPBRA) project, a collaboration between the NGO Coalizione Italiana per le Liberta e i diritti civili and fourteen law firms, is working to provide training and supervision for volunteer lawyers to work on family reunification applications and other legal pathways to Italy for Afghan individuals and families.
The number of submissions decreased slightly from 18 in 2020 to 15 firms in 2022. Fee earners recorded an average of 10 hours and engaged in pro bono at a rate of 28 percent, with 20 percent registering ten or more hours. Partners’ rate of engagement in pro bono was 46.6 percent, with participating partners recording an average of 8.7 hours of pro bono compared to 11.4 hours and 29 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. 67 percent of the firms reported the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among responding firms in Italy were human rights at 83 percent, immigration, refugees and asylum at 75 percent, followed by economic development, microfinance and social finance (42 percent) and education, training and employment (42 percent) and environment and climate change at (42 percent).
Keeping with the collaborative trends observed across the region, the Collaborazione Italiana Pro Bono per I Rifugiati Afghani (CIPBRA) project, a collaboration between the NGO Coalizione Italiana per le Liberta e i diritti civili and fourteen law firms, is working to provide training and supervision for volunteer lawyers to work on family reunification applications and other legal pathways to Italy for Afghan individuals and families.
The number of submissions decreased slightly from 18 in 2020 to 15 firms in 2022. Fee earners recorded an average of 10 hours and engaged in pro bono at a rate of 28 percent, with 20 percent registering ten or more hours. Partners’ rate of engagement in pro bono was 46.6 percent, with participating partners recording an average of 8.7 hours of pro bono compared to 11.4 hours and 29 percent of them offering ten or more hours of pro bono. 67 percent of the firms reported the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
The most selected areas of pro bono support among responding firms in Italy were human rights at 83 percent, immigration, refugees and asylum at 75 percent, followed by economic development, microfinance and social finance (42 percent) and education, training and employment (42 percent) and environment and climate change at (42 percent).
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| A&A STUDIO LEGALE | 40 | 40% |
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 1.75 | 7.8% |
| Ashurst LLP | 19.67 | 48.7% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 6.49 | 13% |
| DLA Piper | 12.2 | 17.1% |
| Dentons | 3.94 | 13.3% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 2.54 | 6.2% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 0.23 | 0% |
| Latham & Watkins | 21.24 | 40.5% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Orrick | 51.28 | 84.1% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 0.85 | 3.1% |
| White & Case | 24.79 | 82.7% |
| mazzeschi srl | - | - |
Luxembourg
Legal aid in Luxembourg is managed by the Luxembourg Bar Association, and trainee lawyers in Luxembourg are required to accept legal aid cases in order to qualify for the Luxembourg Bar. After being appointed by the Bar, lawyers cannot refuse to work on legal aid cases. As a result of this well-established and extensive legal aid protection, there has historically been a low demand for pro bono work in Luxembourg.
Furthermore, there are extremely strict rules for advertising for lawyers, which limits the incentives for lawyers to engage in pro bono work. However, the number of international law firms with offices in the country has resulted in an organic increase in pro bono hours as lawyers are encouraged to match high pro bono numbers in the UK and US.
In light of recent global crises, the legal community in Luxembourg demonstrated an ability to quickly respond to emergencies and come together to offer pro bono assistance to support refugees initially coming from Afghanistan and subsequently from Ukraine.
We received submissions from 11 international firms for the 2022 Index, a welcome increase from 6 submissions in 2020. Fee earners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 43 percent and averaged 9.1 hours of pro bono, with 24 percent of them offering ten or more hours. At a similarly high rate of engagement of 54 percent, the partners spent 10.2 hours on average with a third of them going over the ten-hour mark.
Furthermore, there are extremely strict rules for advertising for lawyers, which limits the incentives for lawyers to engage in pro bono work. However, the number of international law firms with offices in the country has resulted in an organic increase in pro bono hours as lawyers are encouraged to match high pro bono numbers in the UK and US.
In light of recent global crises, the legal community in Luxembourg demonstrated an ability to quickly respond to emergencies and come together to offer pro bono assistance to support refugees initially coming from Afghanistan and subsequently from Ukraine.
We received submissions from 11 international firms for the 2022 Index, a welcome increase from 6 submissions in 2020. Fee earners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 43 percent and averaged 9.1 hours of pro bono, with 24 percent of them offering ten or more hours. At a similarly high rate of engagement of 54 percent, the partners spent 10.2 hours on average with a third of them going over the ten-hour mark.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 5.08 | 13.6% |
| Ashurst LLP | 0.57 | 0% |
| DLA Piper | 18.55 | 60.6% |
| Dechert LLP | 31.67 | 93.3% |
| Dentons | 14.44 | 26.5% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 0.13 | 0% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | 0 | 0% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 0 | 0% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 8.91 | 30.8% |
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, pro bono work is primarily used to assist NGOs, such as foundations, that serve public or social needs and human rights, rather than individuals, because NGOs are generally ineligible for government-subsidised legal aid. Pro Bono Connect, the first public interest clearinghouse, was established in 2015, acting as an intermediary between NGOs and law firms. Pro Bono Connect is supported by sixteen of the largest law firms in the Netherlands. Dutch law firms were among the organisers of the first European Pro Bono Week, held in 2019, and they continued to host events in 2020 and 2021. One of the landmark pro bono initiatives in the Netherlands is the Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl, a young internet initiative from Eindhoven which offers online based legal assistance to individuals, with a strong litigation focus and not just civil society as is traditionally the case in the country.
Nine firms submitted data to the 2022 Index, as in 2020. 41 percent of fee earners gave 15.6 hours pro bono on average with 29 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono over the ten-hour mark. Partners were engaged in pro bono at a rate of 40 percent, with 17 percent of them giving ten or more hours. On average, partners provided 10 hours of pro bono. Twenty two percent of the firms reported the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
Nine firms submitted data to the 2022 Index, as in 2020. 41 percent of fee earners gave 15.6 hours pro bono on average with 29 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono over the ten-hour mark. Partners were engaged in pro bono at a rate of 40 percent, with 17 percent of them giving ten or more hours. On average, partners provided 10 hours of pro bono. Twenty two percent of the firms reported the presence of some elements of pro bono infrastructure.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 11.2 | 21% |
| DLA Piper | 19.95 | 45.8% |
| De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. | 24.98 | 44.4% |
| Dentons | 12.58 | 29.8% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 0.87 | 3.3% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 19.37 | 25.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 2.96 | 9.9% |
| Stibbe | 11.65 | 21.1% |
Poland
There is no legal requirement in Poland for lawyers to provide pro bono legal services, but its active pro bono landscape is shaped by the voluntary efforts of lawyers, domestic and international law firms and NGOs like the national clearinghouse platform, Centrum Pro Bono. Pro bono exists alongside a relatively strong legal framework to support legal aid, recently expanded in 2019.
Centrum Pro Bono, part of the University Legal Clinics Foundation, remains a key player in Poland's pro bono space. It connects law firms with NGOs to provide legal aid in a variety of areas such as civil law, financial law, and employment law. They also host a pro bono roundtable, where lawyers can meet and discuss pro bono developments. The Foundation coordinates, represents, and supports a network of 24 legal clinics, and it works with bar associations to make legal aid and pro bono services more accessible. The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law also offer pro bono opportunities to lawyers. Both work on strategic litigation and creative advocacy.
Six international firms submitted responses to the 2022 Index. 28 percent of fee earners participated in pro bono, performing an average of 9 hours. 13 percent performed ten or more hours. Partners participated in pro bono at a rate of 30 percent, volunteering an average of 18.5 hours, with 17 percent performing ten or more hours.
Centrum Pro Bono, part of the University Legal Clinics Foundation, remains a key player in Poland's pro bono space. It connects law firms with NGOs to provide legal aid in a variety of areas such as civil law, financial law, and employment law. They also host a pro bono roundtable, where lawyers can meet and discuss pro bono developments. The Foundation coordinates, represents, and supports a network of 24 legal clinics, and it works with bar associations to make legal aid and pro bono services more accessible. The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law also offer pro bono opportunities to lawyers. Both work on strategic litigation and creative advocacy.
Six international firms submitted responses to the 2022 Index. 28 percent of fee earners participated in pro bono, performing an average of 9 hours. 13 percent performed ten or more hours. Partners participated in pro bono at a rate of 30 percent, volunteering an average of 18.5 hours, with 17 percent performing ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 5.63 | 20.9% |
| DLA Piper | 11.6 | 25.4% |
| Dentons | 12.79 | 17.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| White & Case | 4.02 | 14.3% |
Romania
Pro bono has not historically been practised in Romania, however with the accession of Romania to the EU in 2007 and the arrival of several international law firms, the legal community is becoming more involved in pro bono. Corporate law firms have increasingly sought to align the practice of local firms with the pro bono culture of their international partners.
In addition, the efforts of various NGOs in Romania to foster pro bono work have contributed to raising the awareness of the need for and benefits of pro bono activity for the Romanian community.
Four firms, as in 2020, submitted data on their pro bono practice for the 2022 Index. They reported that 28 percent of fee earners on spent 5.7 hours on average on pro bono services, with 9 percent hitting the ten-hour mark or above. Partners spent 13.5 hours on pro bono on average, at a rate of engagement of 32 percent, and with 14 percent of partners engaged in pro bono offering ten or more hours.
Four firms, as in 2020, submitted data on their pro bono practice for the 2022 Index. They reported that 28 percent of fee earners on spent 5.7 hours on average on pro bono services, with 9 percent hitting the ten-hour mark or above. Partners spent 13.5 hours on pro bono on average, at a rate of engagement of 32 percent, and with 14 percent of partners engaged in pro bono offering ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| DLA Piper | 5.76 | 0% |
| Dentons | 15.91 | 34.8% |
| Kinstellar | 0 | 0% |
Russia
At the time of writing, Russia’s war against Ukraine has resulted in the vast majority of international firms closing their offices in Russia and, in some cases, relocating their staff. At the same time, the Russian government has started implementing and implementing laws aimed at curbing the potential activities of international (and local) civil society organisations and has set strict controls over the media.
The impact this will have on the pro bono landscape is unknown, but likely to be very grave, in a country where pro bono efforts were slowly advancing in recent years, with a vital role played by the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers and the Russian Bar.
The 2022 Index received submissions from eight international firms, all of whom have since reported closing their offices in Russia due to the conflict. Based on the data received, fee earners spent 13.9 hours on average on pro bono, with 25 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono overall, and 13 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners performed an average of 4.8 hours of pro bono, at an engagement rate in pro bono of 16 percent, and with 10 percent spending ten hours or more on pro bono.
The impact this will have on the pro bono landscape is unknown, but likely to be very grave, in a country where pro bono efforts were slowly advancing in recent years, with a vital role played by the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers and the Russian Bar.
The 2022 Index received submissions from eight international firms, all of whom have since reported closing their offices in Russia due to the conflict. Based on the data received, fee earners spent 13.9 hours on average on pro bono, with 25 percent of fee earners engaging in pro bono overall, and 13 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono. Partners performed an average of 4.8 hours of pro bono, at an engagement rate in pro bono of 16 percent, and with 10 percent spending ten hours or more on pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP | 0 | 0% |
Slovakia
Since the adoption of a legal framework for the provision of legal aid in 2005, there has been a steady growth in the culture of lawyers "giving back" in Slovakia.
The Pontis Foundation launched the Attorneys Pro Bono programme in 2011, which is the principal clearinghouse for facilitating pro bono legal assistance for non-profit organisations by law firms. The Pontis Foundation also hosts an annual Pro Bono Marathon, which brings together volunteers from various industries, including law firms.
We received submissions from six firms in Slovakia, up from four in 2020. 43 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and spent an average of 19.7 hours, with 23 percent of them offering ten or more hours. The partners, at a rate of 38 percent volunteered an average of 11 hours, with 31 percent of them offering ten or more hours.
The Pontis Foundation launched the Attorneys Pro Bono programme in 2011, which is the principal clearinghouse for facilitating pro bono legal assistance for non-profit organisations by law firms. The Pontis Foundation also hosts an annual Pro Bono Marathon, which brings together volunteers from various industries, including law firms.
We received submissions from six firms in Slovakia, up from four in 2020. 43 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and spent an average of 19.7 hours, with 23 percent of them offering ten or more hours. The partners, at a rate of 38 percent volunteered an average of 11 hours, with 31 percent of them offering ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 56.93 | 39.3% |
| DLA Piper | 54 | 0% |
| Dentons | 22.88 | 44.1% |
| Kinstellar | 0.61 | 4.6% |
Spain
Spain has a well-established legal aid system, and pro bono continues to expand rapidly. This is due in part to the strong NGO market in Spain. In addition, international law firms and companies continue to encourage lawyers to complete mandated pro bono hours, and local law firms are adding the promotion of pro bono activities as a social responsibility target. Spain has strengthened its commitment to expand the pro bono network by participating in a number of European Pro Bono Week activities.
We received submissions from 11 firms for the 2022 Index, up from ten firms in 2020. The data shows that 43 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and performed an average of 14.8 hours each. 29 percent of those engaged in pro bono did ten hours or more. 53 percent of partners performed an average of 20.2 hours with 38 percent of them recording ten or more hours.
We received submissions from 11 firms for the 2022 Index, up from ten firms in 2020. The data shows that 43 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and performed an average of 14.8 hours each. 29 percent of those engaged in pro bono did ten hours or more. 53 percent of partners performed an average of 20.2 hours with 38 percent of them recording ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Allen & Overy | 9.97 | 30.2% |
| Ashurst LLP | 14.75 | 40.3% |
| DLA Piper | 24.04 | 6.3% |
| Dentons | 15.87 | 32.9% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 3.14 | 9.5% |
| Latham & Watkins | 45.42 | 97.6% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| SLLM Sánchez-Labrador y López Martínez, S.C. | - | - |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 0.48 | 0% |
| White & Case | 41.58 | 100% |
Switzerland
Pro bono continues to gather support in Switzerland, thanks to the efforts of a few leading law firms. The country has a well-established legal aid system which reduces the need for pro bono work, and only a few law firms mention pro bono work in their promotional materials.
However emerging pro bono clearinghouses and other centralised organizations such as the Geneva Bar Association’s Human Rights Pro Bono Platform. In 2021, the first ever Switzerland Pro Bono Day took place as part of the European Pro Bono Week, bringing together over 40 delegates from Swiss and international firms operating in the country.
A total of four firms submitted pro bono data for Switzerland, including three international and one domestic firm. Fee earners offered 21 hours of pro bono support on average and engaged in pro bono at a rate of 53 percent, with 42 percent of them spending ten or more hours on pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 57 percent and performed 19.6 hours of pro bono on average, with 36 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
However emerging pro bono clearinghouses and other centralised organizations such as the Geneva Bar Association’s Human Rights Pro Bono Platform. In 2021, the first ever Switzerland Pro Bono Day took place as part of the European Pro Bono Week, bringing together over 40 delegates from Swiss and international firms operating in the country.
A total of four firms submitted pro bono data for Switzerland, including three international and one domestic firm. Fee earners offered 21 hours of pro bono support on average and engaged in pro bono at a rate of 53 percent, with 42 percent of them spending ten or more hours on pro bono. Partners engaged in pro bono at a rate of 57 percent and performed 19.6 hours of pro bono on average, with 36 percent of them performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 48.2 | 60% |
| MANGEAT Attorneys at Law LLC | 12.5 | 25% |
| Orrick | 29.77 | 80% |
| White & Case | 16.5 | 40% |
Turkey
In Turkey, law firms, individual lawyers, and bar associations all provide free legal services, either pro bono or through a legal aid scheme. Law firms primarily provide pro bono services to legal entities such as NGOs and other legal entities.
Pro bono and legal aid are less prevalent in Turkey due to a lack of tradition of voluntary community work, and a ban on lawyers from advertising to potential pro bono clients. There are no rules in Turkey that govern the provision of pro bono legal services. Lawyers are required to notify the bar association if they provide free legal services for disputes and are prohibited from advertising their services, including to pro bono clients.
Despite certain challenges, pro bono networks are developing. Two of the more active pro bono initiatives are Bilgi University Human Rights Center and Carma (Care Move Act), which connect NGOs and individuals with law firms and lawyers to generate dialogue and build trust between pro bono providers and beneficiaries. The 2019 successful pilot pro bono partnership between several law firms and Refugee Solidarity Network and Refugee Rights Turkey to provide legal information and assistance services for refugees has also generated increasing attention on the value of pro bono to contribute to public interest goals.
This is the first in-depth analysis of the Turkish pro bono landscape since the Index launched in 2014. The 2022 Index received submissions from five law firms. 35 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and provided an average of 5.5 hours of pro bono, with 19 percent offering ten or more hours. Partners were engaged at a rate of 32.1 percent and offered an average of 2.4 hours of pro bono, with 37 percent of them offering ten or more hours.
Pro bono and legal aid are less prevalent in Turkey due to a lack of tradition of voluntary community work, and a ban on lawyers from advertising to potential pro bono clients. There are no rules in Turkey that govern the provision of pro bono legal services. Lawyers are required to notify the bar association if they provide free legal services for disputes and are prohibited from advertising their services, including to pro bono clients.
Despite certain challenges, pro bono networks are developing. Two of the more active pro bono initiatives are Bilgi University Human Rights Center and Carma (Care Move Act), which connect NGOs and individuals with law firms and lawyers to generate dialogue and build trust between pro bono providers and beneficiaries. The 2019 successful pilot pro bono partnership between several law firms and Refugee Solidarity Network and Refugee Rights Turkey to provide legal information and assistance services for refugees has also generated increasing attention on the value of pro bono to contribute to public interest goals.
This is the first in-depth analysis of the Turkish pro bono landscape since the Index launched in 2014. The 2022 Index received submissions from five law firms. 35 percent of fee earners were engaged in pro bono and provided an average of 5.5 hours of pro bono, with 19 percent offering ten or more hours. Partners were engaged at a rate of 32.1 percent and offered an average of 2.4 hours of pro bono, with 37 percent of them offering ten or more hours.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Dentons | 3.78 | 13.4% |
| Kavlak Law Firm | 14.7 | 50% |
| Kinstellar | 0 | 0% |
| White & Case | 12.65 | 45% |
Ukraine
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| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| DLA Piper | - | - |
| Dentons | 5.81 | 20.7% |
| Kinstellar | 0.13 | 0% |
United States
The United States continues to maintain an impressive role in pro bono leadership globally, with the largest number of pro bono partners in the world. The pro bono legislative framework remains the same as in 2020, with 9 states requiring attorneys to report their pro bono hours.
The years between 2020 and 2022 continued to present many challenges to the most vulnerable communities in the United States. Challenges relating to the pandemic have persisted, and several other political and legal changes have been implemented presenting an affront to different rights across the country. However, these challenges have also created opportunities for pro bono lawyers to step up and support in relation to relevant social justice issues.
The overturning of Roe v Wade was a watershed moment for reproductive health and abortion rights, and the legal profession has responded swiftly across the US. For example, in New York, the Attorney General in partnership with 24 national law firms and eight non-profits established a pro bono task force and hotline to provide people who live in the state and those visiting with referrals, know-your-rights information, and resources on how to access abortion.
A number of mass shootings, including tragic incidents in Uvalde, Texas, Highland Park, Illinois and Buffalo, New York - coupled with the recent rolling back of some firearms restrictions - have also galvanized the profession, with many firms offering pro bono legal and litigation support to organizations and individuals working to combat gun violence. In addition, organizations working to reduce gun violence have taken action to increase representation on these matters. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund established a three-million-dollar litigation fund to help advance gun violence prevention through the courts.
The legal community also responded to the increased attacks on LGBT+ rights in the US - including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill – that place significant limits around conversations about gender identity or sexual orientation in schools, and the ruling by the Texas Supreme Court allowing parents to be investigated on grounds of child abuse and neglect for supporting gender affirming care for their children. Several US firms have advocated for transgender women and girls participating in sports, as well as challenged restrictions or prohibitions on healthcare professionals attempting to provide or refer youth for gender affirming treatment.
The legal profession in the US also continues to deploy pro bono in response to crises abroad. In addition to many firms offering pro bono support to individuals fleeing the Ukraine crisis and non-profits working to support these individuals, several US firms have offered their pro bono support to the Ukraine itself. A US firm is representing the Ukraine on a pro bono basis before the European Court of Human Rights in a petition filed in response to Russia's invasion and represented Ukraine pro bono before the International Court of Justice, resulting in a decision ordering Russia to suspend its military operations. Pro bono support was also deployed in response to the Afghanistan crisis. The American Bar Association, in partnership with a number of entities, launched the Afghanistan Response Project to facilitate pro bono legal support to Afghan refugees and those in Afghanistan who continue to require their advocacy. Several US firms participated in cross border collaborative efforts to respond to world crises. Over 20 law firms and corporations, mobilised resources, and their lawyers to respond to Afghanistan crisis, through legal representation and humanitarian parole applications on short order, as well as advocating for the expeditious and fair processing of applications for Afghan migrants.
The 2022 Index data indicates that the US contributed 2,551,439 hours in pro bono. We received submissions from 54 firms and in house teams, up from 45 in 2020. 75 percent of fee earners engaged in pro bono work at an average of 60.76 hours, with 63.6 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Among partners, 70.6 percent of partners recorded pro bono hours at an average of 45.98 hours each, with 49.88 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
The data shows that the top three most commonly selected areas of pro bono focus were access to justice at 71 percent, disability rights at 42.8 percent, and human rights at 42.8 percent. We see integration of innovative approaches to offering pro bono necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic that continue to be employed, including embedding technology and enhancing legal trainee engagement and training through pro bono. The initiatives range from virtual assistance programs, virtual legal clinics, and remote assistance for victims of domestic violence.
The years between 2020 and 2022 continued to present many challenges to the most vulnerable communities in the United States. Challenges relating to the pandemic have persisted, and several other political and legal changes have been implemented presenting an affront to different rights across the country. However, these challenges have also created opportunities for pro bono lawyers to step up and support in relation to relevant social justice issues.
The overturning of Roe v Wade was a watershed moment for reproductive health and abortion rights, and the legal profession has responded swiftly across the US. For example, in New York, the Attorney General in partnership with 24 national law firms and eight non-profits established a pro bono task force and hotline to provide people who live in the state and those visiting with referrals, know-your-rights information, and resources on how to access abortion.
A number of mass shootings, including tragic incidents in Uvalde, Texas, Highland Park, Illinois and Buffalo, New York - coupled with the recent rolling back of some firearms restrictions - have also galvanized the profession, with many firms offering pro bono legal and litigation support to organizations and individuals working to combat gun violence. In addition, organizations working to reduce gun violence have taken action to increase representation on these matters. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund established a three-million-dollar litigation fund to help advance gun violence prevention through the courts.
The legal community also responded to the increased attacks on LGBT+ rights in the US - including Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill – that place significant limits around conversations about gender identity or sexual orientation in schools, and the ruling by the Texas Supreme Court allowing parents to be investigated on grounds of child abuse and neglect for supporting gender affirming care for their children. Several US firms have advocated for transgender women and girls participating in sports, as well as challenged restrictions or prohibitions on healthcare professionals attempting to provide or refer youth for gender affirming treatment.
The legal profession in the US also continues to deploy pro bono in response to crises abroad. In addition to many firms offering pro bono support to individuals fleeing the Ukraine crisis and non-profits working to support these individuals, several US firms have offered their pro bono support to the Ukraine itself. A US firm is representing the Ukraine on a pro bono basis before the European Court of Human Rights in a petition filed in response to Russia's invasion and represented Ukraine pro bono before the International Court of Justice, resulting in a decision ordering Russia to suspend its military operations. Pro bono support was also deployed in response to the Afghanistan crisis. The American Bar Association, in partnership with a number of entities, launched the Afghanistan Response Project to facilitate pro bono legal support to Afghan refugees and those in Afghanistan who continue to require their advocacy. Several US firms participated in cross border collaborative efforts to respond to world crises. Over 20 law firms and corporations, mobilised resources, and their lawyers to respond to Afghanistan crisis, through legal representation and humanitarian parole applications on short order, as well as advocating for the expeditious and fair processing of applications for Afghan migrants.
The 2022 Index data indicates that the US contributed 2,551,439 hours in pro bono. We received submissions from 54 firms and in house teams, up from 45 in 2020. 75 percent of fee earners engaged in pro bono work at an average of 60.76 hours, with 63.6 percent offering ten or more hours of pro bono. Among partners, 70.6 percent of partners recorded pro bono hours at an average of 45.98 hours each, with 49.88 percent performing ten or more hours of pro bono.
The data shows that the top three most commonly selected areas of pro bono focus were access to justice at 71 percent, disability rights at 42.8 percent, and human rights at 42.8 percent. We see integration of innovative approaches to offering pro bono necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic that continue to be employed, including embedding technology and enhancing legal trainee engagement and training through pro bono. The initiatives range from virtual assistance programs, virtual legal clinics, and remote assistance for victims of domestic violence.
| Firm Name | Country | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture | United States | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | United States | 87.33 | 87.7% |
| Allen & Overy | United States | 37.31 | 45.2% |
| Aon Corporation | United States | - | - |
| Arnold & Porter | United States | 89.86 | 80.1% |
| Ashurst LLP | United States | 28.79 | 55.6% |
| Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC | United States | 23.52 | 38.7% |
| C.R. & F. ROJAS ABOGADOS | United States | - | - |
| Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP | United States | 16.96 | 27.5% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | United States | 70.53 | 69.4% |
| Cooley LLP | United States | 61.68 | 47.2% |
| Crowell & Moring LLP | United States | 66.27 | 69.9% |
| DLA Piper | United States | 54.66 | 65.2% |
| Debevoise & Plimpton LLP | United States | 102.86 | 67.7% |
| Dechert LLP | United States | 89.89 | 100% |
| Dentons | United States | 29.48 | 30.4% |
| Duane Morris LLP | United States | 40.9 | 63.8% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP | United States | 40.71 | 49.2% |
| Faegre Drinker | United States | 40.91 | 57.6% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | United States | 83.98 | 69.9% |
| GSK | United States | 12.09 | - |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | United States | 88.46 | 72.1% |
| Goodwin Procter LLP | United States | 32.05 | 49.6% |
| Hogan Lovells US LLP | United States | 108.6 | 91.9% |
| Jackson Lewis P.C | United States | 7.79 | 21.1% |
| Jenner & Block LLP | United States | 152.43 | 100% |
| K&L Gates LLP | United States | 30.09 | 39% |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | United States | 36.36 | 39.8% |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | United States | 37.99 | 58.9% |
| Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, LLP | United States | 94.74 | 66.6% |
| Lanna Lawyers | United States | - | - |
| Latham & Watkins | United States | 54.51 | 72.2% |
| Linklaters LLP | United States | - | - |
| Loeb & Loeb LLP | United States | 33.82 | 30.2% |
| Lowenstein Sandler LLP | United States | 53.88 | 53% |
| Mayer Brown LLP | United States | 48 | 51.2% |
| McGuireWoods LLP | United States | 29.19 | 50.6% |
| Morgan Lewis | United States | 65.59 | 100% |
| Morrison Foerster | United States | 72.19 | 66.8% |
| Orrick | United States | 174.52 | 98.1% |
| Paul Hastings LLP | United States | 87.5 | 100% |
| Reed Smith | United States | 50.91 | 47.2% |
| Ropes & Gray | United States | 54.37 | 68.6% |
| Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP | United States | 72.62 | 53.2% |
| Seyfarth Shaw | United States | 19.79 | 38.6% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | United States | 70.69 | 100% |
| Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP | United States | 35.76 | 49.3% |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | United States | 134.32 | 79% |
| Steptoe | United States | 64.15 | 71.2% |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | United States | 49.72 | 48.1% |
| White & Case | United States | 70.93 | 71% |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | United States | 116.79 | 99.9% |
| Winston & Strawn LLP | United States | 76 | 98.7% |
United States
Private law firms are the main providers of pro bono legal services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and there is opportunity for growth in local initiatives to shape a stronger pro bono and legal aid culture in the future. A Voluntary Legal Services Smart Portal, hosted by the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, was launched in 2018 to allow advocacy and legal consultancy firms to register to provide pro bono legal services to support financially disadvantaged members of the public.
The 20 responding firms for this Index were all international firms, whose fee earners recorded an average of 8.3 hours. The percentage of fee earners that provided any pro bono stood at 32 percent, and 20 percent of fee earners that engaged in pro bono provided ten or more hours of pro bono. 36 percent of partners spent an average of 12.1 hours on pro bono matters and 18 percent of partners who engaged in pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono.
The 20 responding firms for this Index were all international firms, whose fee earners recorded an average of 8.3 hours. The percentage of fee earners that provided any pro bono stood at 32 percent, and 20 percent of fee earners that engaged in pro bono provided ten or more hours of pro bono. 36 percent of partners spent an average of 12.1 hours on pro bono matters and 18 percent of partners who engaged in pro bono offered ten or more hours of pro bono.
| Firm Name | Average Hours per Fee-Earner | Fee Earners with 10+ Hours of Pro Bono |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture | - | - |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | 37.69 | 53.85% |
| Al Tamimi & Company | 3.19 | 15.53% |
| Allen & Overy | 2.56 | 9.28% |
| Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP | 19.97 | 33.33% |
| DLA Piper | 9.77 | 5.06% |
| Dechert LLP | 68.86 | 100% |
| Dentons | 1.72 | 9.76% |
| Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP | 1.85 | 2.8% |
| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer | 15.46 | 23.91% |
| Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | 18.08 | 41.67% |
| K&L Gates LLP | 2.22 | 11.11% |
| Latham & Watkins | 34.7 | 75% |
| Linklaters LLP | - | - |
| Mayer Brown LLP | 11.71 | 28.57% |
| Reed Smith | 37.26 | 51.09% |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 10.36 | 34.38% |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 7.97 | 31.82% |
| White & Case | 18.58 | 66.67% |
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