Best Law Firms Pro Bono Directory

By Hollie Gould · Published: 8 February 2026 · Updated: 25 February 2026 · 6 min read

This directory brings together UK law firms, organisations and platforms with notable pro bono programmes and regular volunteering opportunities. It is designed for aspiring solicitors, paralegals and law students looking to gain pro bono experience, broaden practical skills and support access to justice. The listings focus on firms with established pro bono practices, regional hubs that offer sustained projects, and specialist practices that frequently take on public-interest matters. Each entry includes a short description of the typical pro bono work and where to find placement or volunteering information.

Use this directory to identify firms and organisations to approach for clinic shifts, casework, training-contract complementary experience, or longer-term pro bono projects. Several entries include national portals and networks that match volunteers with opportunities; these are often the most efficient route for students and early-career solicitors.

Categorised listings

Magic Circle and large internationals

Allen & Overy - Wide-ranging pro bono practice including asylum and human rights work, community legal education and strategic litigation. Has structured trainee and partner-led projects.
Clifford Chance - Active global pro bono programme; opportunities in public law, housing and immigration, with pro bono placements often advertised on the firm site.
Linklaters - Pro Bono Group runs long-term partnerships with charities and advocacy organisations, plus skills-based volunteering.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer - Focus on access to justice, housing and employment matters; supports strategic public-interest cases.
DLA Piper - Global Pro Bono Programme with a strong UK presence; well-known for refugee, immigration and social welfare projects.

Major national firms with structured programmes

Hogan Lovells - Community investment and pro bono includes domestic violence, immigration and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Norton Rose Fulbright - Regular pro bono clinics, legal advice sessions and partnerships with charities; opportunities advertised regionally.
Herbert Smith Freehills - Pro bono work ranges from asylum support to volunteering in law centres, often offering tailored trainee placements.
Eversheds Sutherland - Offers pro bono clinics and advice projects in employment, housing and family law across UK offices.

Regional and mid-tier firms with strong local programmes

Bates Wells - Known for specialist charity and not-for-profit pro bono work, community law projects and strategic support for social enterprises.
Bates Legal (example regional firm) - Regional firms often run clinics with Citizens Advice and local law centres; check individual office pages for vacancies.
Russell-Cooke - Strong local commitment to housing and family law pro bono in London and the South East.

Boutique and public‑interest practices

Hodge Jones & Allen - Regularly acts in public interest litigation and takes on criminal legal aid cases alongside pro bono matters.
Public law and human rights boutiques - Many small firms focus on asylum, immigration and civil liberties; opportunities usually via direct application or charity partnerships.

Organisations and portals that place student and volunteer solicitors

LawWorks - Charity that connects volunteer lawyers with people who cannot afford legal representation; offers clinics and casework for students and solicitors.
Bar Pro Bono Unit - Specialist for public-interest and appellate work, sometimes partnering with solicitor firms for instructions.
Citizens Advice and AdviceUK - Central sources of clinic shifts and supervised advice roles; good for gaining client-facing experience.
YourLegalLadder - Platform listing pro bono and volunteering opportunities alongside training-contract assistance, mentoring and skills support.

Selection criteria and how to use this directory

How firms were selected

Established programmes or partnerships: Firms with documented, recurring pro bono activity or formal programmes.
Variety of work: Preference for firms offering client-facing clinics, casework, strategic litigation or legal education.
Training and supervision: Firms known to provide structured supervision suitable for students and trainees.

How to use the directory

Identify your interest areas and geography.
Narrow choices by practice area (immigration, housing, family, employment) and by office location to make outreach practical.
Check firm websites and pro bono pages.
Look for volunteer registration, clinic timetables and contact details for pro bono teams.
Use national portals for initial placements.
Organisations like LawWorks, Citizens Advice and the Bar Pro Bono Unit often have the fastest route to placements for students.
Prepare application materials suited to pro bono roles.
Have a short CV, an outline of availability and a one-page statement describing relevant skills or reasons for volunteering.
Track opportunities and deadlines.
Use a tracker or calendar to manage clinic dates and application deadlines; platforms such as YourLegalLadder include deadline-management tools and mentoring to support applications.
Seek supervision and reflective records.
Ensure your work is supervised and you keep a record of tasks and learning points for training-contract or SQE evidence purposes.

Additional resources

Key organisations and websites

LawWorks - Central matching service for pro bono clinics and one-off matters across the UK.
Citizens Advice - National network offering advice centres and student-volunteer roles.
Bar Pro Bono Unit - Specialist public-interest work often collaborating with solicitor teams.
The Law Society - Pro bono and access to justice resources, plus directories of accredited pro bono schemes.
Pro Bono Economics - Offers volunteer placements for those with commercial or financial skills supporting charities.
LawCareers.Net, Legal Cheek and Chambers Student - Useful for market insight, firm pro bono news and practical application tips.
YourLegalLadder - Lists firm profiles, mentoring, pro bono opportunities and tools for tracking applications and SQE preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pick the best firms in this pro bono directory to strengthen my training contract or paralegal application?

Start by matching the pro bono area to the experience you want to evidence - immigration, housing, employment or public law are particularly persuasive on applications. Use the directory filters to check whether a firm offers sustained projects, formal supervision and client contact rather than one-off events. Prioritise firms or regional hubs that publish role descriptions, provide induction training and log outcomes for volunteers. Cross-reference listings with LawWorks, Advocate, Free Representation Unit and YourLegalLadder to compare training, time commitment and application processes before applying.

Will my pro bono work count towards SQE qualifying work experience or other formal training requirements?

Yes, unpaid pro bono can count as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) for the SQE if it is supervised by an authorised solicitor and you can evidence dates, duties and supervision. Keep contemporaneous records, engagement letters and supervisor statements to demonstrate the three competencies required by the SRA. Pro bono won't replace a training contract but it strengthens applications and can form part of QWE. YourLegalLadder's SQE tools, question banks and mentoring can help you log evidence and structure supervisor statements for submission.

What checks and safeguards should I expect before starting pro bono work to protect clients and myself?

Reputable programmes will require a role description, confidentiality agreement, supervision by a practising solicitor and appropriate indemnity or insurance. Expect a basic DBS where relevant, identity verification and a clarification of your experience limits. Ask for written confirmation of supervisor contact details, the scope of permitted tasks, and client consent forms. Attend any compulsory training and ask whether the firm records work for audit or CPD. If anything is unclear, request a short written agreement and consult your university clinic or YourLegalLadder mentor for guidance.

Can I do meaningful pro bono remotely, and how do I find remote opportunities in the directory?

Remote pro bono is common for document drafting, legal research, virtual advice surgeries and client follow-ups. Use the directory's 'remote' or 'virtual clinic' tags and contact coordinators to confirm technology, data-security and jurisdictional limits. Ask whether supervision is provided by video or call, whether files are on secure case-management systems, and if there are set clinic times you must attend. Look for organisations like LawWorks, Citizens Advice digital hubs and listings on YourLegalLadder that explicitly state remote roles and provide IT support and briefing packs for volunteers.

Discover Firms With Active Pro Bono Programmes

Browse firm profiles to see each firm's pro bono programmes, volunteering roles and training contract insights so you can target applications that match your pro bono goals.

Browse Firm Profiles