Profession targeted for pro bono fund raising

The Solicitors Pro Bono Group is looking to raise "a significant sum of money" from within the profession to help it promote pro bono work.

Chair Tony Willis, a partner at Clifford Chance, said the group's newly-formed executive committee was looking at the question of funding and recruitment, and hoped to have a set of proposals for approval by the group as a whole by mid-March.

The group, which aims to encourage and support solicitors across the country in pro bono activities, plans to appoint a full-time director as soon as possible. It is hoping to raise all the money it needs from within the profession.

Willis said the group had been well received by people all over the country, from city firms to local law societies and people seeking legal advice.

"Although our initial concentration has been on large and specialist firms, we hope to encourage and learn from those already actively involved in this work throughout the country and to raise support for our aims from many more."

He added: "Solicitors have always done this kind of work. I am convinced that there is much more that can be done."