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Press Release: LawWorks announces shortlist for the 2025 Pro Bono Awards

shivani.clancy@lawworks.org.uk — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:49:00 +0000

LawWorks is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2025 LawWorks Pro Bono Awards.

The Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in legal pro bono by organisations and individuals across England and Wales. They highlight the extraordinary commitment of the legal sector to widening access to justice, and the creativity and collaboration that make pro bono work such a vital part of our shared professional culture.

This year’s finalists reflect the breadth and impact of pro bono in action, from law firms and in-house teams supporting national charities and community organisations, to volunteers at pro bono clinics providing free legal advice to those who would otherwise go without. Their work exemplifies how the law can be a force for fairness, opportunity, and social good.

The winners will be announced at an event at the Law Society of England and Wales, Chancery Lane, London, on Wednesday 3 December. Hosted by hosted by the media editor of The Sunday Times, Rosamund Urwin, the evening will bring together practitioners, partners, and supporters from across the profession to celebrate another remarkable year of commitment and collaboration.

On the announcement of this year’s shortlist, Rebecca Wilkinson, Chief Executive of LawWorks, said:

Congratulations to everyone who’s been shortlisted for this year’s Awards. It’s always such a privilege to see the incredible pro bono work taking place across the profession and the difference it makes to people’s lives. Every nomination tells a story of dedication, collaboration and compassion, and together they show how powerful pro bono can be in creating real change.

These Awards are an important moment to recognise that work, to thank the lawyers, firms and organisations who go above and beyond, and to remind ourselves why access to justice matters. Thank you to our judges for the tough job of choosing the shortlist, and to everyone who took the time to nominate. I’m really looking forward to celebrating with you all on December 3rd.

The shortlisted nominees for 2025 are:

Best Contribution by a Small or Medium Firm

Covington & Burling
Hodge Jones & Allen
Milbank
Pallas Partners

Best Contribution by a Large Firm

A&O Shearman
Brabners
Eversheds Sutherland (International)
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Travers Smith

Best Contribution by an In-house Team or an In-house Solicitor

BPP Social Impact Team, BPP Education Group
In-house legal team, nGAGE Talent Group
The University of Law Pro Bono team
Legal, Ethics and Compliance Team (Europe), Visa

Best Contribution by a Junior Lawyer

Hleb Buziuk, FairGo CIC
Caolán Duffy, Covington & Burling
Catrin Norton, Hogan Lovells International
Nick O’Neal-Kenny, Linklaters
Nik Sharma, Dechert
Jessica Tucker, Pallas Partners

The Stephen Denyer Pro Bono Award (Best Contribution by an Individual

Naga Kandiah, MTC Solicitors
Ben Kerawala, Reed Smith
Emily Lim, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Hannah O'Malley, Linklaters
Hannah Owen, Charles Russell Speechlys

Best Pro Bono Contribution in Wales

Bangor University Legal Advice Clinic
Cardiff Law School Pro Bono Unit

Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic

Employment Legal Advice Service, The Growth Company
Family Law Group
King's College Legal Clinic
Legal Advice Centre, University of East London
Refugee Rights Hub, Sheffield Hallam University

Best International Pro Bono Award - in partnership with A4ID

Legal Response International and Ashurst
AsyLex - Rights in Exile Platform and Covington & Burling
UN Human Rights Committee Rulings on Reproductive Rights, Debevoise & Plimpton
Pallas Partners
Travers Smith

Best New Pro Bono Activity

Ashurst and APPEAL Case Enquiries
Bangor University Legal Advice Clinic
eVisa Guide and Support Sessions Project: Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Clyde & Co, Dechert, Linklaters and Squire Patton Boggs
Roundhouse Trust and Taylor Wessing
Sheffield Digital Justice, University of Sheffield
University of Southampton Legal Clinic

Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership

Kennedys and Bright Tide
Cardiff University Law Clinic & Support Through Court Partnership
School Exclusion Project, Coram Children's Legal Centre and A&O Shearman
The Chancery Lane Project and Ashurst
The Windrush Legal Initiative
The Young People's Life Café and Farrer & Co

Best Contribution to LawWorks Not-For-Profits Programme

Covington & Burling
HFW

Best Contribution to LawWorks Secondary Specialisation Programme

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Pallas Partners

The Pro Bono Connect Award

Commercial Dispute Resolution Client Team, Charles Russell Speechlys
HFW
Mayer Brown
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

A special thank you to our panel of judges for their time and expertise in reviewing an exceptional range of nominations. Their thoughtful consideration helps ensure the Awards continue to recognise and celebrate the very best of pro bono across the profession:

Clare Carter, Chief Executive of The Access to Justice Foundation
Mark Evans, President of The Law Society of England and Wales
Josh Giddens, Director of Practical Guidance, LexisNexis UK & Ireland
Chris Minnoch, Director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group
Professor Richard Owen, Chair of the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee
Paul Rogerson, Editor of the Law Society Gazette
Yasmin Batliwala, Chief Executive of A4ID
Rebecca Wilkie, Chief Executive of Advocate

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Pro bono panel to be set up for London terrorism victims

Valerie Hudson — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 17:45:00 +0000

People bereaved and injured following Saturday's attack at London Bridge will be offered free legal advice through a panel of solicitor firms to be convened by the Law Society of England and Wales with LawWorks, the solicitors’ pro bono charity, and the City of London Law Society, Chancery Lane announced today.

Read the full article at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/pro-bono-panel-to-be-set-up-for-london-terrorism-victims/5061400.article

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Pro Bono: More than a Public Good

Valerie Hudson — Tue, 30 May 2017 15:07:00 +0000

James Sandbach, director of policy and external affairs at LawWorks, responds to Jon Black’s piece ‘What’s so good about pro bono’ published last week on legal Voice. Sandbach argues that pro bono is not a misnomer or a gimmicky PR stunt, but something the professions should celebrate and promote.

Read the full article at: http://www.legalvoice.org.uk/pro-bono-public-good/

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On the job: students fuel explosion in free advice

Valerie Hudson — Thu, 18 May 2017 15:13:00 +0000

Spiralling demand for free legal advice has prompted students around the country to become involved in a huge array of pro bono projects through their law school legal advice clinics.

Read the full article at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/student-law/on-the-job-students-fuel-explosion-in-free-advice-0f6cr8rj3

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The Law Society Gazette: Let graduates represent litigants in person – master of the rolls

Valerie Hudson — Wed, 10 May 2017 15:36:00 +0000

Law graduates could help plug the widening access to justice gap by representing litigants in person in court proceedings, the new master of the rolls has suggested. Graduates can be given rights of audience under existing legislation, Sir Terence Etherton pointed out. He said this would be a ‘far better’ way to address the fast-expanding number of LIPs than enabling a proliferation of ‘unregulated, uninsured’ paid McKenzie friends.

Read the full article at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/let-graduates-represent-litigants-in-person-master-of-the-rolls/5059089.article

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The Law Society Gazette: Pro bono clinics report greater number of ‘distressed clients'

Valerie Hudson — Wed, 10 May 2017 15:32:48 +0000

As the demand for free legal advice soars, a pro bono charity has highlighted the significant impact solicitors can make to clients’ health and family relationships. LawWorks’ annual clinics report states that the network responded to more than 53,000 enquiries between April 2015 and March this year – a 24% increase on the previous year.

Read the full article at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/pro-bono-clinics-report-greater-number-of-distressed-clients/5059181.article

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Law Careers: 'Winners of LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards announced'

Valerie Hudson — Wed, 10 May 2017 12:17:00 +0000

The shining lights of the student pro bono scene were celebrated on 26 April at the annual LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards. Held at the House of Commons, the awards are designed to recognise the exceptional work being done by students and their law schools around the UK in the provision of free legal advice and support.

Read full article at: http://www.lawcareers.net/Information/News/Winners-of-LawWorks-Attorney-General-Student-Pro-Bono-Awards-announced-28042017?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Twitter2017

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The Guardian: 'Free legal advice has grown with aid cuts and court fees, says charity'

Valerie Hudson — Wed, 10 May 2017 12:09:00 +0000

Demand for legal advice and support has soared after cuts to legal aid and the introduction of court fees, according to the charity that coordinates solicitors’ pro-bono clinics. A report by the organisation LawWorks, a charity committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice, shows a 55% increase in applications over the past financial year. There were more than 43,000 individual enquiries at law firms participating in the scheme in 2014-15.

Read full article at: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/nov/05/free-legal-advice-has-grown-with-aid-cuts-and-court-fees-says-charity

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New Law Journal: LawWorks student pro bono stars

Valerie Hudson — Thu, 04 May 2017 15:42:00 +0000

Assisting former employees of a closed steel works and advising the homeless were among the examples of work carried out by winners at this year’s LawWorks and Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards. The awards, hosted by LawWorks’ trustee Sir Robin Knowles at the House of Commons last week, were sponsored for the ninth year running by LexisNexis. They recognise the commitment of law schools and students to providing pro bono legal advice.

Read the full article at: https://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/content/lawworks-student-pro-bono-stars

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Students who helped Redcar steelworkers honoured at LawWorks pro bono awards

Valerie Hudson — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Students from the Teesside Law Clinic have been honoured at the LawWorks and Attorney General’s annual student pro bono awards. The students provided assistance to former employees of the Redcar steelworks following its closure in 2015.

Read the full article at: https://l2b.thelawyer.com/issues/l2b-online/redcar-steelworkers-lawworks-pro-bono-awards/

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LawWorks - Media Coverage

Press Release: LawWorks announces shortlist for the 2025 Pro Bono Awards

Best Contribution by a Small or Medium Firm

Best Contribution by a Large Firm

Best Contribution by an In-house Team or an In-house Solicitor

Best Contribution by a Junior Lawyer

The Stephen Denyer Pro Bono Award (Best Contribution by an Individual

Best Pro Bono Contribution in Wales

Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic

Best International Pro Bono Award - in partnership with A4ID

Best New Pro Bono Activity

Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership

Best Contribution to LawWorks Not-For-Profits Programme

Best Contribution to LawWorks Secondary Specialisation Programme

The Pro Bono Connect Award

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Pro bono panel to be set up for London terrorism victims

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Pro Bono: More than a Public Good

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On the job: students fuel explosion in free advice

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The Law Society Gazette: Let graduates represent litigants in person – master of the rolls

Read the full article at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/let-graduates-represent-litigants-in-person-master-of-the-rolls/5059089.article

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The Law Society Gazette: Pro bono clinics report greater number of ‘distressed clients'

Read the full article at: https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/pro-bono-clinics-report-greater-number-of-distressed-clients/5059181.article

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Law Careers: 'Winners of LawWorks & Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards announced'

Read full article at: http://www.lawcareers.net/Information/News/Winners-of-LawWorks-Attorney-General-Student-Pro-Bono-Awards-announced-28042017?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=Twitter2017

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The Guardian: 'Free legal advice has grown with aid cuts and court fees, says charity'

Read full article at: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/nov/05/free-legal-advice-has-grown-with-aid-cuts-and-court-fees-says-charity

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New Law Journal: LawWorks student pro bono stars

Read the full article at: https://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/content/lawworks-student-pro-bono-stars

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Students who helped Redcar steelworkers honoured at LawWorks pro bono awards

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