The Vance Center and PILnet have come together to develop the new website www.probonobook.org, which acts as a guide to help law firms around the world develop pro bono practice. This is an update to the Vance Center’s 2011 handbook.
The guide covers the administration of a pro bono programme; development of a pro bono policy manual, with templates; systematic ways in which firms can identify pro bono opportunities; encouragement and recognition of pro bono work within a firm; evaluating lawyer’s pro bono work, as well as the pro bono programme itself; and the benefits of a pro bono programme for a law firm.
The resource recognises that the development of a permanent pro bono practice is similar to a firm’s development of any new practice area or new department, in that it requires the systematic implementation of a formal structure and support system so that pro bono work is fully integrated into the firm.
Click here for an overview of PILA’s 2014 Pro Bono Survey.