Pro bono versus law bono

Answer

As explained in our ‘What impact will net zero have on law firms?’ article, one priority of law firms will be to establish a high-quality client base, with profitable clients, where they can create long-term, strong and mutually beneficial relationships. It’s also important for law firms and lawyers to reflect on the wider impacts of their work, both working with commercial clients for example in the sustainable economy and impact investment spaces, and also in providing pro or low bono work to support others.

Pro bono

From the Latin "pro bono publico", meaning "for the good of the people", pro bono work is undertaken to a usual high standard and capability, at no cost to the client. There's a range of ways that pro bono work is delivered, ranging from formal law clinics that are set up around the country, to less formal, ad hoc arrangements.

Pro bono clients are often charities, non-governmental organisations, or not for profits that a firm or lawyer wishes to support in a direct and practical way. Such clients may face a similarly wide range of legal challenges and opportunities as for-profit enterprises. Legal advice can be a valuable asset that some organisations and companies wouldn't have access to, except on a pro bono basis. Appropriate legal support can save any client huge amounts of time and cost, and for some charities there will be additional considerations, such as extra reporting requirements and navigating their obligations to donors, beneficiaries and the Charity Commission, or protecting their valuable reputation. 

For law firms, aside from the importance of contributing to the greater good, pro bono work can present a good opportunity for building different relationships and links.

For lawyers, pro bono work can be a valuable opportunity to refocus on the fundamentals of good client care, ensuring that the client's needs are known and central to the work, as a charity's priorities and ways of working will often be very different to a commercial enterprise.

Low bono

Low bono work is work done at a significant discount to usual charge out rates. This could be a large amount of work done on a relatively small, fixed fee, or work done at a reduced hourly rate.

It can help to bridge the middle-ground where persons cannot pay for the full fees but can pay a small amount. It may be an option where a prospective client would be ineligible for pro bono support under a firm's internal policies.

In either case, pro bono and low bono initiatives are an important part of many firms' offerings, and part of the foundation of a lawyer's role in working for justice and the global community.

Victoria Miller is an associate in the corporate team at Michelmores LLP.