LawWorks announces the 2024 Pro Bono Awards shortlist

Reading time: two minutes

LawWorks has announced the shortlist for its 2024 Pro Bono Awards, which recognise and celebrate achievements in legal pro bono work, undertaken by organisations and individuals.

LawWorks’ Chief Executive Rebecca Wilkinson said: “A huge congratulations to those shortlisted and everyone who was nominated – these awards acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of law firms, in-house teams and the many individuals who volunteer their time and share their legal expertise to improve the lives of others.

Seeing the impact pro bono work makes on people’s lives reaffirms our commitment to developing and supporting solicitors’ pro bono work within the access to justice community.”

Interested in getting involved in pro bono? Check out our list of initiatives and volunteering opportunities.

The shortlisted nominees for the 2024 awards are set out below.

Best contribution by a small or medium firm – sponsored by LEAP

• Crowell & Moring UK LLP
• Hodge Jones & Allen
• MTC Solicitors
• Ropes & Gray International LLP

Best contribution by a large firm

• Addleshaw Goddard
• Baker McKenzie
• Dechert LLP
• Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
• Milbank LLP
• Travers Smith LLP

Best contribution by an in-house team or an in-house solicitor

• In-house team, The University of Law
• Omar Madhloom, University of Southampton
• Visa Legal, ethics and compliance team

Best contribution by a junior lawyer

• Lauren Beattie, Milbank
• Abigail Curry, Baker McKenzie
• Shereen Goh, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
• Sarah Hill-Smith, Clyde & Co LLP
• Richard Rowlands, Covington
• Tom Wyer, Herbert Smith Freehills

Best pro bono contribution in Wales

• LGBTQ+ Law Clinic CIC
• Veterans Legal Link, Aberystwyth University

Best contribution by a pro bono clinic

• Dads House Family Law Clinic
• Employment Tribunal Support Service, The University of Law
• Legal Advice Centre, University of East London
• University of Southampton Global Legal Clinic

Best international pro bono award - in partnership with A4ID

• Face Equality International in partnership with Reed Smith, Bank of America and Amazon
• Herbert Smith Freehills, Human Dignity Trust and Blackstone Chambers
• MPF Afghan BAP Project

Best new pro bono activity

• Crowell & Moring UK LLP
• Ethnicity Business Growth Programme, Addleshaw Goddard
• McKenzie Friend Service, BPP University Law School
• Toynbee Hall & Herbert Smith Freehills housing clinic
• University College London iLAC Form Filling Initiative

Most effective pro bono partnership award

• City Community Legal Advice Centre
• Connect Legal Advice Clinic, Centrepoint, Goldman Sachs and Herbert Smith Freehills
• Employment Legal Advice Service, The Growth Company
• Hertfordshire Law School and Shelter Court Runner Scheme
• Reach out to Survivors, University of Chester
• Working Families' Legal Advice Service

Best contribution to LawWorks not-for-profits programme

• Covington
• Crowell & Moring
• Proskauer Rose (UK) LLP

Best contribution to LawWorks secondary specialisation programme

• Baker McKenzie
• Pallas Partners

The pro bono connect award

• Brabners LLP
• Dechert LLP, Maitland Chambers, Astraea Group
• Morgan Lewis & Bockius UK LLP
• Morrison Foerster (UK) LLP and Cloisters Chambers

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 4 December 2024. This year’s judges are:

• Mark Evans, vice president of the Law Society;
• James Harper, executive sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for 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; and
• Rebecca Wilkie, chief executive of Advocate.