We believe everyone has a right to justice, but recognise that this is not always achievable. We have a long tradition of providing pro bono assistance and recognise that our lawyers find it personally rewarding as well as professionally broadening and stimulating. In 2006 our lawyers contributed over 5000 hours of legal pro bono with a nominal value of £804,287.

We operate a number of projects in support of a diverse range of individuals and community groups. These include staffing a local law centre Herbert Smith founded in 2000, advice for litigants-in-person at the Royal Courts of Justice Citizens Advice Bureau, advocacy for individuals appealing to the employment tribunal and families with children who have special educational needs appealing against their local educational authority.

Our human rights activities include being members of the panel of firms supporting individuals in the Caribbean appealing against death sentences at the Privy Council in London, their last court of appeal, and seconding a trainee to work at Liberty – the UK's leading human rights organisation.

We are a founding member of the UK charity LawWorks (formerly Solicitors Pro Bono Group). In addition to our pro bono work, we provide funding to a number of legal charities, lectureships, chairs, and prizes. We also support annual public lectures in association with Liberty, the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the Public Law Project.

For more information on our legal volunteering programme see our corporate website or email cr@herbertsmith.com