The master of the rolls and the solicitor general have launched a campaign urging lawyers to seek more “pro bono costs orders”.
“Unlock Funds for Justice” calls on lawyers to make full use of s 194 of the Legal Services Act 2007, which enables courts to make losing parties pay costs in pro bono cases. The costs, intended to reflect the financial value of the free legal help, is paid to the Access to Justice Foundation and from there distributed to legal assistance charities and pro bono organisations.
Launching the campaign during Pro Bono Week, Lord Neuberger, master of the rolls, said: “Pro bono ensures access to justice, which is a central pillar of any democratic society.”
Lord Goldsmith, chairman of the Foundation, said the costs orders produced “new money” for justice, on the back of a successful pro bono case and without much additional effort by the pro bono lawyer.
