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Lifesaving lawyering

26 September 2025 / Bea Rossetto
Issue: 8132 / Categories: Features , Profession , Pro Bono , Charities , Training & education , Housing
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Commercial lawyers can make a real impact to those who need legal support the most—no specialist expertise required. Bea Rossetto introduces General Practice Pro Bono
  • General Practice Pro Bono uses everyday legal skills to deliver vital help for people facing housing and social welfare issues.

When people think of pro bono work, they often assume it requires deep subject matter expertise, in areas such as housing, family, immigration, or welfare. Understandably, many lawyers can be hesitant to get involved in cases outside their usual fee-earning practice, whether due to their unfamiliarity with the area of law, or simply not knowing where to start. But the reality is that many of the tasks required don’t demand retraining or niche legal knowledge to make a difference to someone’s case. What they do require are skills you already have: legal analysis and problem solving; drafting and document review; client communication; strategic decision-making; procedural awareness; and legal research.

At the National Pro Bono Centre, we call this ‘General Practice Pro Bono’. It’s about

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Scott Hilton & Simon Jones

Laytons ETL—Scott Hilton & Simon Jones

City firm launches real estate corporate team to meet growing client demand

Talbots Law—Clare Regan & Lucy George

Talbots Law—Clare Regan & Lucy George

Midlands firm appoints head of real estate development

Charles Russell Speechlys—Libby Elliott

Charles Russell Speechlys—Libby Elliott

Corporate, restructuring and insolvency offering grows with partner hire

NEWS
Personal injury lawyers have urged parliamentarians to reject plans to enact an extra defence in civil cases where child sexual abuse is alleged
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has launched a post-Mazur regulatory review into litigation rights, and is fast-tracking an application from CILEX
The Court of Appeal has upheld the principle of core immunity for advocates, in an important judgment
The Bars, Faculty of Advocates and law societies of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have come together to accuse politicians of putting lawyers at risk through their use of ‘irresponsible and dangerous’ language
The beleaguered TA6 property form has been re-released after almost a year of tests with a working group of residential conveyancers
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