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27 March 2026
Issue: 8155 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Pro Bono , Charities
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NLJ this week: Finding innovative ways to fund the justice gap

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When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ

The Foundation provides legal advice centres with much-needed grants, and Bhatt explains how innovative methods, such as using pro bono cost orders and unclaimed collective action damages, are helping to plug the gap.

Also in this issue of NLJ, the National Pro Bono Centre's Bea Rossetto explains why volunteering pro bono is a golden opportunity for retired lawyers and offers encouragement and advice for those considering it. Rossetto speaks to one retired lawyer who confidently expected to slow down after leaving her legal career—-and ended up setting up a family law clinic.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
An indemnity costs battle with a £20m gap could reopen an important question: what weight should an approved budget carry?
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
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