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27 June 2025 / Bea Rossetto
Issue: 8122 / Categories: Features , Pro Bono , Charities , Profession , Career focus
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Turning the page on pro bono

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It’s time for a new story on pro bono, says Bea Rossetto: one that grounds it as a vital public service delivering justice for all

We hear it all the time—‘pro bono work has never been more vital’. This is true. But it has also never been more vulnerable to misrepresentation.

From Trump’s recent attacks on pro bono lawyers assisting migrants at the US border to the targeting of immigration solicitors and legal advice centres during the 2024 UK riots, it is clear that the toxic narrative surrounding the justice system is not just rhetoric—it is fuelling real-world hostility and undermining the principle of equal justice.

That’s why the Law Society’s new Reframing Justice toolkit, developed with FrameWorks UK, is a timely resource. At the National Pro Bono Centre, we believe this strategy isn’t just for public affairs teams at law firms. It offers powerful guidance for everyone in the pro bono sector—particularly those of us trying to grow lawyer involvement, build public understanding, and secure

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers—Louise McRae & Annabella Hwang

Sackers recruits new associates

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

McHale & Co—Shaun Little & Patrick Byrne

Firm bolsters senior team with head of corporate and head of employment

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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