The Cardiff & District Law Society is committed to fostering a strong and collaborative pro bono culture across our region. Every year, during Pro Bono Week, we highlight the extraordinary work of local practitioners, students, and volunteers who use their legal skills to support those who might otherwise fall through the gaps. Across Cardiff and the surrounding district, legal professionals are contributing to clinics, training projects, online platforms, and community partnerships – demonstrating the real and lasting impact our profession can make.
At the heart of this growing movement is our Pro Bono Champions Scheme, developed in partnership with LawWorks Cymru and the Pro Bono Committee for Wales. The scheme is built around a simple but powerful idea: that every firm, chambers, and in-house legal team can have a dedicated pro bono champion. These champions help to keep pro bono visible, accessible, and embedded within the culture of their organisation by connecting colleagues with opportunities, sharing updates, and encouraging participation.
Pro Bono Mythbusters
A key part of the Pro Bono Champions Scheme is challenging myths that often deter potential volunteers. Many lawyers assume that:
- Pro bono volunteering only happens through clinics
- It will take up huge amounts of time
- They’ll end up with lots of admin work
- They’ll have to travel long distances
- There won’t be an opportunity that fits their skills or schedule
- It might negatively impact their day-to-day workload
Our champions help dispel these misconceptions and show how flexible, varied, and rewarding pro bono work truly is.
Types of Opportunity
Pro bono takes many forms – far beyond traditional advice clinics. Opportunities include:
- Consultancy-style support
- Public legal education
- Student supervision
- Form-filling assistance
- Creating legal resources
- Training support workers
- Training other professionals
- Advising charities
- Online advice
- Pro Bono Connects
- Developing your own bespoke scheme
There is genuinely something for every skill set and practice area.
What Does a Pro Bono Champion Do?
Put simply – we want you to spread the word!
Pro Bono Champions help to make pro bono part of everyday professional life within their organisation. The role includes:
- Being the point of contact for all things pro bono – receiving and sharing information about volunteering opportunities from LawWorks Cymru
- Acting as an internal influencer – ensuring pro bono has space in internal communications; championing it to the board or senior leadership; sharing your own experiences with colleagues
- Identifying your organisation’s pro bono goals and working with us to help achieve them
- Being a “Pro Bono Mythbuster” – helping colleagues understand how flexible and achievable pro bono work can be
- Attending quarterly meetings with Cardiff & District Law Society to share updates, ideas, and best practice
- Providing annual feedback to the Cardiff & District Law Society / Pro Bono Committee for Wales
The scheme is designed to be supportive, collaborative and accessible – champions are not expected to take on all the work themselves, but rather to help create the conditions for participation.
Join the Movement
Our network of Pro Bono Champions continues to grow, strengthening access to justice across Cardiff and beyond. Whether your organisation already has a long-standing commitment to pro bono, or is just beginning its journey, the scheme offers a practical and inspiring way to get involved. Please contact our Pro Bono Officer, Angharad Phillips (phillipsa94@gmail.com) to register your interest.
Together we can create meaningful change – one case, one cause, and one champion at a time.