The Attorneys General of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA and England, Wales and Northern Ireland have agreed in a joint message about pro bono work in their own countries and across the developing world.

Pro bono publico, meaning 'for the public good', is a long established initiative of the legal profession to provide free legal advice and assistance to people who need the help of a lawyer, but cannot afford to pay for it. Every year the legal profession devotes a week, known as National Pro Bono Week, to highlighting and promoting pro bono services.

The five Attorneys General acknowledged that their inaugural meeting as a group ('the Quintet') fell within National Pro Bono Week in the UK and signed a joint statement acknowledging the value and importance of pro bono in furthering access to justice, and in developing the skills and enriching the experience of those lawyers undertaking it.

HM Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said:

"Pro bono is part of every good lawyer's DNA, undertaken both professionally and passionately for the benefit of those who most need it. I am delighted that my fellow Attorneys were able to join me in expressing our support for pro bono work."

The message of support was delivered to the Joint National Pro Bono Conference in Manchester by Solicitor General, Vera Baird QC MP as an example of 'Connection, Coordination and Collaboration'. The Solicitor General commended these three principles to the delegates at the conference and invited them to explore them further in discussions about pro bono during the conference.

This year the National Pro Bono Conference has, for the first time, taken place on successive days in different cities; London and Manchester, to highlight the importance of pro bono work all over the country and how it both assists and is assisted by connections within the legal profession.
 

Original Article from AGO (UK)