Unpacking pro bono in Scotland

THE evolving role of pro bono will be unpacked at a free event in Glasgow next month.

The in-person event – “Pro Bono Unpacked: Impact, experience and future direction in Scotland” – is open to legal professionals, civil society organisations, community advocates and others with an interest in the provision of pro bono legal services. It will be hosted by CMS at the law firm’s offices in Glasgow. The Scottish Pro Bono Roundtable event aims to bring together leading voices from across the legal and third sectors to examine the current landscape of pro bono services, share practical experiences, and consider how collaboration can strengthen access to justice.

It will open with a welcome from CMS representatives, followed by an overview of Scotland’s pro bono landscape delivered by the Convenor of the Faculty of Advocates’ Free Legal Services Unit, Neil Mackenzie KC.

Neil Mackenzie KC

The keynote address will be delivered by Elaine Mullan, Trusts and Foundations fundraiser at Social Bite. This social enterprise is known for its work tackling homelessness and poverty, and her presentation will draw on her experience working closely on Social Bite initiatives such as its Village projects and Jobs First programme to illustrate how pro bono legal support helped bring these initiatives to life.

A central feature of the evening will be a panel discussion moderated by Chris Rae, Partner at CMS. Panel participants will include Gordon Gow, Student Director at the University of Strathclyde Law Clinic, Julie Hand, Solicitor at Civil Rights First, and Ronan Duff, Solicitor at JustRight Scotland. The other panel members will be Stuart McPhail, Executive Director and Chairperson at Glasgow Pride, and Sam Donegan, Housing, Debt and Welfare Adviser at the Community Help and Advice Initiative (CHAI).

They will discuss the strengths and challenges faced in the pro bono sector in Scotland. Topics will include capacity constraints faced by organisations, increasing demand for legal support, and the practical realities of delivering services to vulnerable communities. The panel will also explore how cross-sector collaboration between private law firms, in-house legal teams, charities, and grassroots organisations can help maximise impact and sustainability.

Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute perspectives on how pro bono work can be strengthened in the years ahead, particularly in light of ongoing pressures on legal aid and community support services.

The event will be held on Tuesday 9 June from 5pm to 7.30pm at the CMS offices on West Regent Street in Glasgow. It is open to everyone with an interest in the provision of pro bono services and will be followed by a networking reception. Those wanting to attend should register here.