Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton this week, Lammy said the requirement would be at least 35 hours of pro bono legal services per lawyer per year. A legally binding target of 20 hours per lawyer will be set for in-house legal teams at organisations seeking government contracts.
He would create a state-run national pro bono centre alongside the target to encourage partnership between the public and private sector. The centre would promote awareness, offer practical tools and resources to reduce barriers to participation and connect individuals taking part. The pro bono target can be signed up to by law firms, individual law firm solicitors, barristers and barristers’ chambers.
City firms announced record profits this year, with full equity partners at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance taking home £1.91m, £1.9m and £1.85m, respectively.
In April 2013, the government removed legal aid from large areas of civil law, for example, those in need of housing law help were suddenly unable to obtain legal aid help unless they were in imminent risk of homelessness.
Lammy said: ‘City Law firms are making billions in profit, while low-paid workers see their tax bill rise and wages fall.
‘This party recognises the importance of the private sector doing their bit in partnership with the public sector.’
Lammy also called for a ‘turning point’ in tackling violence against women, following several recent high-profile murders of women out walking. He reaffirmed Labour’s current commitment to fast-track rape and sexual assault cases, increased minimum sentences for rapists, the creation of a new offence of street harassment, ensuring victims of domestic abuse get legal aid and making misogyny a hate crime.
Law Society president I Stephanie Boyce said pro bono plays an important role in access to justice but should never be a substitute for legal aid―lawyers currently provide an estimated £7m worth of pro bono advice per year, while legal aid delivers about £1.7bn worth.
