The 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales
Over 4,000 lawyers recognised for pro bono contributions in second year of the Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales
The Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee is proud to announce the publication of the second annual Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales, with 4,780 lawyers across England and Wales recognised for their dedication to providing pro bono services.
The 2025 edition of the list saw 4,780 entries in total, an increase of over a fifth from 2024 (3,762 entries).
This includes close to 2,000 names (1,934) appearing for their second time on the list, as well as 2,846 lawyers featured for the first time on the list this year.
Almost 4,000 solicitors were featured on the list alongside 617 barristers, 55 registered foreign lawyers, 2 registered European lawyers, and 137 chartered legal executives.
The 2025 list saw an increase of almost a third (30%) in the number of barristers featured, from 476 in 2024 to 617 in 2025 and a 21% increase in the number of solicitors from 3,284 in 2024 to 3,969 in 2025.
The List recognises and celebrates those lawyers who have given 25 or more hours of pro bono legal assistance over the previous calendar year, shining a light over the sustained time and effort given to pro bono initiatives each year by the legal community.
This year, the initiative expanded to include chartered legal executives, SRA-registered foreign lawyers and registered European lawyers, reflecting the List’s commitment to celebrating the pro bono contributions of professionals from across the entire legal community.
Commenting on the publication of the Recognition List, its Patron Baroness Carr, The Lady Chief Justice, commented:
“I am delighted to welcome the publication of the 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales. I am pleased to recognise and thank all those solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives and registered foreign or European lawyers who have undertaken 25 hours or more of pro bono work over the last year.
“I am particularly pleased to see that a number of lawyers appear for the second time, having been recognised on last year’s inaugural List, showing their continued commitment to pro bono.
“The judiciary sees first-hand the importance of pro bono advice and representation in assisting those who might not otherwise receive legal help. I hope that recognition on the List encourages the legal profession to continue its commitment to providing pro bono help to those in need.”
Richard Atkinson, President of Law Society, commented: “We are pleased to welcome the publication of the 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List.
“Everyone has the right to access justice and although pro bono benefits those most in need, it cannot be a substitute for legal aid. There has been a significant increase in solicitors working pro bono this past year and whilst it can truly change lives, pro bono can never replace a properly funded justice system.”
Barbara Mills KC, Bar Council Chair, also commented: “The Pro Bono Recognition List shines a light on those lawyers who continue to step up time and time again to plug the gaps. The Bar’s own contribution has grown significantly. We are incredibly grateful for the time and care given by every individual on the list, but their goodwill should not replace the proper funding of legal aid to ensure everyone has access to justice.”
Yanthé Richardson, CILEX President, commented: “CILEX is proud to support the Pro Bono Recognition List, which highlights the vital contribution legal professionals make in providing access to justice.
It is inspiring to see so many Chartered Legal Executives recognised for their dedication to pro bono work, demonstrating the impact of a diverse and inclusive legal profession. Their efforts not only change lives but also strengthen public confidence in the justice system. We hope this recognition encourages even more legal professionals to get involved and make a difference.”
The Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee also commented on the publication: “Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee was delighted to review the publication of the 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales, and see the very many solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives in private practice and in-house who provided pro bono legal assistance over the last year and in particular those recognised who practice in the North West and Manchester.
If any Manchester based practitioner wishes to find out more about the work of the Greater Manchester Pro Bono Committee, please do not hesitate to contact us.”
Pro Bono in action – supporting a family in need
In 2023, a team of barristers and solicitors recognised on the 2025 Recognition List supported a family who approached Advocate for assistance with representation at an Inquest into the death of Ryan, a young man who had taken his life in 2022. The police had previously visited Ryan’s flat due to concerns about his suicidal ideation but had not taken appropriate steps to ensure his safety. Through the Pro Bono Connect project, the barristers partnered with solicitors to provide assistance.
The team successfully persuaded the Assistant Coroner that it was appropriate for a jury to determine this inquest, and the jury concluded that Ryan had died by suicide. The Assistant Coroner went on to highlight future measures for the police to take to ensure better mental health training, including publishing a Prevention of Future Deaths report, which concluded that mental health training provided to officers was not as effective, or repeated enough, as may be necessary.
For Ryan’s family, the impact was huge. His mother, Karen, spoke of how the team “restored my faith in human nature – that there are still kind and wonderful people out there that care enough to give up their own time to support us.”
Pro Bono in action – making a difference in the community
In 2024, a national law firm with solicitors recognised on the List supported a West-Sussex based charity, Ten Little Toes, to acquire a new lease.
Ten Little Toes is a charity which supports families and parents with children under 12 in West Sussex who are in crisis or hard circumstances, collecting supplies and equipment for families, such as prams and cots.
The charity was operating out of the founder’s home and needed a larger premises to continue to deliver the work and further expand their reach to more families in the community.
The charity is very small and relies on fundraising alone to exist, so without pro bono support they would not have been able to afford the legal services they needed to negotiate a lease. The new premises meant that they were able to provide more for families in the West Sussex community.
About the Pro Bono Recognition List
Set up under the sponsorship of the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee, with the support of the Law Society, Bar Council, CILEX and all major pro bono legal organisations, the Recognition List aims to shine a light on the individual lawyers at organisations of all sizes who are at the heart of providing pro bono across the jurisdiction.
The list was open to any solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive, registered European lawyer or registered foreign lawyer practicing as of 31 December 2024. Submissions for next year’s list will open in January 2026, covering pro bono undertaken during 2025.