Lady Chief Justice praises profession’s long-standing commitment to Pro Bono service
More than 5,500 lawyers across England and Wales have been recognised for their voluntary legal work after the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee published the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List.
The list acknowledges solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives and registered foreign lawyers who each completed at least 25 hours of pro bono work over the past year.
According to the Pro Bono Recognition List, 5,550 legal professionals met the threshold for inclusion this year, reflecting continued strong engagement with pro bono activity across the profession.
The initiative, now in its third year, is supported by organisations including the The Law Society, the Bar Council and CILEX, alongside major pro bono organisations.
A message accompanying the publication from The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, patron of the scheme, praised those recognised and highlighted the profession’s long-standing commitment to volunteering.
She said: “The lawyers recognised on the List follow the long tradition of the legal profession in volunteering their time to provide free legal assistance to individuals and charities.”
The Lady Chief Justice noted that a number of lawyers had appeared on the list for multiple years, demonstrating sustained commitment to pro bono work.
She added that while “pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid”, it remains “a valuable part of our system of justice”, with the judiciary seeing first-hand the impact of free legal advice and representation on those who might otherwise receive no assistance.
She concluded that ‘I hope that recognition on the List encourages the legal profession to continue its commitment to providing pro bono help to those in need.’
Among those recognised were 136 members of CILEX, underlining the contribution of chartered legal executives to pro bono provision.
CILEX President Sarah Fowler said: “CILEX is delighted to join in recognising the dedication of those who contribute to pro bono work across the legal profession. Your generosity and expertise help ensure access to justice for those who need it most.”
The Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee said the list is intended to recognise the “considerable contribution” made by lawyers providing free legal advice and representation to those unable to afford it, rather than to rank individuals.