Generous lawyers support covid-19 response

JustGiving donations made by individual members of the profession to The Solicitors’ Charity more than trebled during the first half of 2020.

The charity (formerly the Solicitors Benevolent Association) said the donations, which totalled £4,840 compared to £1,128 for the same period last year, made through the online platform went up by 300 per cent.

This was despite online giving making up what it called “a small fraction” of its fundraising.

In April, the month following the start of the covid-19 lockdown in the UK, donations of £2,706 were made compared to just £66 in April 2019.

It said the donations were individuals within the profession rather than firms themselves wanting to help their peers.

The charity, which supports former and current lawyers and their families, also received a single £100,000 donated towards its pandemic response.

The charity’s CEO Nick Gallagher said it was clear that many in the legal profession are “looking out for their peers during challenging times”.

He commented: “Whilst these donations will form a relatively small part of the help that we provide this year, to see the change in the behaviour of the profession to help each other is a huge positive to take from difficult times.”

The charity is providing financial help to those specifically affected by covid-19 and who have not been able to access government support

Gallagher said: “The additional measures we have put in place have resulted in many applications from those finding themselves in unexpected circumstances.”

He said the charity helps those “in serious financial difficulty with nowhere else to turn during this time…

“We hope the fund can provide some relief and reduce the stress and worry many in the profession may currently be experiencing.”