Judges celebrate pro bono history exhibition

A groundbreaking exhibition on the history of pro bono legal work across the UK has been officially launched in the Houses of Parliament and is now available to view online at historyofprobono.uk. The History of Pro Bono exhibition has been created to mark the 25th anniversary of UK Pro Bono Week, which takes place from 2 to 6 November. It traces the tradition of lawyers volunteering their time to provide free legal help over the centuries.

This project stems from months of meticulous research led by the chair of UK Pro Bono Week, drawing on historical records and academic scholarship. It juxtaposes artwork and manuscripts dating back to 1300 AD with historical photographs. For the first time, this significant history has been curated into a visually engaging format. More than 50 law firms, charities, universities, and individuals from all over the UK responded to the Pro Bono Week committee’s call for submissions, enriching the exhibition with photos, videos, and articles.

The exhibition delves into the often-overlooked histories of ancient Roman advocates, along with the pro bono tradition of ecclesiastical lawyers in England and Scotland. Prominent figures are also featured, including John Lennon, one of the first clients of the drug advice charity Release, and future Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is cited for his role in the successful 2005 challenge to Uganda’s mandatory death penalty.

Among the landmark cases highlighted is the 1772 English case of Somerset v Stewart, where barristers including Francis Hargrave appeared pro bono on behalf of an escaped slave, a pivotal moment that contributed to the abolition of the slave trade.

The exhibition was officially launched on Monday, 26 October, by Andy Slaughter KC MP, the Solicitor General for England and Wales, who chairs the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee. Lord Willy Bach, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Access to Justice, joined him. In a joint statement, the heads of the UK’s three judiciaries praised this initiative and commended the thousands of lawyers who engage in pro bono work annually. Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, and Lord Pentland, Lord President of the Court of Session, remarked, “It is a longstanding tradition of lawyers to volunteer to provide free legal help to those unable to afford it. Indeed, pro bono must be as old as the legal profession itself. It goes to the heart of what it means to be a lawyer: serving the law and justice.”

The Lady Chief Justices and Lord President continued, “As the Lady Chief Justices and Lord President, we follow a long tradition ourselves of encouraging the profession to do pro bono, as our predecessors have done for 500 years. We therefore welcome for the 25th Pro Bono Week the new exhibition on the History of Pro Bono, which places in historical context the commitment of thousands of lawyers who today give their time freely. On behalf of the people and charities helped through pro bono, we express our gratitude to the profession for continuing that historic legacy.”

Speaking at the launch event, Solicitor General Andy Slaughter MP stated, “As an MP, I see firsthand how legal problems can impact a person’s life, and the value of pro bono lawyers in supporting people through these challenges. Pro bono is a vital part of our legal system – helping to ensure justice is available to everyone. This exhibition rightly celebrates the people and organisations who have delivered that help for 25 years, and I hope it inspires many more to get involved.”

Toby Brown, chair of UK Pro Bono Week’s organising committee, shared his hopes for the exhibition, saying, “As we celebrate Pro Bono Week’s silver anniversary, we hope that the History of Pro Bono exhibition will become a living project that helps the future legal profession understand our shared tradition of pro bono." He extended his gratitude to all who contributed to this effort, particularly to Emily Sherratt of the National Pro Bono Centre, the Pro Bono Week committee, and the Attorney General’s Office.

Brown also highlighted historical materials from the exhibition, reading from Lord Commissioner Whitelocke’s 1648 speech, which outlined the professional ethics of serjeants-at-law, the earliest order of senior barristers established in the 13th century: “For your duty to particular clients you may consider, that some are rich, yet with such there must be no endeavour to lengthen causes, to continue fees. Some are poor, yet their business must not be neglected, if their cause be honest, they are not the worst clients, though they fill not your purses, they will fill the ears of God with prayers for you, and he who is the defender of the poor will repay your charity.”

Now in its 25th anniversary year, UK Pro Bono Week is set to take place from 2 to 6 November 2026. This year’s theme is: “Celebrate a tradition. Inspire action. Shape the future.” To view the full calendar of events, visit: probonoweek.org.uk/events