The need for pro bono services is overwhelming. It is often misconceived in the UK, that our legal aid system provides legal assistance to those who cannot afford it. Legal aid (CLS funded help) is both means tested and limited to certain areas of law. For some individuals earning more than the CLS funding requirement, but being in a position of being unable to afford the assistance of a lawyer, creates a void in their fundamental right of ‘access to justice’.
Pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid; it is an addition to it. It can provide legal help to those who cannot get public funding but cannot afford to pay their legal costs. It means that the lawyers will not charge for any time they spend on a case.