PLMJ signs protocol with PRO BONO to provide legal support to social solidarity institutions

In line with its culture of social responsibility, PLMJ will provide support to PRO BONO, an innovative project in the field of social solidarity, whose aim is to provide legal support to those most in need.  

PRO BONO is an institution created recently to provide voluntary legal services. It acts as a hub to select cases after analysing needs with accredited social solidarity institutions. The cases are then passed on to law firms that partner the project.

Under this new protocol, PLMJ will provide support in cases selected PRO BONO, providing free legal advice and judicial and administrative case support as well as legal training to PRO BONO and the institutions it supports.

Filipa Cotta, of PLMJ’s Pro Bono Committee explains that “We want to contribute to better access to justice and high quality legal services for those who most need them by providing pro bono services. We encourage our lawyers to get involved in this type of work which is such a great benefit to the community.”

She adds that “The pro bono legal assistance provided by PLMJ has seen great growth over recent years. In the last 18 months, we have provided more than 1000 hours of pro bono legal assistance but there is still an enormous margin for us to do more and better for those in most need. Our objective with this partnership is to reach 1500 hours a year.”

One of the factors that makes this project different is mobilisation and involvement of students from leading law faculties who will support the lawyers in different matters, with the lawyers acting as their mentors. This is also a way for law firms to have closer contact with law students and to identify new talent.