Clyde & Co signs up to new pro bono initiative

Global law firm Clyde & Co has joined other large employers in the UK legal services sector in signing up to a new initiative aimed at promoting the take-up of non-legal pro bono work by business service professionals.

The firm has become a member of Fifth Day, an organisation that promotes pro bono opportunities for business operations teams which are aligned to their areas of expertise. Together, these firms employ skilled employees working in areas such as IT, BD & Marketing, Finance, HR, Facilities and Secretarial Services.

As part of their membership of Fifth Day, all member firms have signed a letter committing them to promoting skills-based pro bono opportunities among their UK work force. They will also recognise skills and experience gained in the voluntary sector, and introduce their own charitable partners to the scheme where appropriate.

Fifth Day launched in June this year, founded by Fred Banning, former Head of Corporate Communications at Pinsent Masons. Its aim is to connect highly skilled people with high-calibre volunteering opportunities. The non-profit organisation has been launched in conjunction with leading skills-based volunteering organisation Reach Volunteering. 

Caroline Loving, Clyde & Co Head of Pro Bono and Social Impact, comments: “At Clyde & Co we are already committed to supporting communities around the world to access legal advice and justice through our pro bono work.  We’re looking forward to working with Fifth Day on this important initiative because we recognise that our business services colleagues can have a crucial role in supporting our pro bono clients and the third sector across many different business disciplines."

Clyde & Co lawyers give global and local pro bono legal support because we want to have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate and beyond. Broadly, the firm partners with charities, legal advice clinics and pro bono brokers to provide legal advice and representation to those in our local communities who need it most. Clyde & Co’s people donate their skills and experience so that pro bono clients may understand and assert their rights, enabling them to access justice regardless of background or wealth.

In addition to local projects, the firm seeks out opportunities to use our global reach and legal expertise to innovate and to help charities and non-governmental organisations with their operational needs. It also works with peers and other organisations to provide a coordinated response to a range of international issues and unanticipated events.

Find out more about Fifth Day here.