Our Social Impact
Strengthening society through Pro Bono and Community Investment
The continuing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the effect of global shocks and a worsening cost of living crisis in the UK have combined to leave many people facing hardship. Charities, social enterprises and community organisations have found their resources over-stretched as the need for their services and support has surged. Over the last 12 months, Charles Russell Speechlys has responded by deploying our core business skills, sharing our resources and the expertise of our people with charities and non-profit organisations, supporting them to deliver for their beneficiaries.
Our pro bono and community investment is carried out by a growing army of our people — with diverse skills and expertise — who want to help put our business at the disposal of non-profits providing vital frontline services.
We have invested this year in creating more opportunities for our business services professionals to use their skills for positive impact, both working alongside our pro bono lawyers or directly with frontline non-profits. This will continue to be a focus for us in 2022/23.
£1,194, 028
value of pro bono legal advice given
1,147 hours
of non-legal volunteering completed by members of staff though our community investment work
4,906 hours
given by our people to pro bono work and community investment initiatives
263 people
giving their time — 27% of our total UK headcount
Vicki Lister, Director of Internal Client Services, is a champion of the Firm's Pro Bono practice and Community Investment work and explains how her team is lending its expertise for impact.
“The CSEs (equivalent to PAs), CSAs (Admin Assistants) and CDEs (Word Processor operators) have been involved in a variety of ways on the Firm’s pro bono work – from the Windrush compensation project to the Disability Benefits Appeals, and they will soon be helping with the ELIL Greece refugee project, assisting with meeting arrangements, document saving, matter set-ups, outreach to clients, updating volunteer lists and researching travel logistics for Greece secondments,” says Vicki. “I know those involved really enjoy contributing and we are hoping to get more traction across the business as the year unfolds.”
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