This week (3 – 7 November) is National Pro Bono Week, which celebrates the free legal advice given by law firms to communities across the UK.
LandAid launched its own pro bono programme in July this year. While the legal profession has a long tradition of giving pro bono advice, it is not as established in other parts of the property industry.
Supported by LandAid trustee and lawyer David Taylor our aim is to harness the skills of our partners to offer free property advice to charities working with disadvantaged children and young people, enabling them to improve their premises and grow their vital services.
In 2013-14, LandAid engaged the expertise of 16 corporate partners to give over £110,000 of pro bono property advice to 15 charities. In July we asked our partners to pledge at least 10 days of property advice in 2014/15. Since then 25 companies have pledged over days of 300 pro bono equalling over £180,000 of free property expertise.
The supporters who have backed the campaign include Chancerygate, Cushman & Wakefield, Gerald Eve, Greengage, Grosvenor, GVA, HawkinsBrown, Irwin Mitchell, i-architect, JLL, John Robertson Architects, Knight Frank, Land Securities, LDA Design, Mace, Macegreen Consultancy, MAKE, Mayer Brown, McLaren, Montagu Evans, one5two, Prestbury Investment Holdings, SEGRO, Telereal Trillium and Turley Associates.
We have already started matching these companies with charities requiring the skills they can offer. And we have recently received 84 applications from charities requesting free property advice in the coming year, so we have no shortage of pro bono projects!
It is very rewarding as an individual to be directly involved with local charities and see a real difference your expertise can make. Being a pro bono giver also provides new opportunities for professional development and experience of working alongside other property experts as part of LandAid’s network of supporters. While for companies providing free property advice can be an important part of your corporate social responsibility programme and can in addition attract and engages talent, boost your company’s reputation and drive innovation
If your company would like to make a pledge please download our pro bono brochure, or contact Elizabeth Pearson for more information.