A Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Selected Jurisdictions September 2010 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities Prepared by Latham & Watkins LLP for the Pro Bono Institute This memorandum and the information it contains is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. While great care was taken to provide current and accurate information, the Pro Bono Institute and Latham & Watkins LLP are not responsible for inaccuracies in the text. © Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved. Contents Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Argentina........................................................................1 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Australia .........................................................................7 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Austria..........................................................................13 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Belgium........................................................................16 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Brazil............................................................................21 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Chile .............................................................................26 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in China ............................................................................31 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Colombia......................................................................38 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in the Czech Republic ......................................................42 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Denmark.......................................................................49 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in England & Wales .........................................................52 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Finland..........................................................................58 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in France...........................................................................63 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Germany.......................................................................68 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Greece ..........................................................................73 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Hong Kong...................................................................78 Pro Bono Practice and Opportunities in Hungary .........................................................................84 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in India..............................................................................87 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in The Republic Of Ireland...............................................93 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Northern Ireland...........................................................98 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Israel...........................................................................103 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Italy ............................................................................110 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Japan...........................................................................114 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Jordan .........................................................................119 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Kenya .........................................................................126 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Liechtenstein ..............................................................129 i A Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Luxembourg ...............................................................132 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Mexico........................................................................137 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in the Netherlands...........................................................141 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in New Zealand ..............................................................145 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Nigeria........................................................................150 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in the Philippines............................................................160 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Poland.........................................................................168 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Romania .....................................................................175 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in the Russian Federation ...............................................187 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Scotland......................................................................194 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in South Africa ...............................................................197 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Spain...........................................................................203 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Sweden .......................................................................207 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Taiwan, R.O.C............................................................212 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in Turkey ........................................................................218 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in the United Arab Emirates...........................................225 Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities in International Law .......................................................229 ii A Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities Foreword This survey of pro bono practices and opportunities in various jurisdictions goes back to an initiative of the Pro Bono Institute and Latham & Watkins in 2005 to make information about global pro bono accessible. Pro bono refers to the legal representation of the indigent, of organizations dedicated to relieving the plight of the indigent, as well as the representation of human rights and civil liberties. The survey is part of an ongoing effort, shared by many law firms, organizations, and corporate legal departments, to promote and stimulate the growth of pro bono representation globally and in international settings. Its purpose is to describe, for each jurisdiction, what access-to-justice or publicly funded legal aid programs exist, what unmet needs for legal representation remain, what perceptions or culture shape the discussion of pro bono, and what professional-conduct laws and rules provide the framework for pro bono representation. In 2005, the survey started with 11 jurisdictions, mostly in Europe. It now includes 43 jurisdictions in Europe, Asia and the Pacific region, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. As the interest in global pro bono has grown, and this survey with it, the conversation about global and international pro bono has shifted. Two or three years ago the focus was on issues of permissibility and compatibility with the local legal system. Today the focus is practical: pro bono has gained in acceptance and the question is how, not whether, pro bono representations can be undertaken. The developments have been genuinely exciting. In 2010, many lawyers from the 30 offices of Latham & Watkins around the globe have updated the information for almost all jursidctions (and added an additional jurisdiction, i.e., Greece). This survey is a work in progress. We will continue to update the existing chapters and to add new jurisdictions. In South America, in particular, we intend to add new surveys in the coming months. Please feel free to send suggestions of additional jurisdictions that you would like to be added to this survey (please direct your requests to: [email protected]). While we have worked, to the extent possible, with local counsel and NGOs to provide information that is both current and accurate, we realize that errors and omissions are unavoidable. The survey is therefore a work in progress in this sense as well. Please send us your feedback and comments to help us improve future versions. We owe a debt of gratitude to Esther Lardent and Tammy Taylor of the Pro Bono Institute, with whom we have collaborated on this project. The survey is the effort of a large team, involving not only many lawyers at Latham & Watkins, but also local counsel, in-house lawyers, and NGOs around the globe. We are grateful for their contributions and their time. It is our hope that this survey will encourage lawyers everywhere, both in law firms and legal departments, to become active in pro bono representations to address the unmet legal needs of those with limited means. Amos Hartston / Gianni De Stefano / Wendy Atrokhov / Danielle Lackey September 2010 iii A Survey of Pro Bono Practices and Opportunities PRO BONO PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ARGENTINA The Argentine legal system has long provided a mechanism of free legal services for the indigent. However, support in Argentina for the emerging concept of voluntary pro bono work among private lawyers and law firms began in earnest in the late 1990’s and intensified as the country suffered through a crippling economic crisis. The Argentine legal community is increasingly recognizing that fostering a culture of pro bono facilitates equal access to justice, bolsters democratic institutions, provides satisfying personal