The eighth annual European Pro Bono Week launched June 8 with an online roundtable discussion featuring leaders in pro bono and civil society from around Europe, building momentum for an inspiring week of 16 events across 14 countries growing the pro bono community and partnerships with civil society.
The panel of eight speakers and more than 70 participants set the stage for the week by exploring this year’s theme: Reinforcing pro bono ecosystems and building partnerships that last, across Europe. Speakers highlighted collaborative projects and shared some of the key trends and challenges in pro bono in Europe. Here are a few top takeaways:
Volunteer lawyers are critical to protecting civic space
From legal and administrative restrictions on civil society organizations, funding cuts, attempts to curtail freedom of assembly and expression, and the weaponization of legal mechanisms against civic actors, a myriad of challenges for civil society in Europe have emerged in the last decade. Pro bono lawyers help nonprofits and other civil society organizations build resilience in the face of these difficulties by shoring up their legal compliance, helping them navigate complex legal issues, and challenging proposed legislation that would further inhibit their work. So essential is pro bono work to the protection of civic space that it was specifically highlighted in the EU Strategy for Civil Society in November 2025, positioning it as a core driver of a thriving civic sector in Europe.
Pro bono is growing in Europe, as are cross-border collaborations
The number of lawyers engaging in pro bono continues to grow, and the sector is becoming highly professionalized. This trend was reflected in the 2026 Global Pro Bono Guide, presented at the roundtable by TrustLaw, which covers over 100 jurisdictions worldwide including nearly 40 in Europe. The guide serves as a practical tool to navigate pro bono ecosystems and build local and cross-border practices. Speakers noted that Europe’s infrastructure for cross-border collaborations is uniquely strong, and that lots of opportunities exist to work together across jurisdictions on shared challenges like migrant rights and human trafficking.
One way to nurture the growth of pro bono is through recognition programs, which normalize pro bono work and positively influence internal conversations within law firms about pro bono. Representatives of Dechert and the UK Pro Bono Week presented the pro bono recognition list initiative in England and Wales and in Paris, which celebrates lawyers who complete 25 or more pro bono hours annually by listing their names on a public webpage and providing them with a badge to use on their professional profiles. Speakers discussed plans to create a guide for establishing a new recognition initiative in other European countries
Clearinghouses and networks are vital
The launch event discussion returned multiple times to the essential role of clearinghouses in connecting nonprofits and other civil society organizations with lawyers for pro bono work. Speakers explained that clearinghouses are much more than matching services; with their unique understanding of both law firms and NGOs, they are facilitators of successful partnerships, and can ensure pro bono efforts not only help one organization, but are strategic and make real strides toward more just, sustainable societies. In addition to clearinghouses, speakers noted the importance of cross-boarder networks like the European Pro Bono Alliance and European Pro Bono Initiative to the overall pro bono ecosystem and stressed the need to continue to reinforce and strengthen existing alliances and collaborative efforts across Europe.
European Pro Bono Week is an exciting annual initiative organized collaboratively by PILnet, law firms members of the European Pro Bono Initiative, clearinghouses from the European Pro Bono Alliance, and other organizations. European Pro Bono Week 2026 runs from June 8-12. Learn more about the various country events here.