The Pro Bono Legal Community as a Crucial Shield for Civil Society
A cross-continental movement uniting legal professionals and nonprofits to defend democracy and expand access to justice
European Pro Bono Week 2025 brought together hundreds of legal professionals, nonprofit organizations, and civil society advocates across multiple countries to address some of the most pressing challenges facing democratic institutions and vulnerable communities. From Germany to Spain, the Czech Republic to Luxembourg, the week demonstrated the transformative power of legal expertise when channeled toward social good. An interesting highlight was the importance of intergenerational impact in the work we do. The week emphasized inspiring young lawyers and students, with Italy’s discussions highlighting how pro bono commitment serves as a moral duty toward democracy and fundamental rights. Germany’s work with Law Clinic umbrella organizations and Spain’s involvement of 22 professionals as speakers and moderators demonstrated how the movement is building sustainable leadership and engagement pipelines.
European Pro Bono Week Launch Event
The week’s launch event on June 10, 2025, moderated by Atanas Politov, Europe’s Director of Positive Impact and Pro Bono at Dentons, established a comprehensive framework for protecting civic space through legal action. Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Assembly and Association, addressed an unprecedented global aid crisis and the collapse of the international financial support ecosystem and lifeline support for sustainable global civil society. The EU Commission Head of DG Justice and Consumers, Ingrid Bellander Todino, and Waltraud Heller, Civic Space Lead at the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency, gave a high-level view of the cross-cutting issues of the European civic space. In response to the constriction of civic space, the role of governments and EU institutions in safeguarding and preventing further deterioration of civic space was underscored by Kerttu Willamo, Civic Space Project Officer at the European Civic Space Forum. The framework emphasized the critical importance of being informed about civic space developments, building direct relationships with civil society organizations, and providing solidarity to defenders under pressure. The approach spans from immediate legal defense to long-term capacity building, encompassing everything from strategic litigation to relocation support for activists in exile.
Read a summary of the launch event here.
The Shrinking Space Crisis Intensifies
During Germany’s Pro Bono Day, the Maecenata Institute highlighted the global phenomenon of “shrinking spaces,” revealing how targeted actions by right-wing forces systematically undermine critical and committed organizations. The crisis has reached a critical point where some nonprofits are being forced to scale back operations or cease entirely, making legal intervention more urgent than ever.
A critical finding emerged across multiple events: nonprofits must develop smart funding strategies that reduce dependence on state funding alone. German participants emphasized that clever financing combined with strategic positioning, including economic business operations, offers organizations greater independence and resilience in an increasingly challenging environment.
During this pro bono day, Germany’s contributions highlighted fundamental infrastructure issues, including the urgent need for improved strategic support for pro bono and sustainable engagement in terms of pro bono collaborations. The focus on insolvency prevention and restructuring for organizations, combined with statute writing workshops and organizational merger support, demonstrated how legal expertise can strengthen the nonprofit sector’s operational foundations.
Germany Pro Bono Day
France’s Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l’Homme (AADH) organised a workshop regarding the impact of global and European crises on nonprofit organisations. The session examined how the legal community can contribute to strengthening democratic principles and enhancing access to justice. Likewise, the Netherlands event addressed this pertinent issue, emphasising the rising pressures experienced by nonprofit organisations and the challenges encountered at the local level. The discussion proposed solutions on how pro bono professionals can provide essential support during uncertain times and measure the impact of their work.
Civil society resilience
The Brussels Pro Bono Roundtable highlighted the increasingly vital role of the pro bono ecosystem in supporting and reinforcing democratic principles and in upholding the rule of law amidst recent global challenges. The session promoted the exchange of knowledge and dialogue among like-minded professionals to foster sustainable and resilient pro bono collaborations. The influence of pro bono activities across the continent was demonstrated by the excellent attendance and active participation of both Brussels-based and European professionals.
Brussels Pro Bono Roundtable
Technology and innovation in Pro Bono delivery
Italy’s 8th Pro Bono Day showcased how digital tools are revolutionizing pro bono service delivery. Pro Bono Italia and CSVnet Clearinghouses demonstrated increased effectiveness through digital platforms and an increasingly aware network, showing how technology can scale impact while maintaining quality legal support.
Italy Pro Bono Day also showcased how they are expanding beyond traditional boundaries. Their work, spanning microcredit and elder rights support to LGBTQIA+ rights projects, demonstrated the breadth of pro bono impact. The Permanent Immigration Law Roundtable’s work, including initiatives for Ukrainian refugees, combined with advocacy training and collaborative projects, showed how integrated approaches create more sustainable change.
Italy Pro Bono Day
Comprehensive refugee support
The Czech Republic’s approach to Ukrainian refugee integration exemplified comprehensive legal support. DLA Piper Prague’s Business Breakfast combined practical legal education on employment law and business setup with broader discussions about refugee community challenges and the role of pro bono legal support. The event featured insights from UNHCR, the Association for Integration and Migration, and the CEELI Institute, demonstrating how multi-stakeholder collaboration creates more effective support systems.
Czech Republic Day
Pro bono support for health care workers
In France, Alexandra Joffo of l’Association Franck Joffo delivered a compelling presentation on the growing impact of the organization’s work, which provides pro bono legal support to healthcare personnel. With support from volunteer lawyers across multiple law firms, the initiative ensures that frontline workers receive necessary support.
Elder rights and aging populations
Spain’s Pro Bono conference addressed the complex legal challenges linked to aging and connected vulnerabilities, presenting four collaborative projects that protect elderly individuals through strategic legal work. The focus on personal autonomy, fair treatment, and equal access to justice highlighted how pro bono work can address demographic challenges with dignity and care.
Spain Pro Bono Day
Geographic inclusivity
Hungary’s decision to host Pro Bono Day in Debrecen rather than Budapest represented a strategic shift toward inclusivity, successfully bringing pro bono concepts to lawyers and NGOs outside major urban centers. The local bar’s exceptional cooperation and positive reception demonstrated significant untapped potential across smaller communities.
Justice and the Fight Against the Death Penalty
Ireland’s exceptional closing event featured death row exoneree and Founder and President of the Sunny Centre Foundation USA, Sunny Jacobs, and underscored the life-altering difference that pro bono advocacy can make in personal lives.
Cross-Sector partnerships
In Poland, new collaborations emerged throughout the week, including partnerships between Centrum Pro Bono and Rödl & Partner. Rather than viewing similar organizations as competitors, participants embraced a complementary approach that strengthens the entire ecosystem. Taking on a collaborative approach, Poland’s pro bono day featured an honest dialogue between civil society organizations and law firms to strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships and practical legal training from equipping nonprofit leaders with tangible tools to avoid legal risks. Luxembourg’s newly established Pro Bono Association emphasized how these collaborations serve as powerful drivers of civic engagement and solidarity across Europe. The roundtable served as a platform for legal professionals, civil society, and communities to engage in a dialogue on the potential of pro bono in the country and create a positive impact. Ireland highlighted the importance of equipping nonprofit organizations with tools to maximize the benefit of pro bono services and amplifying impact through cross-sectoral collaborations with practical takeaways to guide growth in striving toward access to justice.
Luxembourg Pro Bono Day
Call to Action
The week issued a clear challenge to law firms across Europe: offer legal expertise to strengthen nonprofit organizations through meaningful, sustainable engagement. As Italian and Belgian participants noted, pro bono commitment represents a moral duty toward democracy and fundamental rights, while German organizers emphasized the need for committed companies to actively assume social responsibility.
With coordinated action across Europe, the pro bono legal community stands as a crucial shield for civil society. The connections forged and strategies developed during European Pro Bono Week 2025 provide a foundation for even more impactful work ahead, ensuring that access to justice remains a reality rather than merely an aspiration across the continent.
By: Wendy Otieno
PILnet Communications