PILnet is hosting a three-part virtual training series designed specifically for lawyers and law firms in Africa interested in pro bono lawyering.
Across Africa, lawyers are often called upon to contribute to the advancement of justice, uphold human rights, and support communities facing legal challenges. While many are eager to take on this responsibility, they frequently encounter practical hurdles from economic models that make pro bono work difficult for profit-driven firms, to the absence of structured pro bono systems within law firms, and uncertainty around how to translate community problems into legal strategies and winnable cases.
In 2024, PILnet expanded in Africa with a focus on supporting nonprofits through legal assistance and growing a stronger pro bono culture among law firms and lawyers. Since then, we have worked with a growing number of lawyers and law firm partners to provide legal support to civil society organizations across the continent. Our interactions with these lawyers, from young associates and public interest lawyers to partners at mid-size and large firms, have reinforced that pro bono is a part of the legal culture in Africa. While pro bono practice may not always be formalized, many lawyers already support community members, family, or individuals in need. This training builds on those existing practices to help structure and scale pro bono work in more sustainable and impactful ways, and also explore strategic thinking behind public interest litigation.
Apply to join this series by July 4, 2025.
Please note, space is limited. All applicants will be contacted by July 9. Selected participants will receive a confirmation email with Zoom information prior to the webinars.
Webinar schedule:
Session 1: Pro Bono 101 (Building a Practice That Works)
- Date: Jul 17, 2025
- Time: 3PM WAT (Lagos)
This session will provide a practical introduction to setting up and sustaining a pro bono practice in African law firms. It will examine what pro bono looks like in context, how to build buy-in within firms, common challenges firms face, and solutions from across the continent. Guest speakers from local law firms will share their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned. Participants will explore how to structure pro bono efforts in a way that aligns with firm values, capacity, and client needs.
Session 2 and 3: Turning a Human Rights or Community Problem into a Case You Can Win
- Date: Jul 24, 2025 and Jul 31, 2025
- Time: 3PM WAT (Lagos)
These sessions will explore the strategic thinking behind public interest litigation. It will cover how to recognize litigable issues within community or human rights challenges, assess legal merit and risk, and frame the problem in ways that can lead to meaningful legal outcomes. Participants will also reflect on what “success” looks like in strategic litigation and how to develop creative, impact-driven approaches.
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Angela Vigil
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