PILnet had the honor of welcoming more than 150 representatives of law firms, clearinghouses, bar associations and civil society organizations in Frankfurt March 24 for the 2026 PILnet European Convening—which proved to be an incredibly valuable space for discussing how pro bono legal support can strengthen civil society in Europe at a time of unprecedented challenges.
“We are meeting at a time when the global map of democracy is shrinking,” said PILnet Co-Executive Director Andrej Nosko in his opening remarks. “In many parts of the world, we are witnessing a coordinated anti-democratic offensive that seeks to dismantle the rule of law and silence independent voices. Even in the European Union, more than two-thirds of member states saw declines in the rule of law last year.”
But while the stakes are high, Nosko stressed that opportunities also abound for pro bono legal services to help ensure those defending democratic values have the legal expertise and support they need to survive and thrive.
Strengthening pro bono in Europe: The EU Civil Society Strategy, protecting civil society organizations in Europe, and pro bono in Germany
As civil society organizations across Europe face increasing pressure from shrinking funding, restrictive regulations, political shifts, and legal challenges such as strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), external support is more critical than ever. Dr. Peter Braun, LL.M. from Dentons called on law firms to increase their investment in clearinghouses like PILnet and the intermediary infrastructure that makes pro bono work at scale.
Session speakers emphasized that pro bono legal work can shore up civil society in Europe by addressing core operational needs like compliance, contracts, and data protection, as well as by conducting legal “health checks” to build long-term resilience. Speakers highlighted structural barriers, particularly in countries like Germany, where regulatory limits restrict pro bono engagement. They also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between law firms, bar associations, governments, and intermediaries such as clearinghouses.
Participants discussed the opportunities presented by The European Commission’s new Civil Society Strategy as a call to action to form partnerships, promote awareness of pro bono work, and build platforms for cooperation shaped by civil society.
Protecting human rights defenders and civic space in Europe
As more countries, including established democracies, are becoming places where human rights defenders are at risks, a robust system of monitoring, reporting and support is needed to protect human rights defenders, including lawyers.
This session focused on the newly adopted Council of Europe Convention aimed at strengthening protections for lawyers, developed in response to increasing threats, political persecution, and systemic restrictions. Speakers highlighted that the Convention expands safeguards for both individual lawyers and their professional associations.
“We must not be indifferent. This should be our mandate and our mission,” said Filip Czernicki, Coordinator of the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law pro bono programs. Speaking of collective efforts to push back against democratic backsliding and attacks on rights defenders, Czernicki said “There is a lot that can be done. I’m proud to be a part of this crowd, which is modeling different ways not to be indifferent. A clearinghouse is one of the best vehicles. It allows people to help when they have something to offer but don’t know how to get involved.”
Civil society on the move
War, instability, and authoritarian crackdowns have pushed a growing number of civil society organizations to relocate to safer countries in order to continue their work. After hearing from representatives of organizations supporting human rights defenders, journalists, and civic actors who have had to relocate, participants worked in small groups to brainstorm the challenges civil society faces when relocating to a new country and how pro bono lawyers can help. Relocation of staff and family members, potentially having to relocate multiple times, deciding whether to work publicly or anonymously, remaining relevant and useful to your community while in exile, and the mental health toll taken by all of the above were among the challenges elicited.
Solutions generated in the groups included firms focusing on their strengths and spreading the support across multiple firms to mitigate the risk, supporting the development and expansion of tools like the Global Nonprofit Guide that help NGOs choose the best country for their organization to relocate to, firms sharing best practices on relocation, encouraging NGOs to engage fiscal agents and financial managers, and advocating for a universal fast track recognition point for nonprofits in the EU.
“The hosts can quickly become the guests,” said Tamar Beria, Program Manager, International Partnership for Human Rights, speaking of the need for cross-border solidarity as previously “safe” countries that had welcomed civil society in exile suddenly become inhospitable themselves.
Interactive Workshop 1: Leveraging pro bono in the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
The workshop focused on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which comes into force in June 2026 and aims to harmonize asylum procedures across member states. Organised in the context of the GRF Legal Community Pledge, it was facilitated by experts from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), pledging NGOs and law firms, and people with lived experience of displacement and statelessness. Together, they briefed the pro bono community on the Pact’s key elements, likely gaps, and emerging legal challenges. A central concern was the Pact’s accelerated border procedures, which carry real risks for people’s rights, including increased exposure to de facto detention.
Participants worked in groups and developed a range of ideas for high-impact pro bono engagement, including mapping and monitoring national implementation plans, strengthening coordinated legal support across Europe, and exploring direct assistance projects to support those most at risk, including children and survivors of trafficking. Ahead of the workshop, PILnet and Pledge members produced a briefing document, which is a good starting point for anyone wanting to get up to speed on the Pact and its implications.
Interactive Workshop 2: Building a pledge against SLAPPs in Europe
Participants in this workshop were first given a brief overview of the CASE Coalition’s work and SLAPPs in Europe, including the definition of a SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) and the ethical responsibilities of lawyers in preventing abusive litigation, followed by practical examples of both successful and unsuccessful defenses against SLAPPs. Speakers then introduced a proposed pledge aimed at guiding legal professionals, after which participants rotated through group discussions to give feedback on key points of the pledge before reconvening to share insights and refine the language of the initiative. A central theme emerged: while the pledge may be challenging for commercial law firms to adopt, especially given limited awareness of SLAPPs, it is certainly valuable. Participants emphasized the need for clearer definitions, more objective criteria, and better contextualization within existing legal standards, as well as practical measures like training, internal reporting mechanisms, and onboarding processes that introduce new hires to SLAPPs. Overall, education on SLAPPS was seen as the most useful direction moving forward.
Climate and Environmental Pro Bono
Speaking about the challenges to engaging in public interest or environmental work, participants observed that while conflicts of interest are often cited by private law firms as a barrier, these are frequently business considerations rather than genuine legal or ethical conflicts, and organizations can often work with firms to navigate them.
On the opportunities side, speakers underlined the significance of the July 2025 ICJ Advisory Opinion, which, while not legally binding, reinforces states’ obligations to act with due diligence under customary international law, even toward non-parties. A practical example from Galicia illustrated successful collaboration between communities, NGOs, and lawyers in holding authorities accountable for environmental harm, supported through mixed pro bono and low bono efforts. Participants discussed mechanisms such as the Aarhus Convention, which enables individuals to bring environmental complaints, and broader initiatives supporting human rights defenders and legal accountability. Overall, the session emphasized that commercial lawyers can contribute meaningfully—without needing niche specialization—through roles like litigation support, advisory work, and pre-publication review, as well as through operational support and collaborative initiatives.