Pro Bono Recognition List eligibility expanded to include CILEX lawyers

The Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee opened 2025’s Pro Bono Recognition List of England and Wales in January, expanding its scope this year to include Chartered Legal Executives.

The Pro Bono Recognition List, an initiative that began in 2024 and will now be published annually, is open to lawyers who have dedicated 25 or more hours of pro bono legal assistance in the past year. The recognition list is supported by its patron, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr, and recognises lawyers’ pro bono legal work regardless of how it was undertaken, whether on an ad hoc basis or via a small or large pro bono scheme.

In its inaugural year, over 3,750 solicitors and barristers participated. Chartered Legal Executives as well as SRA-registered foreign lawyers, and registered European lawyers will now be able to submit as well, as the list seeks to celebrate the pro bono contributions of professionals from across the entire legal community.

The Lady Chief Justice said she was “keen that this initiative continue to recognise all those lawyers who give their time pro bono to help others and make a difference in their community”. She strongly encouraged eligible Chartered Legal Executives to submit their names to the list, “so that their pro bono commitment can be seen alongside others in the profession.”

CILEX President Yanthé Richardson said that by including Chartered Legal Executives, as well as other practitioners, “the list acknowledges the vital contributions made by a broader spectrum of the legal profession”.

She continued, “Pro bono work is a cornerstone of access to justice, and this initiative highlights the dedication of those who provide invaluable support to those in need. CILEX is proud to support this effort and celebrate the positive impact of pro bono work across our community.”