With pro bono becoming a competitive issue, increasing numbers of firms are backing initiatives abroad. Georgina Stanley looks at some of the opportunities available

That law firms are devoting increasing amounts of time and effort to pro bono projects is nothing new. But, with international firms keen to involve as many of their lawyers as possible, the types of opportunities available are changing. In particular, the number of projects either benefiting those in developing counties or involving an overseas trip is on the increase.

International efforts look likely to grow further still next year as two leading organisations in the sector – the International Lawyers Project (ILP) and Advocates for International Development (A4ID) – both look to expand initiatives outside the UK. Significantly, both are keen to pick up more senior lawyers.

The training-focused ILP, which counts all of the magic circle firms amongst its many sponsors, is hoping to recruit at least 36 lawyers to take part in a new scheme in Tanzania that is expected to run for 18 months from the start of next year.

ILP has already carried out a number of training programmes in the African country but next year's scheme will see UK lawyers working with a local law school teaching trainee lawyers rather than those already qualified. Subjects on the curriculum include advocacy and civil and criminal procedure, taught by senior lawyers on placements of between a week and a few months. Once established the organisation may expand its efforts to other parts of Africa in the future.

Sarah Poland, the organisation's programme director, said: "At the moment our thinking is to take one legal system and add depth to it. We'll then look at other East African countries but now we're really concentrating on legal training we want to make sure we do something substantial."

laac-fundraising-121A4ID, which works with dozens of firms and chambers, is also hoping to add to its roster of services. The charity carries out London-based development training for lawyers and awareness raising initiatives as well as international opportunities.

On the domestic front Herbert Smith, for example, has eight lawyers signed up for the A4ID development course, which runs on Saturdays. Meanwhile, the firm is among a group including Shearman & Sterling, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Lovells to use A4ID's brokerage service, which pairs up available law firms with pro bono vacancies benefiting those in the developing world.

While most of this work is done from London, A4ID also offers opportunities for junior lawyers to spend time abroad on projects. Its newly-qualified lawyers programme has run projects in locations across India, Africa and Central America.

And, significantly, A4ID is planning to expand this overseas offering further, with the organisation currently in discussions with partner firms about adding longer-term projects for more senior lawyers. As the projects would not involve providing legal training, it sees itself coordinating with organisations such as ILP and Public Interest Law Institute rather than competing.

Chris Marshall, chairman of A4ID and head of pro bono at Reed Smith in Europe and the Middle East, said: "One of A4ID's priorities is to expand the range of international pro bono opportunities we offer. In particular, we are committed to building the capacity of developing country lawyers through sustainable strategic partnerships. We would like to build upon the in-country opportunities available to our lawyers from all levels of seniority, including those taking career breaks."

With many City firms restructuring their partnerships and the poor market conditions encouraging other partners to take sabbaticals there has never been a better time for more senior lawyers to get involved. Michael Smyth CBE, head of public policy and pro bono at Clifford Chance (CC), is a keen advocate for getting more senior lawyers involved in projects.

He explains: "I personally feel very strongly that this country suffers from a civic deficit every year when top legal talent retires and ceases to engage in any legal activity let alone activity in the public interest. The challenge is ensuring that the default setting is that any lawyer coming to the end of his career does some kind of pro bono."

But while the overseas opportunities available both for senior and junior lawyers may never have been greater, the downturn means filling spaces may not always be quite as easy, despite the fact many firms include pro bono in associate bonus/appraisals. Some firms are tightening the focus of their pro-bono efforts so, for example, finance-driven firms may choose to focus more on micro-finance initiatives.

Equally, even if firms are a little on the quiet side, associates keen to keep their jobs after the numerous redundancy rounds of recent months may not be quite so keen to jet off to the other side of the world for a few months. It's perhaps not surprising that CC's best pro bono year in terms of activity was during the still boom times of 2007-08.

As Susan Hazledine, A&O's head of social investment, comments: "People tend to think they must focus just on billable hours so we are doing a lot to remind people that pro bono is even more necessary in the difficult times than the easy times."

The reality, of course, is that clients are keener than ever to insist that their law firms give something back to the community; effectively guaranteeing that firms will continue to up their pro bono activities both locally and internationally.

But, with pro bono now a competitive area in its own right for law firms keen to attract the best graduates, some are concerned that there will be too much emphasis placed on more 'glamorous' overseas opportunities.

As CC's Smyth says: "Last year in London, 743 of our lawyers were involved in pro bono, of which around 150 were involved in work with an international element and that is probably about right. I worry that there could be too much drift to the glamour of international projects abroad which could deprive UK advice agencies of much-needed social welfare law support."

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Profile: Tom Mosher

Tom Mosher is a US-qualified capital markets lawyer who joined Allen & Overy in October 2007. In January this year he went on a 10-week trip to India arranged by the firm's pro bono team with the help of A4ID and Challenges Worldwide.

The trip saw Tom work from the Delhi-based offices of the Drishtee Foundation, which aims to encourage small-scale entrepreneurs across rural India. Drishtee had already reached more than 4,000 villages through its efforts in education and retail/supply chain but Tom helped launch new initiatives in healthcare and micro-finance.

Working closely with the in-house legal team at Drishtee, he introduced the organisation to A&O's local best friend – Trilegal – and co-ordinated efforts with A&O's London and Singapore office. Providing risk management and compliance work he helped Drishtee with the new operations, which are still being piloted.

Mosher commented: "My role was to manage Drishtee's first ever legal audit. It was the first experience I've had as an in-house lawyer, managing teams and liaising with outside advisers – a unique leadership opportunity for me at this stage in my career."

During his time in India Mosher also had the opportunity to travel to some of the rural communities where Drishtee operates, meeting a number of the small retailers already benefiting from existing schemes. Now back in London he continues to advise Drishtee on a number of areas and remains part of A&O's microfinance working group, which includes more than 200 lawyers across more than 20 countries.

The experience has left him keen to help in other ways. He added: "This was my first developing world experience and the first time I've really spent in unindustrialised communities. I would definitely do something like this again. I've learned things through this experience that I can take with me forever."