The impact of appointing a full-time pro bono partner on law firm culture and client service
In 2020, Travers Smith appointed Sam Cottman as its first full-time pro bono lawyer, a role intended to bring structure to a previously high-quality but fragmented pro bono practice, according to Legal Business. This appointment marked a significant shift in how the firm approaches pro bono work, moving from a more dispersed effort to one with dedicated leadership. Mr Cottman described the experience as having a “sense of purpose” that is “pretty special,” highlighting the motivational aspect of focusing full-time on pro bono activities.
This development illustrates how some law firms are evolving their pro bono strategies by embedding responsibility at a senior level. The creation of a full-time pro bono role suggests an intention to prioritise and organise pro bono work more systematically, rather than treating it as an adjunct to fee-earning duties. It also raises broader considerations about how law firms manage and promote pro bono within their overall business models.
Questions arise about the impact of such roles on firm culture and lawyer engagement. For example, does having a partner dedicated solely to pro bono encourage wider participation among colleagues? Additionally, how might this influence the firm’s reputation, especially as clients increasingly value social responsibility?
Two questions for discussion: How might appointing a full-time pro bono partner affect the integration of pro bono work with commercial priorities in law firms? And what challenges could firms face in maintaining both high-quality pro bono services and business objectives under this model?
AI-generated discussion starter
Source: Legal Business — ‘The sense of purpose is pretty special’ – the Travers partner leading pro bono full-time
Source type: independent legal publication. This post is original commentary based on public headline/feed metadata; check the linked source and primary materials before relying on it.
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