ProBono
News
News
Free legal aid for families with endangered children
12. 4. 2013
The League of Human Rights in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the
Pro Bono Alliance deepens cooperation with the Ombudsman
14. 4. 2013
The Pro Bono Alliance (PBA) and Public Defender of Rights adopted the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Area of Free Legal Aid to Complainants, on the basis of which the PBA facilitates free legal representation by the cooperating attorneys to the victims of discrimination. Within the cooperation, the PBA and the Public Defender’s Office organized three workshops for attorneys on discrimination. Find out more…
Pro Bono Centre has new coordinator
3. 4. 2013
As of April 2013, the Pro Bono Centre new coordinator. Alexandra Dubová gruaduated from the Bratislava University of Law and the Human Rights Program at the Central European University in Budapest. Before joining Pro Bono Centre, she has been working at the attorneys office in Bratislava, and sevaral non-governmental organizations, including Interights in London.
Email: probono@probonoaliance.cz
Mobil: 00420 775 204 798
We also thank Kateřina Kloubová who coordinated the Pro bono Centre so far for her great work. Many thanks Kateřina!
PILnet’s 6th Annual European Pro bono Forum
25. 10. 2012
On 25-26 October 2012, PILnet hosted the largest-ever European gathering of lawyers, nonprofit organizations, and law schools dedicated to using law as a tool to achieve social justice.
PILnet’s European Pro Bono Forum has become an essential event for the quickly growing pro bono community across
the continent—and around the world. VIEW THE AGENDA
Key topics for 2012 were:
- Pro Bono and Human Rights, analyzing human trafficking, racial discrimination, immigration, and mental disability rights.
- Global Pro Bono, highlighting environmental challenges, anti-corruption projects, and other pro bono efforts in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
- Making Pro Bono Possible, focusing on firms, corporations, bar associations, and law schools.
- Pro Bono in Spain, exploring the state of pro bono in the Forum’s host country and considering issues ranging from microfinance to strategies for the development of Spanish clearinghouses.
Pro Bono Centre Overview 2011
10. 11. 2011
Since June 2008 to October 2011, the Pro Bono Centre received 140 requests for pro bono legal help from individual clients represented by NGOs and NGOs themselves. In 79 cases legal help was provided to individual clients of NGOs. The legal help concerned cases of domestic violence, housing, executions, restriction of legal capacity, family matters, etc. In 61 cases, legal help was provided to directly NGOs with regard to their activities. Pro Bono Centre operates within progressing network of law firms, which consider pro bono work as one of their professional activities. There are 45 law firms involved in the network.
You can find more information here.
Professional ethics and Access to legal help - roundtable
30. 5. 2011
Round table and reception held on 3rd anniversary of the Pro Bono Centre on 9 June 2011 in the residence of the US Ambassador in Prague (Dr. Zikmunda Wintra 3, Praha).
You can find more information here.
JUDr. Petra Marková received PRO BONO attorney of the year 2010 award
23. 1. 2011
JUDr. Petra Marková from the city of Plzeň was named PRO BONO attorney of the year 2010 at the event of the prestigious competition The Lawyer of the Year.
The Pro BONO attorney of the year award is to be awarded to attorneys, who voluntarily provide free legal services to low-income clients, socially or otherwise disadvantaged and vulnerable clients or civil society organizations. The expert jury was choosing the honored attorney out of 8 nominations.
JUDr. Petra Marková was honored for providing long-term and systematic free legal aid services to civil society organizations in Plzeň. The provided legal services included legal counseling, legal analysis as well as trainings. The jury appreciated JUDr. Marková´s significant contribution to the development of civil society in Plzeň especially in the area of social and debt counseling.
Congratulations!
We are pleased to inform that JUDr. Petra Marková is also involved in Pro Bono Centrum project, for which we express our sincere gratitude.
Attorneys involved with Pro Bono Centre as well those who provide pro bono legal services independently may receive the PRO BONO award. The organizers find important that the number of the attorneys providing pro bono legal services is raising. The Pro Bono Centre project has been so far successful in achieving that.
34 law firms and attorneys cooperate with Pro Bono Centre
4. 1. 2011
More and more law firms and attorneys are actively joining the Pro Bono Centre project. At the moment there are 34 law firms cooperating with the Pro Bono Centre. Pro Bono Centre project was joined recently by the Schaffer and partner, Sládek and partners or JUDr. Karel Bocek. See complete list of the Pro bono Centrum partner law firms and attorneys here.
Workshop on executions, insolvency, discharging from debts and personal bankruptcy
26. 11. 2010
On 25 November 2010, the Pro Bono Centre organized a workshop on executions, insolvency, discharging from debts and personal bankruptcy. The lectors were JUDr. Stanislav Pazderka, executor (Execution Office in Písek) and Mgr. Jáchym Oswald, assistant to the judge (Insolvency Department of the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem).
The workshop focused on the issues encountered by civil society organizations while providing aid to people in debt trap, low-income or otherwise socially disadvantaged people. Attorneys and civil society organizations involved in the activities of Pro Bono Centre were given priority to participate at the workshop.
PILA becomes a Pro Bono Alliance
31. 8. 2010
Civil society organization Public Interest Lawyers Association (PILA) is changing its name. From now on you will meet us under a new name - the Pro Bono Alliance (PBA). For more information please click here.
Pro Bono Centre news - simplification, new coordinator and new contacts
27. 8. 2010
We decided to simplify the requirements for civil society organizations for joining the Pro Bono Centre project. Newly we do not conclude contracts with the NGOs, only a written consent with the rules of Pro Bono Centre operation is sufficient.
As of 1 September 2010, Kateřina Kloubová is in charge of dispatching requests for pro bono legal services. Kateřina has been so far mainly organizing our educational events, she is known especially among the participants to Human Rights School.
In relation to changing the name of the organization to the Pro Bono Alliance, the new Pro Bono Centre contact email is probono@probonoaliance.cz.
National Pro Bono Forum - a successful event
29. 4. 2010
The National Pro Bono Forum organized by the Pro Bono Alliance (then PILA) together with the Czech Bar Association took place on 28 April 2010 under the patronage of the president of the Czech Constitutional Court, JUDr. Pavel Rychetský. The event was attended by more than 50 representatives of law firms, civil society organizations, academia and justice. For more information please click here.
Stepan Holub was awarded as a first Pro Bono attorney of the year
25. 1. 2010
Mr. Stepan Holub, attorney form Prague, was announced the first Pro Bono Attorney of the year. The award was announced during the prestigious "Lawyer of the year" celebration evening. The award was prepared by PILA in coorpartion with the Czech Bar Association and EPRAVO.CZ.
European Pro Bono Forum 5 a 6 November 2009
4. 8. 2009
Third Euroepan Pro Bono Forum will be held again in Budapest. For more information about the Forum, including application form, go the web page of the Public Interest Law Institute.
20. 7. 2009
The Interantional Association Civic Belarus, Argo - Society of the good will and Civic advisory bureau Caslav became new partners of the Pro bono centre. They joined other 36 NGOs officialy involved into the project.
15. 7. 2009
Since the beginning of July 2009 the Pro Bono Centre operates form Tabor only (PILA - Pro bono centre, Prevratilska 330, 390 01 Tabor). Office in Prague (Senovazne sq.) was closed. The services are provided in full scope, contact email and phone number remain the same.
New Bulletin of accessible legal help published
30. 6. 2009
You can find it on www.bezplatnapravnipomoc.cz.
Interview with Lord Andrew Phillips on www.ipravnik.cz
29.6.2009
Web portal of the C.H.Beck publishing company www.ipravnik.cz published short interview with the Lord Andrew Phillips. Lord Phillips shared his views on pro bono lawyering and generally on access to legal help.
Pro bono centre first anniversary
Pro bono Centre helped to find legal help for 25 requests of the Czech NGOs during its first year of existence. 34 NGOs and 17 law firms are involved in the project implementation. More then 50 lawyers took actively part in providing pro bono services.
New Bulletin of accessible legal help published
15.6.2009
You can find it on www.bezplatnapravnipomoc.cz.
Lord Phillips on pro bono - lecture and dicussion
14.5.2009
As the part of the Pro Bono Centre first anniverssary celebration, Lord Andrew Phillips will give lecture for attorneys and NGO lawyers. It will be held on 9 June at 15:45 in Palac Dunaj in Prague.
Second workshop on the patient rights
13.2.2009
The workshop will be held on Thursday 19th of March at 15:00 in the Allen&Overy premises in Prague (V Celnici 4).
Workshop on the patient rights
16.12.2009
Workshop will be held on Thursday 15th of January at 14:00 in the Allen&Overy premises in Prague (V Celnici 4). The workshop is organized as part of the activities to promote pro bono advocacy.
Register online for Second Annual European Pro Bono Forum. Early registration ends on 25th September!
6 - 7 November 2008, Budapest, Hungary
4.9. 2008
The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is pleased to announce that it will host the Second Annual European Pro Bono Forum in Budapest, Hungary at the Mercure Budapest Buda Hotel on 6 - 7 November 2008.
This year's event will bring together over two hundred lawyers, NGOs, and academics to explore emerging trends in pro bono law across continental Europe, including:
- How global law firm networks and local law offices are institutionalizing pro bono within their practices;
- The increasing role of the bar and media in promoting pro bono;
- Successful models of European pro bono clearinghouses; and
- The valuable role of lawyers and law firms in assisting the work of NGOs.
The Forum will feature a Pro Bono and Human Rights workshop as well as other interactive workshops for lawyers and NGO representatives. There will be candid discussions about the challenges law firms face managing pro bono cases, and NGOs will have the chance to explore how law firms can assist them with governance, contractual and registration issues, among other matters, through the NGO Marketplace.
Péter Köves, President of the European Council of Bars and Law Societies (CCBE), will be a keynote speaker at the opening reception.
Registration is mandatory for the European Pro Bono Forum. Register online at PILI website.
Pro bono clearinghouse media coverage
3.7.2008
The Pro bono clearinghouse opening gained some media attention also. There were several articles published on the internet, you can find them here:
- www.lidovky.cz/nemajetni-lide-mohou-vyuzit-advokatu-zdarma-f3c-/ln_noviny.asp?c=A080626_000030_ln_noviny_sko&klic=226185&mes=080626_0
- www.osnoviny.cz/bylo-spusteno-centrum-bezplatnych-pravnich-sluzeb
- www.muzes.cz/clanky/komentar/256/
- www.romea.cz/index.php?id=detail&detail=2007_4508
- zlk.neziskovka.cz/2-centrum-bezplatnych-pravnich-sluzeb-pro-bono.html
- www.iporadna.cz/obcan/clanek.php?article[articleid]=17394
- www.diskriminace.cz/do-uvod/
- www.romea.cz/index.php?id=detail&detail=2007_4508
Pro bono clearinghouse coordinators give also 2 interviews for the Czech radio.
Pro bono clearinghouse opening succesfull
27.6.2008
More then 30 participants came to the pro bono clearinghouse opening. Representatives of 12 law firms and 10 NGOs were among them. Short speeches were made by Michael Feldman (Cultural Atache, US Embassy Prague), Michael Diedring (director of the CEELI Institute), Erwin Hanslik (e/n/w/c law firm partner) and Vitezslav Dohnal (director of PILA). Richard W. Graber, the US Ambassador to Prague, came also to greet the participants.
General Pro bono declaration was opened for signing during this event. Representatives of 11 law firms signed the declaration.
You can find some pictures form the opening in the fotogalerie section.
Clearinghouse opening in Prague
25.6.2008
It is big pleasure for us to announce that in attendance of the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Richard W. Graber official opening of the first Czech pro bono clearinghouse will be held on June 25 at Americke centrum, Trziste 13 Praha 1.
The event will start at 2 p.m.
During the opening the pro bono declaration for law firms will be opened
for signing.
Representatives of law firms and NGOs are warmly invited to come.
Please book this date in your diaries.
More detailed information about the program will come soon.
Register for the Second Annual European Pro Bono Forum!
14.5.2008
6 - 7 November 2008, Budapest, Hungary
The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is pleased to announce that it will host the Second Annual European Pro Bono Forum in Budapest, Hungary at the Mercure Budapest Buda Hotel on 6 - 7 November 2008.
This year's event will bring together over two hundred lawyers, NGOs, and academics to explore emerging trends in pro bono law across continental Europe, including:
- How global law firm networks and local law offices are institutionalizing pro bono within their practices;
- The increasing role of the bar and media in promoting pro bono;
- Successful models of European pro bono clearinghouses; and
- The valuable role of lawyers and law firms in assisting the work of NGOs.
The Forum will feature a Pro Bono and Human Rights workshop as well as other interactive workshops for lawyers and NGO representatives. There will be candid discussions about the challenges law firms face managing pro bono cases, and NGOs will have the chance to explore how law firms can assist them with governance, contractual and registration issues, among other matters, through the NGO Marketplace.
Péter Köves, President of the European Council of Bars and Law Societies (CCBE), will be a keynote speaker at the opening reception.
Registration is mandatory for the European Pro Bono Forum. Register online at PILI website.
Pro Bono roundtable in Brno
08.03.2008
Pro Bono roundtable wil be held also in Brno, 27th of March.
U.S. Ambassador will come to open the roundtable on the pro bono
07.03.2008
Ambassador of the USA, Richard W. Graber will make openinh speech during the pro bono roundtable. The event will take place on Tuesday 11th of March in Prague (CEELI Institute).
Pro Bono at the Charles University Law School
04.03.2008
PILA, League of Human Rights and ELSA organize lecture "What is Pro Bono and how does it work in the US?". Michael Haroz (Goulston & Storrs law firm partner) will be speaker. The event will be held on Wednesday 12th of March at 10 a.m.
Pro bono round table under preparation
30.01.2008
Pro bono round table will be held on 11 of March 2008 in CEELI Institute Prague. Michael Haroz (US attorney, Boston), Veronika Kristkova (League of Human Rights) and representative of PILI (Budapest) will be among speakers.
European Pro Bono Forum
10.09.2007
The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) convenes the first European Pro Bono Forum in Budapest, Hungary on 18-19 October 2007. The first event of its kind to take place in continental Europe, the conference will provide a forum for connecting interested law firms with European offices and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) from throughout Europe. More information on www.pili.org.
