Freshfields Launches Pro Bono Lawyer Role Focused on Transactional Work

Freshfields is seeking a qualified lawyer to join its London-based pro bono practice as part of a 12-month fixed-term contract, beginning March 13, 2026. The role will focus on developing and managing the firm’s global pro bono practice, with a particular emphasis on transactional mandates.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will report to the Head of Pro Bono and work closely with the Senior Pro Bono Lawyer, undertaking the following responsibilities:

• Directly engaging with existing and prospective pro bono clients to define and develop potential pro bono mandates, prioritizing transactional work.
• Maintaining and strengthening relationships with strategic pro bono clients.
• Providing pro bono client advice, supervision, and internal knowledge support, particularly in transactional legal areas, both domestically and internationally.
• Leading a key global legal research project, including strategic oversight and facilitating collaborative research sessions with colleagues and corporate client lawyers.
• Conducting internal scoping of new pro bono mandates, ensuring appropriate risk and regulatory checks, and addressing liability concerns.
• Collaborating with the firm’s practice groups and offices to place new pro bono matters, with a focus on transactional teams and areas of expertise like NGO governance.
• Managing access to justice projects and clinics for individuals, including managing a caseload, supervising cases, and addressing technical queries from fee earners.
• Advising and supporting lawyers on their pro bono work, responding to technical questions from fee earners globally.
• Coordinating the firm’s global pro bono practice across all regions, with a specific focus on Amsterdam and Brussels.
• Contributing creative ideas to improve and shape the firm’s pro bono practice.
• Delivering internal and external presentations on the firm’s pro bono practice.
• Assisting with internal management tasks, including communications, award submissions, and tracking the progress and impact of pro bono matters globally.

The Successful Candidate

Freshfields is seeking a candidate who meets the following criteria:

• Qualified lawyer with at least 3+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE) and substantial experience in transactional law.
• Significant prior experience with pro bono work within a law firm setting, ideally in a dedicated pro bono role.
• Prior experience advising vulnerable individuals.
• Strong legal research skills and a desire to expand legal expertise.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with clients, fee earners, and senior colleagues across a global organization.
• Confident and persuasive public speaker, capable of delivering clear and engaging presentations to internal and external audiences, including senior stakeholders and corporate clients. Experience delivering pro bono client collaborations or training sessions to in-house legal teams is desirable.
• Ability to prioritize, work independently, and suppose strategically.
• Highly organized, resilient under pressure, and possessing strong project management skills and attention to detail.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply now.