The Power of Partnership during India Pro Bono Week 2025
Across India, many civil society organisations continue to face barriers when accessing the legal support, they need to deliver their work effectively. From organisational set-up and governance to regulatory compliance and programme delivery, legal challenges can slow progress and limit impact.
India Pro Bono Week, held from 24–28 November 2025 under the theme Growing Access to Pro Bono, shone a spotlight on these challenges and the role that pro bono legal support can play in helping organisations overcome them. Through a series of discussions and events, co-organisers Advocates for International Development (A4ID) and TrustLaw brought together lawyers, students, NGOs and development practitioners to share experiences and explore how legal expertise can strengthen communities and advance sustainable development.
One of the week’s greatest strengths was the diversity of voices involved. Participants from across the legal and development sectors reflected on the opportunities created by pro bono support, as well as the barriers that remain when legal assistance is out of reach.
CEO of A4ID, Yasmin Batliwala MBE Hons LLD, reinforced the necessity of pro bono in bridging the gap between vulnerable populations and legal resources in a nation of 1.4 billion people: “Pro bono is part of what we do and what it means to be a just society. It’s a bridge between those who have access to the law and those who do not.”
A key theme throughout the week was the importance of embedding a culture of pro bono early in legal careers. Speakers highlighted the role of university legal clinics in providing students with practical experience while supporting individuals and organisations that may otherwise struggle to access legal advice. These initiatives not only expand access to justice but also encourage future lawyers to view pro bono work as an integral part of professional practice.
Prof. Anup Surendranath, of NALSAR & Project 39A, delivered a powerful address on the transformative potential of legal aid in India’s justice ecosystem and challenged the academic community to shift from seeing legal aid as an educational tool to recognising it as a fundamental constitutional and social responsibility.
“Law schools can no longer view access to justice as something that they do for their students to learn. Rather, I think it is an obligation to fill the access to justice gap that exists in societies like ours,” he told the Plenary session audience.
Across the week the impact of legal support was brought to life through the experiences of development organisations. During a session on the Business Case for Pro Bono, environmental organisation Plant-for-the-Planet shared how pro bono assistance was helping them establish an Indian entity, enabling their action and youth education programmes to expand. Prem Raval, of Plant-for-the-Planet, explained how with expert legal guidance, a complex process became more manageable, allowing the organisation to move forward with greater confidence and focus on its mission. He told the session: “I personally believe that what A4ID is doing is not just legal support but it’s strategic in nature – it’s not just charity; it’s strategy,” He added that the value that will created would be exponential.
Law firms also reflected on the value of pro bono work within their own organisations. Beyond supporting communities, pro bono opportunities help lawyers develop new skills, deepen their understanding of social and environmental challenges, and strengthen engagement across teams.
Aruneshwar Gupta, Senior Advocate, India, highlighted that young lawyers are increasingly driven by purpose. He said: “A credible pro bono program signals that the law firm stands for justice and not only for profit. It builds loyalty, reduces burnout, and deepens a sense of professional pride,” adding “reputation is not just about winning cases, but about what you stand for and who you stand with.”
India Pro Bono Week reinforced a simple but powerful message: meaningful change happens through partnership. By bringing together legal expertise and development organisations, pro bono support can help remove barriers, strengthen civil society and enable organisations to maximise their impact.
A4ID remains committed to expanding access to pro bono legal support and connecting organisations with the expertise they need to achieve their goals. Together with partners across the legal and development sectors, we will continue working to ensure that legal support is available to those driving positive change.
Learn more about A4ID’s Legal Pro Bono work or ROLE UK programme and how to get involved.
Catch up on all the sessions here and look out for updates of India Pro Bono Week 2026.
