iProbono initiative recognised by PM

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that iProbono, an initiative which connects lawyers with civil society organisations, is the winner of a Big Society Award. Founded by Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP lawyer Shireen Irani, iProbono was praised for connecting organisations in need of legal assistance with students and lawyers who want to offer their skills for the public good. Cameron said: "It's fantastic to see so many legal professionals lending their time and expertise to help charities and social businesses flourish."

iProbono is a free service that allows a diverse range of legal professionals to get involved with pro bono activities, including students, sole practitioners, retired lawyers, those on sabbatical or maternity leave and lawyers from smaller firms. It connects registered members who have indicated their level of experience and the type of social causes they would like to get involved in with charities and organisations in need of help.

Since 2009 it has matched 486 projects with legal professionals, providing value of over £6.6 million. It has around 40,000 volunteers and over 1,000 charities can access the network.

Irani said: "iProbono's impact is only made possible by the members of our network. We believe public service is an integral part of being a professional - beyond duty, people want to engage in their communities, they want to have a positive impact in the world. Harnessing the internet enables iProbono to find these people and free them up to connect with the causes they care about. This award recognises the individual efforts of those people and also the civil society organisations on our network."

He also acknowledged the support of his firm: "iProbono would not have taken off without the backing of Field Fisher Waterhouse, whose people believed in the ethos of iProbono, nurtured our growth and continue to support us today. Their commitment to innovation and service underpins our network."