This reflects an uptick of 8.11% in the past financial year
The Australian Pro Bono Centre has revealed in a recent report that its signatories logged 844,999 pro bono hours in the 2025 financial year.
Per the 18th Annual Performance Report of the National Pro Bono Target, this represents an 8.11% uptick compared to the previous financial year. Lawyers completed an average of 42.3 pro bono hours each, surpassing the 35-hour national benchmark; according to the Australian Pro Bono Centre, this is the highest average on the record.
Lawyers employed at firms with at least 50 lawyers completed an average of 41.75 pro bono hours each, up from 39.7 hours in FY2024. Those at small firms logged 51.35 hours each compared to 44 hours in the previous year.
“As Australian pro bono practices continue to develop and mature, their dedication to pro bono work has strengthened. Although the number of Target signatories and lawyers represented by the Target have increased only marginally, average pro bono hours per lawyer have hit a record high”, CEO Gabriela Christian-Hare said. “Those individuals and firms already engaged in pro bono have deepened their commitment. The role and essence of pro bono as a crucial pillar of access to justice, central to the preservation of the rule of law and the professional life of Australian lawyers, continues to gain strength”.
At present, the national pro bono target has 333 signatories, including law firms, barristers’ chambers, in-house legal teams from corporations and government, and individual solicitors and barristers. The number of signatories ticked up from 19,724 lawyers in FY2024 to 19,973 lawyers in FY2025.
In FY2024, 57.5%of lawyers in large firms took on pro bono work; that percentage increased to 60.45% this year. Moreover, more small firms conducted pro bono work this year (72.26%) than last year (66.75%).
Over half of the signatories (51.59%) hit their FY2025 targets. Notably, individual solicitors and barristers completed an average of 98.58 hours each; among these, 70.37% either hit or surpassed their targets.
Law firm signatories reported having 249 positions focusing on pro bono in FY2025; lawyers/associates took on 85 such roles. Thirty-two are held by partners/principals.
The Australian Pro Bono Centre defines pro bono legal services as legal assistance to vulnerable individuals, charities, other not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, and on issues of public interest, as well as law reform and policy work and free community legal education. Individuals and firms become national pro bono target signatories by signing a statement of principles and must report their performance to the centre annually.
