TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono service, and Nextlaw Referral Network, the largest free legal referral network in the world, founded by Dentons and backed by a proprietary algorithm that helps find the best law firm for a client's particular needs, are announcing a new partnership to scale the practice of legal pro bono support for NGOs and social enterprises which are focused on creating social and environmental change.
TrustLaw, the world’s largest global pro bono legal network, connects NGOs and social enterprises in 175 countries to leading lawyers who address their legal needs free of charge. The new partnership with Nextlaw Referral Network will allow TrustLaw to supplement its existing global network of more than 900 firms and corporate in-house teams with access to Nextlaw Referral Network’s 700+ member firms across 205 countries.
By extending the reach of TrustLaw's global network to more than 1,500 of the world’s leading law firms, the partnership will help to address the growing gap that exists between the need for pro bono legal advice and the number of firms available to provide it.
“We are always looking for creative and innovative ways to increase our reach, to spread excellence in the practice of pro bono and to drive social change worldwide," said Nick Glicher, Thomson Reuters Foundation COO. "Our partnership with Nextlaw Referral Network significantly increases the network of lawyers who can offer their assistance and expertise for free, increasing and accelerating connection opportunities with more NGOs and social enterprises, which in turn allows them to streamline their operations, expand into new countries and scale their impact.”
“For the Nextlaw Referral Network, having a positive impact on the communities where we live is fundamental to how we operate and a responsibility that we take seriously," said Jeff Modisett, CEO - Nextlaw Referral Network. "We are delighted to be able to partner with TrustLaw, and help connect the talented members of our more than 700 member firms, who share our commitment to pro bono, to help drive positive social change.”
In addition to benefitting civil society by helping NGOs and social enterprises navigate their day-to-day legal needs, TrustLaw facilitates ground-breaking pro bono legal research and develops legal ‘best practice’ guides for the social sector. Through pro bono, TrustLaw aims to improve the operational efficiency of NGOs and help to free up their resources so that they can remain focused on tackling social and environmental issues. TrustLaw recently won ‘Best Collaborative Initiative’ at the 2019 Lawyer Awards for its role in connecting UK charity 28 Too Many - which works to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - with more than 120 lawyers to produce research on FGM law across 30 countries.
Nextlaw Referral Network, founded by Dentons in 2016, was recently ranked as a Leading Global Legal Referral Network by Chambers & Partners and won the Global Network of the Year award at the Lawyer European Awards earlier this year.
About the Thomson Reuters Foundation
The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. The Thomson Reuters Foundation works to advance media freedom, raise awareness of human rights issues, and develop initiatives to support more inclusive economies. Our mission is to inspire collective leadership by building global awareness of the challenges facing humanity, and empowering others to shape free, fair and open societies.
About TrustLaw
TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal service. We connect high-impact NGOs and social enterprises working to create social and environmental change with the world’s best law firms and corporate legal teams to provide them with free legal assistance. With a presence in over 175 countries, we support more than 4,500 organisations with free legal assistance.
Our free legal service enables NGOs and social enterprises to streamline operations, expand into new countries and scale their impact. This helps them focus on their mission without spending valuable resources on their legal needs. TrustLaw also produces a wide range of tools to help NGOs and social enterprises address their legal needs and support their advocacy efforts.
About Nextlaw Enterprise
Nextlaw Enterprise is Dentons’ wholly owned subsidiary of innovation, advisory and technology operating units. Nextlaw Enterprise is comprised of: Nextlaw Labs, a strategic innovation catalyst, Nextlaw Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on legal tech, Nextlaw Referral Network, the largest legal network in the world, Nextlaw Public Affairs Network, the world’s most comprehensive public relations and public affairs platform, and Nextlaw In-House Solutions, a strategic advisory focused on the business of law.
