Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys can now apply for Pro Bono Recognition List
Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys can now submit their names to the Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales for the first time.
Following advocacy work by CITMA and CIPA, the list has expanded to include Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys and Patent Attorneys alongside solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives.
Submissions are now open for the 2026 list, which is due to be published in April 2026.
About the list
Published annually since 2024, the Pro Bono Recognition List celebrates lawyers who provide 25 or more hours of pro bono legal assistance each year. The list aims to shine a light on the contribution of the legal profession in providing free legal assistance to individuals in need and to charities.
Nearly 5,000 lawyers were recognised in the 2025 edition of the list.
Eligibility and how to apply
Any Chartered Trade Mark Attorney who was practising and regulated at the date of submission is eligible if they provided 25 hours or more of pro bono work in 2025. This includes attorneys in private practice and in-house, as well as those who recently qualified (including work undertaken as a trainee).
Pro bono work includes providing legal advice or representation free of charge to individuals, charities and community groups who cannot afford to pay.
Eligible attorneys can submit their names via www.probonorecognitionlist.org.uk before the 6th March 2026 deadline.
CITMA's pro bono opportunities
CITMA supports members who wish to contribute pro bono work through several initiatives:
- Free advice clinics: Our free advice clinic programme continues to experience high demand. Members interested in volunteering can contact us at [email protected].
- Pro bono directory specialism: Members can now add 'Pro bono' as a specialism in their 'Find a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney' directory profile, helping those seeking advice to identify attorneys willing to offer initial free support.
The Recognition List is supported by major pro bono organisations and professional bodies including the Access to Justice Foundation, the Bar Council, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, CIPA, CITMA, LawWorks, and the National Pro Bono Centre.
The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, is the Patron of the Pro Bono Recognition List.
For more information about the Recognition List, visit www.probonorecognitionlist.org.uk.
Members with questions about pro bono opportunities can contact CITMA at [email protected].