Cooperazione & Relazioni internazionali
Reuters launches TrustLaw
Website to foster good governance by connecting NGOs to pro bono lawyers
di Staff
Non profit organisations and social entrepreneurs looking for free legal assistance have a new online tool at their disposal: TrustLaw.
Launched by the Thomson Reuters Foundation on June 22, the website aims to connect non profits to lawyers willing to provide their advice and services pro bono; its also aims to become a key resource providing information and guidance on anti-corruption and good governance.
According to Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO Monique Villa, legal support is more important than ever today as economic uncertainty and critical social and environmental issues govern our times. Her statement is backed by the widespread support already demonstrated to the website – 60 leading law firms and 80 NGOs have already signed up to the service and several campaigners and lawyers have spoken out saying the service would boost transparency and enable lawyers to promote social goals.
How it works
Connections are made through an online marketplace called TrustLaw Connect, which already has 190 member organisations working in 140 countries; confidence in the system may take time to build and members will be followed by staff members to encourage trust.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charity branch of the global news network Thomson Reuters and also runs AlertNet, the foundation has announced that its journalists will contribute articles to the new website.
