ITV Legal has launched a new pro bono initiative with City firm Lovells as part of an innovative partnership programme with its panel law firms.

The ITV Legal pro bono bank gives in-house lawyers at ITV the opportunity to take part in Lovells’ pro bono work. The scheme will be used to provide a new monthly legal advice clinic in conjunction with Body and Soul, a charity supporting children and families affected by HIV.

The partnership, believed to be the first of its kind, was launched last week as part of ITV Legal’s excellence and responsibility programme. It is designed to foster closer links between ITV’s in-house legal team and its panel law firms, to enhance training and development.

The programme, involving City firms Lovells, Addleshaw Goddard, Olswang, DLA Piper, Slaughter and May, Charles Russell and Wiggin, is led by ITV’s director of legal affairs, Barry Matthews.

Addleshaw Goddard will run a ‘mini MBA’ project designed to enhance the commercial awareness of the ITV lawyers, while Olswang and DLA Piper will provide workshops on contract and IP law. The scheme will also see up to eight ITV trainees spending six-month secondments with panel firms.

Matthews said: ‘Legally focused support and development is equally important for in-house lawyers as it is for those in private practice. This unique programme, a first for an in-house legal team, will benefit all our legal and business affairs staff.’