The legal sector’s impact on society and the environment is less obvious than it is in many other industries. Lawyers do not operate coal-fired power stations, sell products that might harm people’s health or run sweatshops. Nevertheless, there is a growing recognition among law firms that they, too, must engage in corporate responsibility activities.

Michael Littlechild, chief executive and co-founder of GoodCorporation, believes that in this respect, law firms have some way to go to catch up with companies in other sectors. “I’m not sure they are moving much beyond pro bono activities,” he says. “And I suspect that a lot of law firms have been dragged kicking and screaming into this arena because they have noticed that their large clients are doing it and it has become standard practice.”