Clifford Chance is strengthening further its relationship with Barclays by teaming up with the bank to offer free legal advice, marking the first time the firm has set up a pro bono partnership with a client.

The lawyers are working together to offer free partial legal advice as part of the FreeLaw volunteer programme for the Community Links charity.

Barclays' legal and compliance group's chief operations officer Richard Daniel said: "Being involved in the FreeLaw project is a great opportunity to be able to help the local community and for the lawyers of Barclays to be able to use their professional skills at the same time. The lawyers are really enjoying the experience."

Eight lawyers from the legal and compliance team at Barclays have joined existing Clifford Chance volunteers on the scheme. The lawyers visit the Community Links drop-in advice centre in Canning Town and provide advice on housing, consumer and employment law.

Clifford Chance's Barclays relationship partner Mark Campbell said: "Clifford Chance is delighted to be able to partner with Barclays in this initiative, which extends our existing involvement with Community Links and enables the Barclays legal team to participate in such a worthwhile programme using our existing infrastructure."