A large number of lawyers, students, academics and politicians will be walking in various cities as part of the annual Public Law Interest Clearing House (PILCH) walks.

Walks will be staged nationally in Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide and Melbourne on the morning of 16 May to mark National Pro Bono Day, which also kicks-off National Law Week. PILCH coordinates lawyers who act pro bono in public interest matters.

Patrons of the walk include Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland, NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith, NSW Law Society president Stuart Westgarth and Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark.

"The overall aim of the walk is to highlight the fact that many disadvantaged people in the community miss out on legal justice because they can't afford to hire a lawyer," said National Pro Bono Resource Centre director John Corker.

The National Pro Bono Resource Centre has also announced it will team up with the Australian Law Students Association (ALSA) and state and territory Young Lawyers' committees to produce a guide book for students and young lawyers on opportunities available to lawyers to work in the social justice field.

"We have observed a clear trend amongst law students across the country seeking out information and opportunities about how to get involved and make a difference in their communities," Corker said.