By Donovan Mathews, PBI Intern
Access to legal assistance is at the forefront of the American justice system. Despite this, in America’s semiquincentennial, millions of people across the country live in communities where legal representation is scarce and out of reach, or beyond the scope of their financial means. With the continuing rise of legal costs, many people are seeking help from volunteer legal professionals. The 2022 Justice Gap report reveals that 74% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the previous year. Additionally, low-income Americans did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems. These statistics demonstrate that pro bono work is needed more than ever to help fill in the legal justice gaps in our country.
The American Bar Association (ABA) helps bridge the justice gap through their annual Pro Bono Week, also known as National Celebration of Pro Bono, taking place this year from October 25th to October 31st. Since 2009, the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has held Pro Bono Week to bring together attorneys, law students, and legal professionals across the country to get involved in a week of giving back through pro bono service. Pro Bono Week consists of specialized events that allow the legal community to increase access to justice, raise awareness on legal topics, and provide direct legal services to individuals that need them most. The week also spotlights the pro bono work that has taken place over the year, and the work that still needs to be done to strengthen access to justice for all.
With this year’s Pro Bono Week theme “Serving Justice. Strengthening Democracy,” the ABA is recognizing the essential role pro bono attorneys play in ensuring that legal problems do not prevent people from participating fully in civic life. Many of the organized programs and events focus on addressing the legal needs of underserved communities, protecting fundamental rights, advancing access to justice, and strengthening the rule of law.
For 30 years, Pro Bono Institute (PBI) has served the legal community by transforming the pro bono efforts of law firms and legal departments to address critical problems. PBI is excited to see the hundreds of events hosted as part of this year’s Pro Bono Week and the great work that will continue throughout the year.
Pro Bono Week Across the Country
Many bar associations, firms, and legal departments host their own “Pro Bono Week” in concurrence with the ABA’s celebration. The ABA has a full list of these Pro Bono Celebration Events for each state on their website. In PBI’s hometown of D.C., The Washington Council of Lawyers coordinates the DC Pro Bono Week Planning Committee, which includes PBI staff from the Law Firm Pro Bono and Corporate Pro Bono Projects. The Committee organizes the annual D.C. Pro Bono Week and has planned an extensive schedule for this year’s events. The opportunities are in-person and virtual, and consist of clinics, workshops, and networking programs including the following direct services events:
- The Veterans Consortium: Legal Advice & Referral Clinic (In-Person), this walk-in clinic will offer legal services and referrals to veterans.
- Volunteer Legal Advocates: Domestic Violence & Family Law Clinic (Virtual), a legal clinic serving survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Volunteers may provide legal advice on civil protection order, custody, and divorce matters to survivors of domestic violence or empower immigrant survivors of gender-based violence with the information they need to secure immigration relief.
- DC Bar Pro Bono Center: Advocacy and Justice Clinic (In-Person), a clinic welcoming volunteers to take on full representation cases in family law, housing, and public benefits.
- Christian Legal Aid of DC: Expungement Clinic (In-Person), an in-person limited scope expungement clinic to help DC residents with sealing eligible criminal records. Volunteers will partner with clients referred by Christian Legal Aid of DC (CLADC) to gather background information to be included in their motions.
- And more!
Across state lines, some notable pro bono opportunities include:
- Maryland: Maryland Legal Aid is hosting a number of events to honor Pro Bono Week. In partnership with Loyola University Maryland and Delta Sigma Theta, they are conducting two free walk-in expungement clinics in Baltimore City.
- Illinois: The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) is organizing a wide variety of in-person events across Illinois to celebrate Pro Bono Week through their Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committees. In DeKalb & Kane County, PILI is hosting a Criminal Records Relief Clinic with the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and Prairie State Legal Services for pro bono volunteers to provide free legal assistance to individuals seeking to clear their criminal records.
- Ohio: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is honoring Pro Bono Week through a series of Continued Legal Education (CLE) programming, hands-on pro bono events, and a reception to thank volunteers who participate. They will host an in-person Legal Advice Clinic, where pro bono volunteers will offer brief legal advice about civil legal problems related to money, housing, family employment, or other issues.
- California: To kick off Pro Bono Week 2026, in partnership with ALIGHT and the National Survivor Law Collective (NSLC), the LA county law library is offering the first in-person Human Trafficking Survivors Credit Repair Clinic.
- Arkansas: Delta Justice Center will host two free legal clinics, where they will offering free advice and document preparation in Southeast Arkansas.
These examples showcase the breadth of pro bono service, and how it is impacting communities across the country.
Looking Ahead
The fight to serve justice and strengthen democracy is more important than ever in our country. The National Celebration of Pro Bono, since its inception in 2009, has advanced this effort and continues to do so all while bringing the legal community together in the process.
PBI encourages you to let us know how you will participate in Pro Bono Week 2026 by emailing us at pbi@probonoinst.org.