By Eve Runyon, PBI President & CEO
As I head into the PBI 2026 Annual Conference this week, I find myself reflecting on how pro bono and access to justice work have changed over the past decade and a half and what those changes demand of us now. Having attended the Conference for more than 15 years, I’ve had a front-row seat to both meaningful progress and persistent challenges. Those experiences shape some key thoughts leading into the Conference.
Most importantly, pro bono is needed now more than ever. Over the past 15 years, the access to justice gap has only grown. When I began working at PBI in 2005, legal needs studies showed that approximately 80 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income individuals went unmet. By 2022, that figure had grown to 92 percent, according to the Legal Services Corporation.
Behind those numbers are real people and families. They are navigating housing instability, domestic violence, benefits denials, and other life-altering legal problems without help. The scale and urgency of these legal needs cannot be ignored.
At the same time, the business case for pro bono remains as strong today as it was when it was first articulated more than 25 years ago. Pro bono benefits law firms and in-house legal departments, their lawyers and legal staff, and the communities they serve. It builds skills, strengthens culture, deepens engagement, and reinforces the profession’s commitment to public service. The rationale endures because the value is real and measurable — even as the context in which we do this work continues to evolve.
This leads to another core belief: every law firm and every in-house legal department should have a pro bono program. What that program looks like in practice will, and should, vary depending on size, structure, and resources. But at a minimum, every organization should have a program endorsed by leadership that enables lawyers and legal staff to use their unique skills to help meet legal needs in their communities. Pro bono should not be peripheral; it should be part of how we define professional responsibility.
Looking ahead, I believe innovation in pro bono is even more critical than simply increasing the number of pro bono hours. We cannot close a growing justice gap by relying solely on the same approaches we have used in the past. Doing more of the same will not be enough. Instead, we need to work smarter by leveraging technology, experimenting with new service models, and building creative partnerships and collaborations that expand reach and efficiency. Innovation is essential to sustainably and effectively addressing the access to justice crisis.
Alongside strategic innovation, we must continue to broaden the pro bono tent. Lawyers alone will not solve the justice gap. Addressing unmet legal needs requires collaboration with new partners both within and beyond traditional legal practice. Community organizations, tech companies, advocates, and other professionals bring complementary skills and perspectives that increase capacity and help better serve clients. A bigger tent allows for more holistic solutions and a deeper collective impact.
Finally, and at the center of all this, none of this work happens without people. The people leading pro bono and access to justice efforts deserve recognition. Pro bono leaders at law firms, in-house legal departments, and legal services organizations are doing extraordinary work. Even in the face of resource constraints, rising demand, and systemic challenges, they continue to prioritize pro bono and access to justice in ways that are thoughtful, strategic, and deeply inspiring.
As I head into PBI’s Conference, I’m eager to listen, share, and collaborate with others who are committed to this work. I look forward to hearing ideas that may challenge, refine, and expand my own thinking — and to leaving the Conference with new insights that help move pro bono and access to justice efforts forward.
I am eager to see you this week and develop innovative approaches. Each year, I am inspired by the enduring dedication we share across the legal profession from law firms to legal departments to legal services organizations to community partners and more. A commitment to persist and evolve, tackling challenges to improve lives and narrow the justice gap.