We remain #ProBonoProud.

In times like these, it is important to remind ourselves why we do pro bono. 

The American promise of “justice for all” is not merely a patriotic phrase but a fundamental principle upon which our nation was built. Our foundational documents and legal traditions establish that access to justice—the ability of any person to understand, assert, and protect their legal rights and to get a fair result—is essential. This promise represents our country at its best.

Pro bono—short for pro bono publico, meaning “for the public good”—refers to the centuries-old practice of ensuring access to justice by providing free legal services to individuals and organizations that cannot afford legal help. Pro bono is crucial to keeping our legal system fair, functional, and true to its ideals. Every corner of the legal profession, from law schools to industry leaders to Supreme Court Justices, has recognized the value of pro bono.

Pro bono service is ingrained in the legal profession’s highest ideals; it is a responsibility deeply rooted in its ethical framework. The American Bar Association calls on every lawyer to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono service each year. Many do much more. In fact, law firms and in-house legal departments across the country—large and small—dedicate significant time and expertise to pro bono matters that support people and organizations, regardless of their status or fortune.

Low-income individuals receive inadequate or no legal help for 92 percent of their civil legal problems. Legal aid and public interest organizations, which do extraordinary work with limited resources, are overwhelmed and underfunded. Pro bono has become not just helpful but an essential partner in advancing the basic promise of our judicial system for millions of people. 

Pro bono clients may be veterans fighting for critical healthcare, seniors protecting themselves from predatory scams, children with disabilities struggling to access education, human trafficking survivors seeking to rebuild their lives, families recovering from devastating wildfires, formerly incarcerated individuals working to reestablish their legal identities, permanent residents seeking naturalization, religious organizations protecting their constitutional rights, nonprofits advancing their mission to serve, or survivors of domestic violence fighting for personal safety, and so much more.

They also may include individuals and groups seeking to assert and protect their legal rights in lawsuits against powerful entities. For example: Gideon v. Wainwright, which found that states must provide lawyers to people who cannot afford counsel in criminal proceedings or Brown v. Board of Education, which found that states could not segregate students on the basis of race in public schools.

These legal challenges, among many others, have impacted the well-being of countless individuals, families, and entire communities. Pro bono increases economic opportunity and opens doors for those served.

Pro bono is also integral to the integrity of the system of justice we hold dear. Judges navigate myriad cases where one side is represented by counsel and the other is not. When people lack legal representation, our courts become inefficient and overburdened. These inefficiencies translate into real costs for taxpayers and place an additional strain on an already overburdened judicial infrastructure.

Pro bono is an important bridge across economic divides, a means of protecting individual rights, and a manifestation of our Constitutional ideals—all critical American interests. For every lawyer who volunteers their time, for every law firm that commits resources to serving the underprivileged and underrepresented, they do much more than provide a legal service: they renew the promise of fair and equal treatment under the law.