What falls under pro bono work?
Asked by: Prof. Kasey Hintz | Last update: February 12, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (70 votes)
Pro bono work involves providing professional services, especially legal, for free or at a significantly reduced cost, benefiting individuals, groups, or non-profits with limited means or working for the public good, covering areas like civil rights, family law, housing, or advising charities, all to serve the "public good" (pro bono).
What is an example of pro bono?
In the legal context, pro bono means lawyers providing legal services free of charge to those who can't afford to pay. The good news is that many private attorneys volunteer their time to work on pro bono cases.
What is meant by pro bono work?
Pro bono publico (English: 'for the public good'), usually shortened to pro bono, is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. The term traditionally referred to provision of legal services by legal professionals for people who are unable to afford them.
Why would someone work pro bono?
By volunteering to do pro bono, you will experience the satisfaction that comes from making a positive difference in someone's life. Pro bono offers a break from academics and the chance to solve real world legal problems for clients in need.
What cases do pro bono lawyers handle?
Pro bono lawyers take on a wide variety of civil cases for low-income individuals and non-profits, focusing on basic human needs like housing (evictions, landlord issues), family law (domestic abuse, custody, support), immigration, consumer debt, elder law, employment matters (wage theft, wrongful termination), and veterans' issues, often through Legal Aid programs or specialized clinics, covering everything from advice to full representation, excluding most criminal cases.
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Why would an attorney take a pro bono case?
Lawyers give back because they are uniquely suited to do so. Pro bono is a term derived from Latin meaning “for the public good.” Because legal careers are built on helping people and serving the public, pro bono work is an indispensable – and immensely fulfilling – career building tool for most attorneys.
Do pro bono cases pay?
Usually, pro bono attorneys do not get paid. But there is the possibility that a pro bono attorney may receive some amount of compensation — or at least not lose money for taking the case. Lawyers who take pro bono cases may also receive waivers of court costs and other filing fees.
Is pro bono help really free?
Pro bono programs match low-income clients with volunteer lawyers, who agree to take their cases for free.
How to get pro bono work?
To get pro bono work (free legal help), contact local Legal Aid, your State Bar Association, or Law School Clinics; use online portals like LawHelp.org and ProBono.net to find programs for low-income individuals, veterans, or specific needs like immigration; and apply to programs like ABA Free Legal Answers, preparing to show income eligibility and clearly state your legal issue.
What are the disadvantages of pro bono work?
Disadvantages of pro bono work include significant time commitment, potential for burnout, resource limitations (especially for smaller firms), risk of malpractice claims (same as paid work), emotional challenges, conflicts with firm priorities, and that it's not ideal for learning new skills or for "cutting teeth," as the duty to the client remains the same as paid work. While beneficial, it can strain resources and attention, and some specialized areas or complex cases (like federal or criminal matters) are often outside its scope.
How do lawyers select pro bono cases?
Lawyers select pro bono cases based on personal interest, firm policy, case complexity/merit, time availability, and the client's financial need, often through firm committees or partnering with legal aid organizations, focusing on areas like poverty law, civil rights, family law, or nonprofit support, matching cases to their expertise and the firm's philanthropic goals.
How often do lawyers do pro bono work?
3) How much time must I devote to pro bono activities? While both the State Bar's Pro Bono Resolution and Rule 6.1 (see above) urge all lawyers to contribute at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services annually, even a few hours may have extraordinary positive impact on underserved individuals and groups.
Are there income limits for pro bono help?
But there are many legal aid and pro bono programs that provide free legal help for the poor in civil cases. These programs generally help people whose income is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level, although in some cases they help people whose income is slightly higher.
What's the difference between pro bono and legal aid?
In a nutshell, a legal aid or legal services office is a group of lawyers who represent people who can't afford to pay a lawyer. A pro bono lawyer takes a case for free—usually because the client can't afford to pay—but otherwise works for fee-paying clients.
What is a pro bono activity?
Pro bono work is legal advice or representation provided free of charge by legal professionals in the public interest. This can be to individuals, charities or community groups who cannot afford to pay for legal help and cannot get legal aid or any other means of funding.
What are free legal services called?
Legal Aid is free legal assistance provided to people who cannot afford an attorney in civil matters.
What is the maximum income to qualify for legal aid?
Legal aid income thresholds are typically set at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPL), varying by household size, but can extend up to 200% FPL in special circumstances, with specific figures changing annually. For example, a single person might qualify with an income below roughly $18,250 (125% FPL) or up to around $30,000 (200% FPL), while a family of four might have thresholds near $37,500 (125% FPL) or $62,400 (200% FPL). Eligibility also considers assets and specific case types, requiring contact with your local legal aid office for exact requirements.
How to bill pro bono work?
The typical recommendation is to bill the project for the full value of the work. Create a credit memo to apply against it. And lastly, send the client the invoice so that they can see the value of the work being done at no charge.
What are the pro bono costs?
Pro bono costs are court orders that require the losing party in a legal case to pay costs to the Access to Justice Foundation when the winning party has received free legal representation. Pro bono costs are like ordinary civil legal costs, but where a party was represented for free.
Do you get paid for pro bono work?
No, pro bono work, from the Latin "for the public good," means professionals provide their services voluntarily and without direct payment from the client, though they might get billable hour credit at a firm, tax deductions, or recoup costs if the case is successful. While lawyers don't get paid by the client, organizations supporting pro bono work receive grants, and some arrangements (like contingency fees) can lead to payment if a settlement is reached, but the core service is free.
Who can do pro bono?
Many lawyers and students are keen to get involved in pro bono work and there are a lot of different ways to do it. Giving your time and expertise to help someone achieve access to justice is always worthwhile. There are many existing schemes that you can join and numerous charities happy to receive legal assistance.
Which law firms do the most pro bono work?
Law firms frequently recognized for high pro bono work include Covington & Burling, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Morgan Lewis, Arnold & Porter, and Debevoise & Plimpton, often topping rankings for hours per attorney or broad participation, with firms like Covington leading in average hours and Morgan Lewis achieving 100% participation in their challenge. Rankings vary slightly by source, but these firms consistently appear among the leaders for their strong commitment and significant hours dedicated to serving underserved communities.
Is pro bono actually free?
Yes, pro bono work is essentially free professional service (like legal help) provided voluntarily for the public good, meaning no fees for the professional's time, but you should clarify if you're responsible for associated costs like court fees or expert witnesses. While the lawyer's time is donated, other expenses can arise, so it's crucial to ask about those upfront, as some organizations serve low-income clients, while others might offer low bono (reduced cost) services.
Why would a lawyer do pro bono work?
Pro bono work frequently reminds attorneys that they are practicing law to help people. The energy carries over into their regular practices as well. And their clients? Pro bono work gives attorneys the opportunity to make their clients feel empowered and hopeful in situations that they thought were dire and hopeless.
How much does a pro bono lawyer charge?
Pro bono attorney fees are zero, as "pro bono publico" means lawyers volunteer their time for free to help those who can't afford legal help, but clients may still pay for out-of-pocket case expenses like court fees, document costs, or expert witnesses, though some courts or organizations might cover these or offer reimbursements. While attorneys don't get paid directly for their time in pro bono cases, law firms might offer bonuses or billable hours credit, and some cases might allow for fee-shifting if the client wins, with funds sometimes donated to legal aid.