What are pro bono attorneys?

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Pro bono attorneys are lawyers who work for clients without compensation, contributing their expertise to people who otherwise could not afford a lawyer. Pro bono work is commonly encouraged by bar associations, and many lawyers volunteer to do pro bono work each year. While this type of work isn’t strictly required, attorneys who don’t contribute at least some time to pro bono work each year may be censured by their peers. Some choose to work in pro bono departments within a law firm or for pro bono organizations, turning volunteering into a full-time activity.

The term “pro bono” is an abbreviation of the Latin “pro bono publico”, which means “for the public good”. The concept of pro bono work also exists in some other professions, with this type of volunteering unique because it involves donating professional skills to a person in need. Pro bono attorneys work with their non-paying clients on a variety of cases such as appeals, contracts, and landlord-tenant disputes. Clients can find pro bono attorneys through directories of pro bono attorneys or through referrals from organizations that help low-income individuals.

In addition to low-income individuals, pro bono attorneys may also work with charitable organizations, donating their services so the charity doesn’t have to pay for an attorney. Some attorneys prefer to seek out specific types of cases for their pro bono work, while others are willing to take part in any legal challenge that is presented to them. In firms that view public service as an important part of the legal profession, other legal personnel, such as paralegals, may also be encouraged to participate in pro bono work.

This type of legal representation is usually not available to individuals or organizations that can easily afford an attorney, with attorneys focusing on offering pro bono representation in a way that will benefit the greater good. Providing free services to someone who has no need for free services would be a waste of voluntary work, while targeting disadvantaged and low-income individuals may have a more lasting benefit.

While pro bono attorneys are not compensated upfront for their work, they sometimes make money from the cases they work on. For example, in a case that results in a large cash settlement, it is traditional to pay the attorney a fee, even if the attorney has not specifically requested payment. In other cases, if a pro bono attorney succeeds in winning a case, the losing party may be obligated to pay the winning party’s attorney fees, in which case the attorney will receive compensation for his or her work.

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