Pro Bono Law in the United States

What is Pro Bono Law?

The Latin phrase "pro bono publico" means "for the public good." Today, the term, which is often shortened to "pro bono," refers to skilled services that are rendered free of charge. Pro bono work is an important part of the legal community and culture. Under the premise of pro bono law, lawyers and attorneys assist indigent or low-income individuals with their legal issues. This work is done in the hopes of mitigating the prevailing idea that only people with money can navigate their way around the legal system in the United States.

Pro Bono in the Field of Law

There has been a long tradition of pro bono work in the field of law. In fact, the American Bar Association advises its members to perform at least fifty hours of pro bono work per year. Different organizations and bar associations have different recommendations about what constitutes an ideal amount of pro bono work.

Most Common Uses of Pro Bono Law

Many government funded legal aid programs offer pro bono assistance. In most cases, there are strict income requirements in place. The most common areas of law that are covered included family law, landlord-tenant law and consumer law. Criminal law is not usually included under the umbrella of pro bono work. However, some of the most successful pro bono services have been rendered for inmates on various states' death rows. Most of the time, such inmates are essentially penniless; without the help of pro bono lawyers, such inmates would have no realistic way to navigate through the appeals process.

Pro Bono Help in the United States

Pro bono services are available in every state in the U.S., along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. We've compiled pro bono legal resources by state on LegalHelpForum as a guide. Please contact the resources directly with questions about their services and if you qualify.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming