Ultimately, what does pro bono mean for clients and lawyers? Pro bono work can level the playing field for clients who are unable to pay for competent representation. Lawyers who provide pro bono services learn new skills, establish career connections and improve their professional profile. New lawyers can gain hands-on legal experience and experienced lawyers can rekindle their love of the law. All for the price of only 50 hours per year. TrustLaw is the global pro bono legal arm of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. TrustLaw connects influential NGOs and social enterprises working to bring about social and environmental change with top law firms and corporate legal teams to provide them with free legal assistance. For the purposes of pro bono engagement only, we define pro bono work as follows: If you want to pursue a career in the public interest, whether right after law school or after a few years in the private sector, pro bono is invaluable for the networking opportunities it offers. In many cities, the public interest community is a small group of engaged people who are connected in a variety of ways. They know how difficult it can be to find work in the public interest and are willing to fight for those they know and vouch for.
For students interested in making the transition from the private sector to the public interest at some point, it is important to do pro bono work while you are in a company to show that you are committed to working in the public interest. Participating in pro bono work gives you hands-on experience and the opportunity to see how lawyers work in the real world. Law courses are often theoretical and theoretical, while pro bono service is hands-on and connects you with people and organizations struggling with real-world problems and challenges. It can be both refreshing and inspiring to leave the books behind and spend a few hours doing something for the benefit of others. A volunteer legal advisor can assist an individual or group in a court case by tabling government motions or petitions. A judge can sometimes decide that the loser should compensate a winning pro bono lawyer. Pro bono publico is also used in the UK to describe the central motivation of large organisations such as the National Health Service and various NGOs that exist `for the public good` rather than for the benefit of shareholders, but it applies just as much, if not more, to the private sector, where professionals such as lawyers and bankers offer their expertise for the benefit of the community or NGOs. Maybe you think you want to be a public defender after law school.
You may find that an internship for a public defender strengthens your interest in this area or informs you that it is not for you. Conversely, you may know you want to be a political advocate, but you`d like to see what it`s like to be in a courtroom. Or maybe you`re considering getting into corporate law, but want to find a pro bono practice area that you can cultivate there. Pro bono work can expose you to areas of practice that you may not otherwise know or can take advantage of, laying the foundation for future pro bono and professional opportunities. In the United States, it is recommended that lawyers contribute at least 50 hours of pro bono service per year, in accordance with the rules of professional conduct of the American Bar Association (ABA). [6] However, some state bar associations may recommend fewer hours. Rule 6.1 of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct strongly encourages lawyers to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono service each year and quantifies the minimum financial contributions lawyers should make to organizations that provide legal services to the poor and underserved. [7] In contrast, other states, such as Illinois, do not have recommended hours, but require annual disclosure of pro bono volunteer hours and contributions to pro bono organizations. [8] This hard work can be seen as an investment in future business.
A successful pro bono case, especially a high-profile one, can be a business generator. But even basic volunteer work can help build a company`s image as a legal leader when featured in public relations programs or legal price applications. Again, the above definition applies only for Berkeley Law Pro Bono Pledge purposes and differs from the pro bono definitions used for other pro bono requirements, including Edley Grants and the New York State Bar.