Pro bono publico (English: 'for the public good'), usually shortened topro bono, is aLatin phrase for professional work undertakenvoluntarily and without payment. The term traditionally referred to provision of legal services by legal professionals for people who are unable to afford them. More recently, the term is used to describe specialist services provided by anyprofessional free of charge to an individual or community.
Pro bono legal counsel may assist an individual or group on a legal case by filing government applications or petitions. A judge may occasionally determine that the loser should compensate a winningpro bono counsel.
In Japan, the number of registered NPO Service Grants, which coordinates team-typepro bono programs, has increased tenfold between 2010 and 2020, and has supported more than 1,000 projects. In addition, the introduction ofpro bono is gaining attention as an opportunity to promote citizen participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource development in companies, and to solve problems in community development in local governments. The current authorized NPO, Service Grant Japan, was one of the first to take notice of the possibilities of suchpro bono, bring that know-how back to Japan, and start offering apro bono program that matches the country. Since its launch in 2005, the number of people, organizations, and companies engaged inpro bono activities in Japan has steadily increased. At the same time, many organizations coordinatingpro bono activities have been established in countries other than Japan. more have joined. As a member of this "Global Pro Bono Network," the certified NPO Service Grant is actively participating in networking and collaboration with various parts of the world. The NPO has a volunteer base with over 7,500 registered professionals (pro bono workers), and successfully participate in more than 180 projects annually.[1]
As in the United States, some bar associations in Japan set mandatory working hours for public interest activities, and are sometimes regarded aspro bono activities. Certified public accountants are also gaining recognition as a result of pioneering efforts byPwC Aarata LLC.Small and medium-sized enterprise management consultants are also active in a wide range of activities, such as traveling toTohoku with lunch boxes and supporting the reconstruction of local businesses and shopping districts, mainly for Tohoku reconstruction support activities.
In the Netherlands, legal services offered without payment are known aspro deo.[2][3]
In late 1974, former Philippine SenatorJose W. Diokno was released from prison as a political detainee. He set out as a litigation lawyer to devise a means to combat theMarcos dictatorship and introduced the term "developmentallegal aid", which involved lawyers providingpro bono legal services but also providing allowances to their clients, who were normally the urban poor, informal settlers, farmers, and victims ofMartial law under Ferdinand Marcos. Diokno set up theFree Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), which is the oldest human rights organization in the country. During martial law FLAG has handled most of the human rights cases against the military police and the administration.[4] Eventually the concept of developmental legal aid has grown and fresh lawyers are required to conduct part-time free legal aid for a considerable amount of time, otherwise called the Community Legal Aid Service Rule.[5] Referred to as the "Unified Legal Aid Service" rules starting in 2025, theSupreme Court imposed a 60-hour minimum of pro bono work in a three-year period for Filipino lawyers.[6]
Many developmental legal services are provided by most law firms and NGOs in the Philippines.
South Korean lawyers are required to complete at least 30 hours ofpro bono work per year; however, the local bar associations can reduce this requirement to 20 hours per year. Those who have a good reason not to fulfill the requirement may pay to apro bono fund₩20,000–30,000 (US$17–26) per hour instead.[7]
Since 2003, many UK law firms andlaw schools have celebrated an annual Pro Bono Week, which encouragessolicitors andbarristers to offerpro bono services and increases general awareness ofpro bono service.[8][9] LawWorks (the operating name for the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) is a national charity that works with solicitors and law students, encouraging and supporting them in carrying out legal pro bono work. It also acts as a clearing house forpro bono casework. Individuals and community groups may apply to the charity for free legal advice and mediation, where they could not otherwise afford to pay and are not entitled tolegal aid.[10] Advocates for International Development, which exclusively brokers internationalpro bono contributing towards theSustainable Development Goals, operates from a London base.[11] Many barristers offerpro bono services as a direct response the Legal Aid cuts brought byLASPO 2012, from which they make no profit.[12] The Bar Council has revealed that just under a quarter of the bar offer pro bono; this is 3,486 barristers. Additionally, in 2018, the Bar contributed almost 11,000 hours ofpro bono work.[13] In the United Kingdom, a collaboration between local intellectual property organizations called IP Pro Bono offers intellectual property advice and legal support for claimants and defendants in intellectual property disputes.[14]
Lawyers in theUnited States are recommended underAmerican Bar Association (ABA) ethical rules to contribute at least 50 hours ofpro bono service per year.[15] Some statebar associations, however, may recommend fewer hours. Rule 6.1 of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct strongly encourages lawyers to aspire to provide at least 50 hours ofpro bono service each year and quantifies the minimal financial contributions that lawyers should aspire to make to organizations providing legal services to the poor and underserved.[16] In contrast, other states, such as Illinois, do not have recommended hours, yet require annual disclosure of voluntarypro bono hours and contributions made topro bono organizations.[17] The Chief Judge of New York has also instituted a requirement that applicants who plan to be admitted in 2015 and onward must complete 50 hours ofpro bono service in order to qualify.[18] All attorneys who register must report their voluntarypro bono hours or voluntary contributions.[19]
The ABA has conducted four national surveys ofpro bono service: one released in August 2005,[20] the second in February 2009,[21] the third in March 2013[22] and the fourth in April 2018.[23]
The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and its project, the Center for Pro Bono, are a national source of information, resources and assistance to support, facilitate, and expand the delivery ofpro bono legal help.[24] The ABA Standing Committee also sponsors Pro Bono Week during the week of 23–29 October.[25][26] The ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel and Section of Litigation jointly sponsor the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, which deliverspro bono legal assistance to enlisted, active-duty military personnel.[27]
In an October 2007 press conference reported inThe Wall Street Journal andThe New York Times, the law student groupBuilding a Better Legal Profession released its first annual ranking of toplaw firms by average billable hours,pro bono participation, and demographic diversity.[28][29] The report found that most large firms fall short of theirpro bono targets.[30] The group has sent the information to top law schools around the country, encouraging students to take this data into account when choosing where to work after graduation.[31]
The American Lawyer compiles, from among its 200 top-rated law firms, those that contributed the mostpro bono hours of service during the previous calendar year, publishing the list annually.[32][33] In the United States, the Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that matches volunteer patent professionals with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses for the purpose of securingpatent protection.[34]
Traditionallyarchitects conduct altruistic work individually or as organisations such asArchitecture Sans Frontières International or its various national alternatives or partners, assisting peace-making and reconstruction efforts after conflict or disaster, when much of the housing, hospital, educational, transport, civic and other infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged.[35] More recently,pro bono work proper, as services provided to individuals or organisations free of charge directly by architects or architectural firms, is becoming increasingly common. Services are provided either independently or through emerging organisations.[36][37]
The first national organisation for promotion and provisioning ofpro bono architectural services, Architects Assist, was established in Australia in 2020,[38][39] on the premise that "like healthcare and legal representation, sustainable and resilient architecture is not a luxury. It is a condition of our future survival and a human right."[40]
Architects Assist is a national organisation of Australian architects and other built environment professionals providingpro bono services to individuals or organisations affected by natural disasters, such asbushfires orfloods, or other adverse circumstances. The organisation operates under theAustralian Institute of Architects.[39]
Architekti Pro Bono is an initiative of Czech architects run by the Czech Chamber of Architects.[41]
TheAmerican Institute of Architects encourages its members to providepro bono services as part their contributions to the aspirations of the profession and service to society.[42]
Pro Bono Publico in Dublin was a freeDVD magazine dedicated to Irish arts.[43]
Corporatepro bono efforts generally focus on building the capacity of local nonprofits or mentoring local businesses. There are many models that businesses use and tailor to their specific strengths. They may loan employees, provide coaching and mentoring, complete a service marathon, create standardized team projects, engage in open-ended outsourcing, provide sector-wise solutions, perform general contracting, or work on a signature issue.[44]
To help make services related tointellectual property (IP) more accessible, a number of organizations have createdpro bono initiatives. These organizations offer support from legal professionals at no cost. The services usually cover the professional fees associated with the related services, but no official fees due to a cost to intellectual property offices.[45]
Established in 2015, the Inventor Assistance Program helps inventors navigate thepatent system in their own country and a number of other jurisdictions at no cost. Individual inventors and enterprise must be from a participating country and meet certain eligibility criteria.[46] Applicants apply via the IAP Online Platform.[47][48] Current participating countries include Colombia,[49] Chile,[50] Ecuador, Morocco,[51] Peru,[52] the Philippines,[53] and South Africa.[54] The program is operated by theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In 2020, theWIPO GREEN reinstated theirpro bono legal advice program.[55][56]
The Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property offerspro bono services related to intellectual property.[57][58] Services include applications forcopyright,patent, andtrademarks, academic training, advice on IP related contracts, and IP related disputes.[59]
TheInternational Trademark Association matches eligible clients facingtrademark issues with member attorneys who volunteer to provide services free of charge.[60] The program initially accepted applications in the United States and Latin America and later expanded globally.[60]
TheEuropean Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) offers free personalized IP support to small businesses for EU based SMEs.[61] The work is not limited to a specific field of IP but covers virtually all IP aspects and services, including help in filing patents, trade marks, design applications, copyright, plant varieties, geographical indications, trade secrets and domain names, as well as licensing, enforcement, franchising, tech transfer of IP rights or any "other IP matters and disputes".[62]
Adcock, Thomas; Elinson, Zusha (19 October 2007),"Student Group Grades Firms on Diversity, Pro Bono Work",New York Law Journal, retrieved15 October 2012(subscription required)