How Pro Bono Cases Work

Not everyone who needs legal services can afford them. Thankfully, lawyers who provide their services for free or at a reduced rate help bridge the gap between those who need legal help and those who can pay for it. This is called “pro bono” work, from the Latin phrase “pro bono publico” (for the public good).

Pro bono cases also benefit attorneys by giving them courtroom experience, opportunities to expand their skills, and a meaningful way to support causes they care about. 

This article explains how pro bono legal services work. You’ll learn the types of legal issues lawyers are more likely to take on without charge, how pro bono work benefits both clients and attorneys, and more.

What Are the Roots of Pro Bono Service?

Pro bono work has a long tradition in this country. In 1770, British soldiers killed five Americans in what became known as the Boston Massacre. No lawyer was willing to defend the soldiers. Although sympathetic to the American cause, John Adams (later the second American president) agreed to represent them for free. He won the case. By the time America declared its independence in 1776, pro bono service was considered an accepted practice by the American legal profession.

What Legal Issues Qualify for Pro Bono Representation?

Not every legal matter is considered appropriate for pro bono representation. Lawyers typically choose only those cases that serve the public good. That includes, among other areas of law:

• Family law
• Children’s issues
• Consumer fraud
• Housing
• Immigration
• Taxation
• Environmental law
• Criminal defense
• Elder law
• Death penalty appeals

Many lawyers will also take cases on behalf of members of underserved communities, religious groups, and nonprofit organizations.

Pro Bono Requirements for Lawyers

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), when society grants someone the privilege of practicing law, they accept the responsibility to promote justice and to make it equally accessible. That includes making legal services available to people who may not be able to afford them. Rule 6.1 of the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct says that lawyers should aspire to provide 50 hours of pro bono service each year. Many states have adopted this rule for the lawyers who practice within them.

Pro Bono Work Furthers an Attorney’s Career

You shouldn’t feel guilty about seeking pro bono services. Lawyers also benefit from providing free legal aid to those in need:

• New lawyers get into court and have the chance to handle their own cases (typically with some mentoring).
• Lawyers get to serve and promote causes that they are passionate about.
• They get the chance to explore and develop knowledge and skills in new areas of law.
• Lawyers get to know the judges they appear before.
• Some states allow for continuing legal education credits for approved pro bono work.

How Do I Find a Pro Bono Lawyer?

There are several ways to find a pro bono attorney. You can start with a simple internet search.

FindLaw

FindLaw’s Pro Bono Resource Center is an informational hub for those seeking pro bono or low-cost legal representation.

FindLaw’s Attorney Directory is free to use and can connect you with qualified legal help in your area. Keep in mind it is a general directory—not a list of pro bono attorneys. However, your search results will show useful details about each lawyer, including whether they offer free consultations or case evaluations. This can help you quickly identify attorneys who may be a good fit for your needs.

Legal Services Corporation

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a nonprofit corporation formed by Congress in 1974, is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for Americans. In 2024, Congress appropriated $560 million to LSC to fund its mission.

LSC distributes this money to service organizations through a grant process. They have a searchable website of grant recipients who provide pro bono legal services.

Bar Associations

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. With more than 400,000 members, it promotes, among other things, initiatives to improve the legal system. Its mission is to serve the public and the legal profession by promoting justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law.

As part of its public service, the ABA strongly encourages its members and lawyers in general to do pro bono work. It has pro bono resources and a searchable website of organizations that provide free legal services.

In addition, each state has its own bar association. They all have pro bono committees that provide resources and pro bono opportunities for attorneys. Their websites will provide you with more information.

You can also see if the county you live in has its own bar association. Many do, and many also have pro bono committees that help connect lawyers to people in need and other resources. Again, their websites will provide you with more information.

Law Firms

Many law firms take great pride in their pro bono programs and encourage their lawyers and paralegals to provide free services for causes that serve the public interest. Many have pro bono directors who are great contact points. You can find these people by searching a firm’s website.

Law Schools

Most law schools have clinics that provide legal services to people in need. Most of these clinics focus on a particular area of law, such as domestic violence or immigration. These legal clinics, staffed by law students supervised by lawyers, provide free legal services. You can find contact information on a law school’s website.

How Do You Hire an Attorney?

Once you have found a pro bono attorney, forming an attorney-client relationship is an easy and straightforward process. Although lawyers call them different things (like a retainer agreement or engagement letter), virtually all will provide you with a written document that outlines the terms of legal representation. Although you can retain a lawyer orally (and a court might find an attorney-client relationship exists without there being a writing), good, ethical professional practice requires a writing.

Read the letter carefully, make sure you understand it, and ask if you have any questions. Once you are satisfied and agree to the terms of representation, you sign the letter and return it to your lawyer. It’s as simple as that.

What Happens When Your Legal Issue Is Resolved?

Ending an attorney-client relationship is also a straightforward process. Some lawyers simply end the relationship verbally, but most will send you a letter acknowledging that the matter is concluded, thanking you for the opportunity to have represented you, and stating that the attorney-client relationship has ended.

If your lawyer represented you in court or before a state or federal agency, there may be one more step. Your lawyer may need to file a formal notice that they no longer represent you and that any future documents should be sent directly to you.