PUBLIC LAW 115–237—SEPT. 4, 2018 132 STAT. 2447 

Public Law 115–237 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors 

of domestic violence. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pro bono Work to Empower 

and Represent Act of 2018’’ or the ‘‘POWER Act’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) Extremely high rates of domestic violence, dating 

violence, sexual assault, and stalking exist at the local, State, 

tribal, and national levels and such violence or behavior harms 

the most vulnerable members of our society. 

(2) According to a study commissioned by the Department 

of Justice, nearly 25 percent of women suffer from domestic 

violence during their lifetime. 

(3) Proactive efforts should be made available in all forums 

to provide pro bono legal services and eliminate the violence 

that destroys lives and shatters families. 

(4) A variety of factors cause domestic violence, dating 

violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and a variety of solutions 

at the local, State, and national levels are necessary to combat 

such violence or behavior. 

(5) According to the National Network to End Domestic 

Violence, which conducted a census including almost 1,700 

assistance programs, over the course of 1 day in September 

2014, more than 10,000 requests for services, including legal 

representation, were not met. 

(6) Pro bono assistance can help fill this need by providing 

not only legal representation, but also access to emergency 

shelter, transportation, and childcare. 

(7) Research and studies have demonstrated that the provision of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating 

violence, sexual assault, and stalking reduces the probability 

of such violence or behavior reoccurring in the future and 

can help survivors move forward. 

(8) Legal representation increases the possibility of successfully obtaining a protective order against an attacker, which 

prevents further mental and physical injury to a victim and 

his or her family, as demonstrated by a study that found 

that 83 percent of victims represented by an attorney were 

Pro bono Work to 

Empower and 

Represent Act 

of 2018. 

Sept. 4, 2018 

[S. 717] 


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132 STAT. 2448 PUBLIC LAW 115–237—SEPT. 4, 2018 

able to obtain a protective order, whereas only 32 percent 

of victims without an attorney were able to do so. 

(9) The American Bar Association Model Rules include 

commentary stating that ‘‘every lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional workload, has a responsibility 

to provide legal services to those unable to pay, and personal 

involvement in the problems of the disadvantaged can be one 

of the most rewarding experiences in the life of a lawyer’’. 

(10) As leaders in their legal communities, judges in district 

courts should encourage lawyers to provide pro bono resources 

in an effort to help victims of such violence or behavior escape 

the cycle of abuse. 

(11) A dedicated army of pro bono attorneys focused on 

this mission will inspire others to devote efforts to this cause 

and will raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence, 

dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking throughout the 

country. 

(12) Communities, by providing awareness of pro bono legal 

services and assistance to survivors of domestic violence, dating 

violence, sexual assault, and stalking, will empower those survivors to move forward with their lives. 

SEC. 3. DISTRICT COURTS TO PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT EVENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a period of 4 years, 

the chief judge, or his or her designee, for each judicial district 

shall lead not less than one public event, in partnership with 

a State, local, tribal, or territorial domestic violence service provider 

or coalition and a State or local volunteer lawyer project, promoting 

pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower 

survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 

stalking and engage citizens in assisting those survivors. 

(b) DISTRICTS CONTAINING INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL

ORGANIZATIONS.—During each 2-year period, the chief judge, or 

his or her designee, for a judicial district that contains an Indian 

tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 

4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 

(25 U.S.C. 5304)) shall lead not less than one public event promoting 

pro bono legal services under subsection (a) of this section in partnership with an Indian tribe or tribal organization with the intent 

of increasing the provision of pro bono legal services for Indian 

or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, 

sexual assault, and stalking. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—Each chief judge shall— 

(1) have discretion as to the design, organization, and 

implementation of the public events required under subsection 

(a); and 

(2) in conducting a public event under subsection (a), seek 

to maximize the local impact of the event and the provision 

of access to high-quality pro bono legal services by survivors 

of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and 

stalking. 

SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 

(a) REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS.—Not later than October 30 of 

each year, each chief judge shall submit to the Director of the 

Administrative Office of the United States Courts a report detailing 

Deadline. 

Time periods. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–237—SEPT. 4, 2018 132 STAT. 2449 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 717: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 163 (2017): Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate. 

Vol. 164 (2018): July 17, considered and passed House, amended. 

Aug. 15, Senate concurred in House amendment. 

Æ 

each public event conducted under section 3 during the previous 

fiscal year. 

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1 of each year, 

the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States 

Courts shall submit to Congress a compilation and summary 

of each report received under subsection (a) for the previous 

fiscal year. 

(2) REQUIREMENT.—Each comprehensive report submitted 

under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of how each 

public event meets the goals set forth in this Act, as well 

as suggestions on how to improve future public events. 

SEC. 5. FUNDING. 

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall 

use existing funds to carry out the requirements of this Act. 

Approved September 4, 2018. 

Analysis. 


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