The legal profession believes that access to justice must be available to all, regardless of the ability to pay.
Attorneys commit to pro bono both as a profession and as individual lawyers.
Historically, attorneys have donated time to help their communities through service on boards and commissions, churches and community groups and by helping improve the administration of justice, in addition to donating hundreds of hours each year to help meet the legal needs of the poor. However, since attorneys have specialized skills, unique and tremendously valuable talents and expertise that cannot be met be other community volunteers, this manual will define pro bono solely as the provision of quality, uncompensated voluntary civil legal services to the poor as opposed to other types of volunteer work and hopes to help attorneys to focus their volunteer legal efforts accordingly. If your bar association is looking to set up a pro bono program, the first place to seek assistance is from the local legal service program office. Legal service programs offer an effective conduit for matching clients with volunteer attorneys. Legal aid offices have developed substantial expertise in the administration of volunteer lawyer programs and can help with your efforts.