Pro bono publico

"Pro bono publico" (usually shortened to "pro bono") is a phrase derived from Latin meaning "for the public good." The term is sometimes used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms. Pro bono service, unlike traditional volunteerism, uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them.

"pro bono" legal counsel may assist an individual or group on a legal case, in filing government applications or petitions, or on appeal. A judge may occasionally determine that the loser should compensate a winning "pro bono" counsel.

"Pro bono publico" is sometimes used in the United Kingdom to describe the central motivation of large organizations such as the BBC, the National Health Service, and various NGOs which exist "for the public good" (rather than for shareholder profit) and legal or professional work. [Dyer, Clare. "Win or lose, no fee: pro bono week promotes free legal services." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/story/0,,1790285,00.html Pro Bono work.] The Guardian. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.]

Requirements and recommendations for service

Lawyers in the United States are recommended under American Bar Association (ABA) ethical rules to contribute at least fifty hours of "pro bono" service per year. ["ABA Model Rule 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono Service." [http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/rule61.html Pro Bono and Public Service.] Retrieved 2 June 2007.] Some state bar associations, however, may recommend fewer hours. The New York State Bar Association, for example, recommends just twenty hours of "pro bono" service annually, ["NYSBA | Pro bono defined", [http://www.nysba.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Attorney_Resources/Pro_Bono/Pro_bono_defined/Pro_bono_defined.htm Pro Bono Affairs.] Retrieved 2 June 2007.] while the New York City Bar promulgates the same recommendation as the ABA. ["New York City Bar Association Releases Statement of Pro Bono Principles." Retrieved 2 June 2007. [http://www.nycbar.org/pdf/NOV%2029%20PRO%20BONO.pdf] ]

In an October 2007 press conference reported in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, the law student group Building a Better Legal Profession released its first annual ranking of top law firms by average billable hours, pro bono participation, and demographic diversity. [Amir Efrati, You Say You Want a Big-Law Revolution, Take II, "Wall Street Journal", October 10, 2007. ] [ Adam Liptak, In Students’ Eyes, Look-Alike Lawyers Don’t Make the Grade, "New York Times", October 29, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/us/29bar.html?em&ex=1193889600&en=4b0cd84261ffe5b4&ei=5087%0A ] The report found that most large firms fall short of their pro bono targets. [Thomas Adcock & Zusha Elinson, Student Group Grades Firms on Diversity, Pro Bono Work, "New York Law Journal", October 19, 2007, http://www.law.com/jsp/nylj/PubArticleNY.jsp?hubtype=BackPage&id=1192698212305 ] 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. [ Henry Weinstein, Big L.A. law firms score low on diversity survey: The numbers of female, black, Latino, Asian and gay partners and associates lag significantly behind their representation in the city's population, according to a study, "Los Angeles Times", October 11, 2007, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-diversity11oct11,1,661263.story?coll=la-headlines-california ] As more students choose where to work based on the firms' rankings, firms face an increasing market pressure to increase their commitment to pro bono work in order to attract top recruits. [ Linda Hershman, Perfect Information for Law Students, "The New Republic", October 23, 2007, http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/open_university/archive/2007/10/23/perfect-information-for-law-students.aspx ]

See also

* List of Latin phrases
* Law Students in Action Project
* Legal aid

References

External links

* [http://www.abaprobono.org American Bar Association—Center for Pro Bono]
* [http://www.probono.net Pro Bono Net]
* [http://www.probonoinst.org/ Pro Bono Institute]
* [http://www.abanet.org/disaster/ Disaster Pro Bono]
* [http://www.nylpi.org/ New York Lawyers for the Public Interest]
* [http://www.pili.org/en/content/view/666/274/ European Pro Bono Forum]
* [http://www.probonostudents.ca Pro Bono Students Canada]
* [http://www.compassdc.com COMPASS - A volunteer consulting alliance of MBA alumni from Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Dartmouth, and the University of Chicago]