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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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,^[3] while the New York City Bar promulgates the same recommendation as the ABA.^[4]

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.^[5][6] The report found that most large firms fall short of their pro bono targets.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

See also

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

References

External links

• American Bar Association—Center for Pro Bono
• Pro Bono Net
• Pro Bono Institute
• Disaster Pro Bono
• New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
• European Pro Bono Forum
• Pro Bono Students Canada
• COMPASS - A volunteer consulting alliance of MBA alumni from Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Dartmouth, and the University of Chicago

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