Pro Bono
Literal meaning: “For the good (of the public).”
What does the Latin term "Pro Bono" mean in law?
Pro bono (short for pro bono publico) refers to legal services provided free of charge or at substantially reduced cost as a public service, typically for individuals or organizations that cannot afford legal representation. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 6.1) recommend that every lawyer render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service per year. While pro bono work is aspirational rather than mandatory in most jurisdictions, many law firms have structured pro bono programs, and some jurisdictions have adopted limited mandatory pro bono reporting requirements. Pro bono representation serves the profession's commitment to access to justice.
Source: General · Legal Latin
Legal Definition
Pro bono (short for pro bono publico) refers to legal services provided free of charge or at substantially reduced cost as a public service, typically for individuals or organizations that cannot afford legal representation. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 6.1) recommend that every lawyer render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service per year. While pro bono work is aspirational rather than mandatory in most jurisdictions, many law firms have structured pro bono programs, and some jurisdictions have adopted limited mandatory pro bono reporting requirements. Pro bono representation serves the profession's commitment to access to justice.
How It's Used
Pro bono is used in discussions of legal ethics, access to justice, and the legal profession. Law students encounter it in professional responsibility courses and through clinical programs. It describes both individual attorneys' voluntary service and institutional firm programs.
Example Sentences
The firm's pro bono program provided free legal assistance to asylum seekers facing deportation.
She took the case pro bono after learning that the family could not afford an attorney.
ABA Model Rule 6.1 encourages attorneys to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono service annually.