Pro bono: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 01:28, 16 August 2008
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
References
- ^ Dyer, Clare. "Win or lose, no fee: pro bono week promotes free legal services." Pro Bono work. The Guardian. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
- ^ "ABA Model Rule 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono Service." Pro Bono and Public Service. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
- ^ "NYSBA | Pro bono defined", Pro Bono Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
- ^ "New York City Bar Association Releases Statement of Pro Bono Principles." Retrieved 2 June 2007.[1]
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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