Thanks to All Who Made

Celebration 2012 a Success!

American Bar Association President Laurel Bellows

Discusses The

National Celebration of Pro Bono

The National Pro Bono Celebration focuses the nation's attention on the increased need for pro bono services during these challenging economic times and celebrates the outstanding work of lawyers who volunteer their services throughout the year. It is essential that the entire legal community engage in conversation and action that results in equal access to justice for all. The energy generated by the National Pro Bono Celebration is a powerful force that helps us build a just legal system."

Click here or on the image above to hear Attorney Bellows' entire pro bono message.

JUST Stories

Every day, lives are changed when our poorest and most vulnerable citizens gain access to the legal system. Listen to public interest advocates tell stories of justice that significantly impacted the lives of their clients as well as their own. Click on each photo to hear the story. For a complete list of names, affiliations, and a direct link to the story of each contributor, Click Here

Send us your own JUST Story to add to this Video Quilt

What is your JUST Story? What is your most powerful, memorable advocacy experience? Send us a two minute video of yourself or your colleagues answering four questions;

1. What is your name and affiliation?
2. What did you do for your client?
3. What difference did it make in your client's life?
4. What difference did it make in yours?

Help spread the word: inspire and connect others to the essential work of providing legal assistance to those living on the social margins. Tell us how you changed your client's story, and made it a JUST story.

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Why Celebrate Pro Bono?

The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service chose to launch this important initiative because of the increasing need for pro bono services during these harsh economic times and the unprecedented response of attorneys to meet this demand. The National Pro Bono Celebration can be an effective strategic tool for enhancing and expanding local efforts to increase access to justice for all. Use it to increase pro bono participation and expand legal services to low income individuals and groups.

Although national in breadth, the Celebration provides an opportunity for local legal associations across the country to take the next step in their efforts to provide high quality legal services to those living on the social margins.

A guiding principle of the Pro Bono Committee is to support these local efforts and to assist in their growth and effectiveness by providing information, planning guides, resources, and consultation services through this website. The legal needs of the poor are local issues, and although nationwide, this celebration is intended to have a local focus and impact. Goals for the celebration include:
1. Recruiting more pro bono volunteers and increasing legal services to poor and vulnerable people.
2. Mobilizing community support for pro bono.
3. Fostering collaborative relationships
4. Recognizing the pro bono efforts of America's lawyers

This site is designed to maximize participation in the National Pro Bono Celebration. Please visit often for updates, and contact us for additional information and assistance.

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"We are bound by a responsibility to use our unique skills and training - not just to advance cases, but to serve a cause; and to help our nation fulfill its founding promise of equal justice under law...The obligation of pro bono service must become a part of the DNA of both the legal profession and of every lawyer." Eric Holder

Read Attorney General Eric Holder's address to participants at the National Pro Bono Summit on October 24, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

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Poverty Education for Lawyers

Walk A Month In My Shoes

In four locations throughout the country, lawyers are taking part in the National Celebration of Pro Bono by participating in experiential learning programs designed to educate them about poverty and the vital role pro bono lawyers play in assisting those living on the social margins.

Read More...

Jane Taylor of the Ohio Legal Assistance foundation shares "How The National Celebration of Pro Bono Caught On In Ohio". Read this informative description of how the Celebration can simply and effectively enhance and expand your pro bono programs.