Celebrate Pro Bono

Celebrate Pro Bono 2011

As our nation faces economic uncertainty and underfunded state court budgets threaten access to justice, it is more important than ever for us to do what is right as lawyers. National Celebrate Pro Bono Week is an opportunity to reflect and recommit ourselves to pro bono work, which helps our communities grow stronger and makes us better lawyers. The hundreds of events around the country this week remind us that when we volunteer time and expertise to assist the most vulnerable in our society, we help fulfill the promise of justice for all.

Volunteerism is in our professional souls. It's part of our DNA. And it may be the most interesting, challenging and rewarding part of our careers. Pro bono work reminds us why we became lawyers in the first place. Every day, pro bono lawyers provide access to justice for thousands of Americans. Everyone can be sure that lawyers will continue to serve now and in the years to come. It's not just what we do, it's who we are. Celebrate.

Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III

Listen....

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Urges Lawyers to Do Pro Bono

Watch or read Attorney General Eric Holder address participants at the National Pro Bono Summit on October 24 in Washington, D.C. The summit was organized by the by the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service as an event to open Celebrate Pro Bono Week.

Featured Event

Launch of Free Mobile App for Pro Bono Attorneys

Illinois Legal Aid Online launched its Pro Bono Mobile App on October 25 as part of its participation in the National Celebration of Pro Bono Week. Illinois, a national leader in applying technology to the delivery of free legal services, is the first state to launch a free mobile application for pro bono attorney. The Illinois Pro Bono Mobile App, released for Apple iOs and Android devices, delivers training and practice support materials to legal professionals with smart phones and tablets who volunteer with legal services providers. The app leverages some of IllinoisProBono.org 's resources to make them more accessible and easier to use on mobile devices.
"Legal professionals have a distinct responsibility to use their specialized skills for the betterment of our communities. I am thrilled to be involved in this year's Pro Bono Week, and I am especially pleased with the notion of "Kindness to Strangers," this week's theme in Chicago, which resonated to me in this era," said Carrie Di Santo, Vice President and Global Chief Compliance Officer of Aon Corporation in Chicago and Co-Chair of Chicago's Seventh Annual Pro Bono Week. "The Illinois Pro Bono Mobile App makes it easy for those of us in the corporate sector and at law firms who want to give back to those in most need of our services."

"Continuing advances in technology have made it possible for pro bono and legal aid organizations to serve many more clients as well as to more effectively support pro bono attorneys," said Bob Glaves, Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Foundation. "With mobile technology now becoming the norm for most lawyers, there are even greater possibilities."
The Illinois Pro Bono Mobile App gives attorneys, law students, and paralegals instantaneous access to a statewide database of volunteer opportunities, a calendar of MCLE trainings and community events, and comprehensive legal reference guides. The app's legal resources include in-depth guides on discrete areas of civil law, including advanced directives, mortgage foreclosure, divorce and custody, and more. Earlier this month Illinois Legal Aid Online released the Illinois Legal Aid Mobile App for lower-income residents with legal problems. The app provides zip code-based referrals to local legal services programs, including county-based legal self-help centers, and free, plain language legal information for the most common legal problems.
The Illinois Legal Aid Mobile App can be downloaded here and the Illinois Pro Bono Mobile App can be downloaded here.
Illinois Legal Aid Online is a nationally-recognized, groundbreaking statewide technology center for legal services. Since 2001, ILAO has put the law within reach for lower-income Illinois residents by developing technology and information to increase access to justice.

See other 2011 Featured Events

Join in the National Online Pro Bono Conversation:

Help Shape A New Pro Bono Paradigm

The need for legal services for low income Americans has never been greater than it is today. How can we frame a new way of thinking about and delivering pro bono legal services? Please contribute to a stimulating national conversation about the future of pro bono work and the delivery of quality legal services to our most vulnerable citizens.
Twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays, a new question is posted for your reflection and comments. Please participate often and invite your colleagues to do the same. A national conversation can seed new initiatives and new approaches throughout the country; please join in this dynamic exchange of insights and ideas. Your voice needs to be heard. Join the discussion now.

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.