Is It Time to Mandate Pro Bono Services By Lawyers?

"I had a discussion recently with a friend about pro bono work. My views on the subject are admittedly progressive and I know that word can rub some the wrong way. But as I have thought about this subject for many of my 21 years practicing law, I keep coming back to one central issue I cannot let go - a law license is a privilege, not a right and with that privilege should come a degree of public service that is mandated.

The number of people who need legal services and cannot afford it is staggering. I encourage you to read “The Report on the Future of Legal Services in the United States” by the American Bar Association, published in 2016.

I will not take you through the report in this article. That is not the purpose of this article. I’m sure even if you are not in the legal field, you can appreciate legal representation is financially out of reach for many Americans and especially those who live a middle income lifestyle or below that.

I have heard so many different solutions to this..."

Continue Reading