Pro Bono Practice and Opportunities in United States

Overview

The United States (US) boasts a rich tradition and well-established system of providing pro bono legal support to those in need. This commitment is reflected in the widespread participation of non-profit organizations, legal services organisations, private law firms, individual practitioners, and in-house counsel. Despite the extensive involvement of attorneys, the demand for affordable legal services in the United States surpasses the available supply. Opportunities for pro bono work are abundant, diverse, and cater to various skill levels.

It’s important to note that pro bono regulation and practice can vary significantly from state to state, with each jurisdiction having its own rules and guidelines governing pro bono activities. Pro bono in the US can be required for attorneys through state bar associations, is factored into law firm rankings, and is often included in law school graduation requirements. In-house legal teams are increasingly taking on pro bono work, often in collaboration with private law firms.[1]

There is still a need for reporting, benchmarking, and infrastructure so that pro bono activities can be measured, encouraged, and improved across firms and legal departments. There are also increased reporting requirements in many states. For example, in 2026, California became the eleventh state to require pro bono hour reporting, reflecting a growing trend towards greater transparency and accountability in the provision of legal services.[2]

This section offers a concise overview of the U.S. legal system and its culture surrounding pro bono work. Additionally, it provides initial resources for identifying suitable pro bono opportunities in the United States.

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At a glance

Minimum pro bono hours requirement for lawyers? Specific pro bono licence required? May foreign lawyers practice pro bono? Insurance required for law firm pro bono? Insurance required for in-house counsel pro bono? Rules to limit advertising pro bono work? Does pro bono work count to CLE credit? Limitations for in-house lawyers to do pro bono?
Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Pro bono practice and opportunities

1. Describe the laws or rules that regulate the provision of legal services, including any licensing required to provide legal services. Please highlight any differences for lawyers working as in-house counsel.

The federal government in the US is divided into three branches: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary. Sovereignty is shared equally between the federal government and each state government. Indigenous tribes retain sovereignty but are also subject to federal jurisdiction. The US Constitution is the highest legal authority and is “the law of the land.”[3] Where the US Constitution or federal law is silent or does not apply, state, local, or tribal law will apply. Like the federal government, each state government and, where applicable, tribal government will have its own governing constitution.

The federalist system of governance in the US means that each state has the power to develop its own state bar admission rules. In certain states, like California and Delaware, state-specific examinations and regulations are adopted, whilst in other states, the Uniform Bar Examination [4] is adopted. An attorney admitted to practise law in one state is not automatically authorised to practice in any other state. In addition, attorneys may also be required to apply for admission to practice law before specific federal and agency tribunals.

Post-admission, attorney conduct, and services are regulated by each state through the relevant state bar association. Attorneys may also be subject to regulation through the state legislature or courts. These rules and regulations govern the standards for bar admission, ethics, conduct, continuing education requirements, and discipline for attorneys. One such example is the American Bar Association’s (ABA’s) Model Rules of Professional Conduct.[5] Whilst not law themselves, these rules act as a template for states to develop their own rules governing attorney conduct.

Regulatory landscape for pro bono

2. Describe the laws or rules that regulate the provision of pro bono legal services.

Whilst the ABA oversees the pro bono policies of state bar associations,[6] the specific rules and regulations governing pro bono services vary from state to state. Practitioners should consult the rules of each state bar association for detailed information on the pro bono regulatory landscape in that state.

Rule 6.1 of the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides that every lawyer has the professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay and recommends that attorneys should aim to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services each year, with a focus on providing such services to people of limited means or non-profit organisations aiding people of limited means.[7] In addition, Rule 6.1 also encourages attorneys to voluntarily contribute financial support to organisations that provide legal services to persons of limited means. In eleven states, attorneys are mandated to report their pro bono hours, whilst in thirteen states, pro bono reporting is on a voluntary basis.[8]

Even before qualifying as an attorney, Standard 303(b)(2) of the ABA’s 2024-2025 Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools require that substantial opportunities for student participation in pro bono, including law-related public service activities, are provided.[9] At least 39 law schools impose pro bono or public service requirements as a condition of graduation.[10] For instance, JD students at Harvard Law School must meet a 50 pro bono hours requirement to graduate and be certified for bar admission.[11] Apart from law school requirements, state bar requirements must also be adhered to. In New York, the performance of 50 hours of pro bono service is a pre-requisite for bar admission.[12]

The Pro Bono Institute’s Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project publishes a state-by-state chart summarising mandatory and voluntary pro bono reporting requirements across all 50 U.S. states.[13]

3. Do lawyers need a licence to provide pro bono legal services (beyond the usual local qualification to practice law)?

No, but attorneys must be licensed in the jurisdiction where they do pro bono work. State bar associations regulate licensing of attorneys, and the specific state bar website should be consulted for licensing specifics. Notably, certain jurisdictions like Colorado and Arizona permit attorneys licensed elsewhere in the US to do pro bono work in such jurisdictions.[14]

4. Do foreign-qualified lawyers need any additional license to provide pro bono services (beyond their foreign qualification to practice law)?

Foreign-qualified lawyers will need to pass the bar for the state they wish to practise in. Outside of New York and California, foreign-qualified lawyers will typically need to have completed either a JD or an LLM before being eligible to sit the bar. Foreign-qualified lawyers should consult the relevant state bar associations for specific admission details.

For non-US lawyers working in-house, as of June 2023, only six states permit pro bono practice by such individuals.[15]

5. Are lawyers required by such rules to work a minimum number of pro bono hours? If so, how many?

There is no firm pro bono requirement, but the ABA Model Rule 6.1 provides that “[e]very lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year”. Although the ABA Model Rules are not mandatory or binding, a number of state bars have adopted the model rule or variations thereof.

6. Are aspiring lawyers required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services to become licensed lawyers?

On a state level, only New York requires 50 hours of pro bono work for licensure.[16]

However, certain law schools impose mandatory pro bono requirements for law students to be able to graduate and be certified for bar admission.[17]

7. Aside from mandatory targets (if any), are there aspirational pro bono hours targets for lawyers set by the local bar association, regulatory body, or other body?

State bar associations set specific aspirational targets that can range from 20-50 hours a year.[18] As mentioned above, the ABA Model Rule 6.1 recommends that attorneys render 50 hours of pro bono service. States have developed two models of pro bono reporting systems: rules requiring attorneys to report their pro bono activity (mandatory pro bono reporting) and rules suggesting that attorneys volunteer such information (voluntary pro bono reporting).[19]

The Pro Bono Institute (PBI) Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge (which APBCo [20] members and many law firms participate in or support) sets benchmarks that function like target commitments. Law firms that sign the Challenge commit to contributing a certain percentage of billable hours to pro bono work — often 3 % or 5 % of total billable hours per attorney per year. Some firms adopt other internal thresholds such as 60 hours, 100 hours, or a flat hours target per attorney — though 3–5 % remains a widely referenced aspirational benchmark.[21]

Legal departments that sign the PBI’s Corporate Pro Bono Challenge publicly commit to using their best efforts to encourage at least 50 % of their legal teams — including attorneys and legal staff — to participate in pro bono work each year.[22]

8. Do lawyers receive any “Continuing Legal Education” (CLE) or equivalent credit for pro bono hours worked?

CLE credit for pro bono work varies by state bar association, as CLE requirements vary from state to state.[23] The ABA retains a list of jurisdictions that provide CLE credit for pro bono.[24]

Insurance and advertising

9. Do lawyers need professional indemnity legal insurance cover for pro bono legal services they provide? Does the requirement differ for in-house lawyers? If insurance is required, can lawyers meet the requirement by working under the cover of another pro bono provider, e.g., in partnership with a private law firm or organisation working on the same pro bono project?

Generally, requirements for attorneys to obtain legal malpractice insurance in the US vary by state; however the lack thereof must usually be disclosed to clients.

Pro bono work done through a volunteer lawyer society or a bar association may be covered under a policy purchased by that organisation.[25] For instance, the ABA provides malpractice insurance for attorney advice provided through its ABA Free Legal Answers system.[26]

Law firms’ insurance policies may also cover pro bono work.

In‑house attorneys need to consider malpractice/professional liability coverage when doing pro bono work, and there are a few options. They can work with a legal services organization that provides liability coverage for volunteer attorneys; add an employed‑lawyers endorsement to an existing corporate policy or purchase standalone insurance; or join organizations that offer liability insurance options to members.[27]

10. Are there any rules that limit or prohibit advertising of pro bono successes or soliciting new pro bono clients?

No, but each state bar association regulates attorney advertising, and attorneys should be mindful of ethical rules and professional conduct standards set by their jurisdictions.

Pro bono practice and culture

11. What are the main areas of law that require or present opportunities for pro bono? What are the major unmet legal needs?

The LSC’s Justice Gap Report (2022) notes that low-income Americans have 92% of their substantial civil legal needs unmet. Additionally, 46% of those who did not seek legal help for one or more problems cite concerns about cost as a reason why, and 53% do not know if they could find and afford a lawyer if they needed one. The most common types of problems are consumer issues, health care, housing, and income maintenance.[28]

TrustLaw’s Index of Pro Bono 2024, which surveys pro bono practised by law firms across the world, reveals that the dominant pro bono focus areas are access to justice, immigration, refugees and asylum, and human rights. 68 % of US firms reported that they focus pro bono services on immigration, refugees and asylum issues, indicating the significant scale of unmet demand for legal help in these matters, alongside broader access to justice gaps.[29]

12. Who are the main providers of pro bono legal services?

The main providers of pro bono legal services include a mix of law firms, in‑house legal departments, nonprofit legal services organizations, bar associations, and courts, each playing a key role in delivering free legal assistance to underserved communities.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a federal government non-profit organisation, is the largest funding source for civil legal aid in the US. Approximately 95% of its funding is distributed to over 130 independent non-profit legal aid organisations with more than 900 offices across the US. Organisations or programmes that receive LSC funding must serve clients that are at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. The LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund offers grants to collaboratively engage more lawyers and non-legal professionals in pro bono service and address gaps in legal services and persistent challenges in the pro bono delivery system.

Further, Scale Justice’s flagship programs – LawHelp, LawHelp Interactive and Citizenshipworks – help more than eight million people each year to find information about their legal rights and access legal services in their local communities.[30]

13. Are there any noteworthy examples of how innovative technology or artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to enable access to pro bono or otherwise as part of pro bono cases or matters?

While law firms are increasingly using AI tools to deliver legal services in their day-to-day pro bono matters, a survey by Everlaw indicates that AI is also rapidly becoming a key tool for legal aid organizations to bridge the justice gap for millions of Americans [31].

The LSC promotes technology to improve the delivery of legal services through its Technology Initiative Grants (TIG), which fund projects that use innovative technology to provide greater access to high-quality legal assistance for low-income Americans.[32] Examples of funded projects included employing AI to improve access to legal information and enhancing online self-help resources.

Scale Justice has an initiative called LawHelp Interactive (LHI), which is a legal document assembly platform. Individuals without access to lawyers are able to make use of LHI to create legal forms such as wills and child support forms. It also has email functionality allowing users to send documents to courts or agencies remotely and providing e-signature options.

Reclamo AI is a multi-lingual, mobile-first digital assistant developed by Justicia Lab and the New York Legal Assistance Group to help low-income and immigrant workers prevent, access and document workplace violations in New York State.[33]

Microsoft’s pro bono program has developed an Azure AI-powered Copilot tool (often referred to as the DACA Copilot) that helps volunteers automate the preparation of U.S. immigration forms — vastly reducing the manual work needed for applications such as DACA renewals.[34]

Thomson Reuters’ AI for Justice program (designed to address the overwhelming demand faced by legal nonprofits in the US) shows how advanced AI is transforming the delivery of legal aid. By equipping legal nonprofits with CoCounsel – its professional-grade AI legal assistant – attorneys are saving up to 15 hours per week, scaling capacity by as much as 50% daily, and preparing urgent case materials up to 75% faster.[35]

PBI has published analysis emphasizing that AI has significant potential to enhance pro bono legal work by improving efficiency, particularly for basic tasks like drafting, research, and intake.[36]

Sources of pro bono opportunities and key contacts

14. Describe notable sources of pro bono matters or resources in your jurisdiction.
  • ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service:[37] the ABA is the largest legal professional association in the United States, and its website has additional links to various national clearinghouse libraries and lists of pro bono programmes at law schools and at the local level.
  • PBI:[38] CPBO is the is the respected resource for all things pro bono by law firms and legal departments. PBI’s Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project focuses on opportunities for pro bono work for in-house counsel and legal departments. The CPBO Challenge® Report: In-House Pro Bono By The Numbers presents a snapshot of in-house pro bono across the US and globally.[39]
  • TrustLaw is a global pro bono platform that connects lawyers and law firms with NGOs, social enterprises and independent media organisations in need of free legal support.[40] TrustLaw also publishes guides and research on pro bono, such as the TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono.[41]
15. Is there any public or private organisation with which a local or foreign lawyer can register to be made aware of pro bono opportunities?

A variety of pro bono opportunities can be found through the websites of local legal services organizations. These often include opportunities to volunteer at ongoing legal clinics.

The Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) facilitates pro bono projects for member law firms.[42]

State and national bar associations also have pro bono opportunities.

  • The Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo) is a membership organisation that supports law firm pro bono programs and the professionals who run them. Attorneys who manage pro bono practices will regularly learn of new pro bono initiatives and developments through APBCo.
  • ABA[43] – attorneys can fill out their volunteer interest survey, and the ABA has a Center for Pro Bono page,[44] which sets out a variety of pro bono resources.
16. Are there any awards, lists, or rankings related to pro bono work?

Several state bar associations recognise pro bono work. Other awards include: the ABA’s Pro Bono Publico Award, the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers in Pro Bono award, the Pro Bono Outstanding Firm by Chambers USA, and the Pro Bono Law Firm of the year by ACLU.

PBI recognizes individuals, law firms, companies, and other organizations that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to pro bono legal work and access to justice through a few awards.[45]

The TrustLaw Awards celebrate remarkable legal teams and pro bono projects undertaken by the network’s legal members for NGOs, independent media and social enterprises around the world.[46]

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  3. For more details regarding the structure of the US legal system, see generally ADMIN. OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS, Understanding the Federal Courts (2010), available at https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/understanding-federal-courts.pdf (last visited on 6 January 2025); Comparing Federal & State Courts, ADMIN. OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS, http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure/comparing-federal-state-courts (last visited on 6 January 2025); and Court Role and Structure, ADMIN. OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS, http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure (last visited on 6 January 2025).
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  14. Office for Access to Justice, Bar Membership and Out-of-State Attorney Pro Bono Practice Rules, https://www.justice.gov/atj/pro-bono-program/bar-membership-and-out-state-attorney-pro-bono-practice-rules (last visited on 8 January 2025).
  15. Pro Bono Institute, Foreign Lawyer In-House Counsel Practice and Pro Bono, https://www.cpbo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FINAL-Foreign-Lawyer-In-House-Rules-2023.pdf (last visited on 8 January 2025).
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  33. https://nylag.org/justicia-lab-and-new-york-legal-assistance-group-launch-new-chatbot-reclamo-ai-to-help-new-yorkers-understand-and-address-wage-theft/ (last visited on 7 May 2026).
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  37. See https://www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service/ (last visited on 6 January 2025).
  38. See www.probonoinst.org (last visited on 6 January 2025).
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Acknowledgements

In connection with this chapter, we are grateful for the support and insight of US counsel:
Latham and Watkins LLP

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Published in partnership with