What is a sentence using the term pro bono?

Answer 1

American Bar Association Model Rule 6.1 states that:

"Every 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. In fulfilling this responsibility, the lawyer should:

(a) provide a substantial majority of the (50) hours of legal services without fee or expectation of fee to:

(1) persons of limited means or

(2) charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; and

(b) provide any additional services through:

(1) delivery of legal services at no fee or substantially reduced fee to individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization's economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate;

(2) delivery of legal services at a substantially reduced fee to persons of limited means; or

(3) participation in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession.

In addition, a lawyer should voluntarily contribute financial support to organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means."


The activities listed in sections (a) and (b) of Model Rule 6.1 are essentially the American Bar Association's definition of "pro bono work" -- legal work done for no fee or a substantially reduced fee meant to either help people of limited means, protect essential rights, or improve the law itself.


A great example of pro bono work is the work done by lawyers through the Legal Aid Society (a free legal service for people with limited means). Lawyers may represent poor clients in Landlord-Tenant disputes, insurance benefits and social security disputes, or any other case in which a person needs help. Lawyers can also represent children in Foster Care and custody disputes, work on death penalty cases, or help with issues of international importance.


Pro Bono work is an important part of the legal profession, and it helps many people who cannot afford to help themselves.

Answer 2

The law firm took the homeless man's case without charge or pro bono.