How to find a pro bono lawyer. The American Bar Association has a handy map via which you can pick your state and find a pro bono attorney on a local level. There is also the Legal Services Corporation, established by Congress in 1974, which can help you find a legal aid firm near you. The Corporation provides funding to 133 clinics all over the country.
Contact the organization or state agency that oversees lawyer licensing in your state. Search for [Your state] lawyer licensing. The site might indicate which lawyers or firms offer pro bono representation. Visit the local law school. Many have legal clinics where students, supervised by attorneys, take cases for free. Call the local courthouse.
Apr 05, 2022 ·
Pro bono is a Latin term that refers to work a lawyer does for free. All lawyers are encouraged to devote some of their time to volunteer representation of those who otherwise would lack access to justice. These cases are taken "pro bono.".
"Legal aid" refers to a group of lawyers who work exclusively for the clients who qualify for their services—poor clients. These attorneys are expert in matters of landlord-tenant law, consumer law, welfare matters, and other areas of law that many poor people encounter. In keeping with the origins of the concept of legal aid (see "Where Did Legal Aid Come From?"), they are on the lookout for cases that can result in legal reform, not just a victory for a solitary litigant.
American legal aid began in the late 19th century as the Legal Aid Society of New York, which sought to protect German immigrants from predatory lenders, unscrupulous landlords, and greedy merchants.
The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. A legal aid or legal services office is a group of lawyers who represent people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer.
If you don't qualify for assistance from legal aid, you might qualify for a state or local bar association program. Bar associations often have pro bono programs that offer assistance to people who meet other criteria, even if their income is too high for legal aid.
Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.
Pro bono lawyers offer free or reduced-cost legal representation for a range of civil and criminal litigation matters, such as housing, bankruptcy, divorce, domestic violence, child custody, immigration and unemployment cases. Pro bono legal assistance is available to those who cannot afford an attorney.
In fact, the American Bar Association recommends that every lawyer aspires to deliver at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services per year.
Law Help maintains an interactive map that you can click on by state to pull up a list of local legal aid programs. If you don't qualify for legal aid, the organization can put you in touch with private lawyers who might be able to help you for a significantly discounted fee.
Many law firms provide pro bono work as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. They'll typically display their practice areas on their websites and provide phone numbers to call for more information.
Many law schools require students to render pro bono services as a condition of graduation. Clinics are typically open to the community and are staffed by law students under the supervision of law professors. Visit the American Bar Association's Law School Directory for a list of participating schools or simply call your local law school ...