The concept of pro bono (Latin for “the public good”) has long been a cornerstone of the legal profession. This tradition, sprung from the recognition of the critical need for legal services among our most vulnerable individuals, remains deeply valued in Michigan’s legal community as a professional obligation and – for many – a personal mission.
At any given time, thousands of Michigan individuals and families face pressing legal challenges but lack financial means to secure counsel. Legal aid organizations like Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA), depend on the generous contributions of attorneys and others to bridge this gap. Without such support, countless individuals would face the legal system alone, often with life-altering consequences.
The State Bar of Michigan recognizes this necessity through its establishment of its Standard for Pro Bono participation. This guideline encourages all active members of the State Bar of Michigan to provide one of the following annually:
- Free representation to three low-income individuals
- A minimum of thirty hours of free representation or services to low-income person or to a public service or charitable group or organizations
- A minimum of thirty hours of free or reduced rate professional services to persons of limited means or to a public service or charitable group or organizations
- A minimum contribution of $300 to not-for-profit program organized for the purpose of delivering civil legal services to low-income individuals
At LADA, we have witnessed first-hand that for many attorneys, pro bono work is more than checking off a box as a professional obligation but a deeply rewarding endeavor.
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*Legal Reader featured a byline article from Legal Aid and Defender President and CEO Michelle Johnson on the importance of Pro Bono work for law firms.
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