Where Are All the Pro Bono Lawyers?

There is some misinformation out there about the availability of free legal services. There is such a thing as pro bono (free) legal service - it does exist. The American Bar Association recommends that every lawyer perform a certain number of pro bono hours each year. But the key word is recommends - the ABA isn't like the American Dental or Medical Association. Most lawyers aren't members of the ABA, nor are they required to be, so no one is bound by its standards.

That an attorney puts in a certain number of pro bono hours doesn't make him a pro bono lawyer - that's no way to make a living. Just as there's no such thing as a painter who paints people's homes for free, there's no such thing as a lawyer who does whatever people need for free.

That said, there are non-profits whose function is to provide legal assistance to certain classes of people in need. The Innocence Project and the ACLU come to mind. There are small legal aid offices that help indigent clients file bankruptcies or get child support. And every court maintains a roster of court-appointed lawyers to represent people charged with crimes who can't afford counsel.

If you're in an accident, many lawyers will represent you on a contingency basis, meaning they take a percentage of what you recover. That isn't free - often it's the most costly kind of representation you can get. It simply doesn't cost anything out of pocket up front.

But if you want to sue someone who owes you money, or evict a tenant, there is essentially no such thing as a lawyer who will do that for nothing. Understanding where free and low-cost legal help actually exists - and where it doesn't - can save you time and frustration when you're trying to figure out your options.