Pro Bono
To connect Pennsylvania attorneys with available resources to perform pro bono publico service and to advance equal access to justice for all Pennsylvanians
If you are an individual seeking pro bono services, please visit:
Pennsylvania Free Legal Answers
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Services
Pro Bono Representation of Respondents
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the Pennsylvania Bar Association have organized a program whereby attorneys have volunteered to represent respondent-attorneys who are financially unable to hire counsel in the early, informal stage of disciplinary investigations. This stage starts with the opening of an investigation and ends with the decision to dismiss the charges or to file a petition for public discipline. It is in this crucial early stage that counsel can persuade disciplinary authorities to dismiss the charges or to reduce or mitigate the discipline sought. These attorneys have completed a PBI training program created and presented by experienced respondents’ attorneys and staff of the Disciplinary Board on the disciplinary process and the representation of respondents in that process. If you are a respondent-attorney and believe you cannot afford to hire private counsel and your professional liability insurance does not provide payment for counsel in disciplinary proceedings, you will find the names and contact information of the volunteer attorneys at this link: https://www.pabar.org/site/For-Lawyers/Committees-Commissions/Legal-Ethics-and-Professional-Responsibility/Projects-and-Programs.
Emeritus Status
IOLTA
CLE
Resources
Since mid-2018, emeritus status has been an option for retired attorneys who desire to perform pro bono work with legal aid organizations. Emeritus attorneys fulfill valuable roles in the community by bolstering legal aid and other nonprofit programs to help close the gap between the need for and the availability of free legal services. Read the full press release.
HOW DO I ASSUME EMERITUS STATUS?
Application – Attorneys on retired status in Pennsylvania must complete and submit an Application for Emeritus Status, including appropriate documentation and payment as detailed on the application. *Attorneys not currently on retired status may be eligible to simultaneously assume retired and emeritus status.
Legal Aid Organization Approval – Attorneys who have assumed emeritus status must submit an Eligible Legal Aid Organization Form for approval PRIOR to the commencement of services. (A separate form shall be submitted for each organization for which the attorney expects to perform pro bono services.)
Renewal – Attorneys on emeritus status are required to renew annually by January 31. Renewal forms are distributed on or before January 1. Failure to renew by January 31 will result in the transfer to retired status.
Pa.R.D.E. 403 – Emeritus Status
Contact the Disciplinary Board
The Pennsylvania IOLTA Board provides critical grant funding to legal aid organizations that deliver free civil legal aid to low-income Pennsylvanians facing a legal crisis where a basic human need is at stake. Each of the non-profit organizations funded by the IOLTA Board builds partnerships with pro bono attorneys to help reach even more people in need. Training and support is provided to volunteer attorneys in their representation of people in need of legal services that are not typically provided in their regular practice.
Explore Pro Bono Opportunities with an IOLTA-funded Legal Aid Organization
Pennsylvania attorneys have the option of completing a portion of their CLE requirement with credits earned through pro bono service. One (1) hour of CLE credit may be earned for every five (5) hours of pro bono service performed through an Accredited Provider of Pro Bono CLE. A maximum of three (3) credits earned in this manner may be applied to the annual compliance requirement. Credits must be completed and reported to the CLE Board through an Accredited Provider of Pro Bono CLE.
The CLE Board coordinated this initiative with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in an effort to blend educational opportunities with action to serve to Pennsylvanians in need.
View More Information on This Program and a List of Participating Providers
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) is a statewide consortium of independent legal aid programs that provides civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. The Network is comprised of 15 legal aid providers serving low-income people across the Commonwealth.
PAProbono.net is an online legal community that provides information and resources for pro bono attorneys, legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and other legal advocates interested in increasing access to justice. Visit the site to locate significant civil legal aid resources and to access the pro bono newsletter, calendar, and more.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (PBA) Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers page connects lawyers with a variety of pro bono opportunities including Pennsylvania Free Legal Answers. More than 6,000 legal aid matters flow through the PBA’s Pro Bono Office annually making pro bono attorneys essential to the success of the program. Volunteers are always needed to support pro bono services across the state.
PBA's Pro Bono Services page provides an overview of how PBA supports pro bono service. Through these programs, lawyer volunteers screen matters and handle cases in their areas of practice or expertise for low-income Pennsylvanians, free of charge.
This County Pro Bono Map displays how each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties handle pro bono locally. Although there is some type of pro bono activity in every county, each county’s approach to pro bono is unique.
The American Bar Association’s CLE Credit for Pro Bono site is a compilation of states that offer CLE credit for pro bono work. Information on individual state rules and links to official resources are included in the list.
PA Law Help, supported by PBA and PLAN, provides information about civil legal issues and also provides answers to many civil legal questions. The site is a resource to individuals with legal needs as well as lawyers searching for information to share with those in need.
Since mid-2018, emeritus status has been an option for retired attorneys who desire to perform pro bono work with legal aid organizations. Emeritus attorneys fulfill valuable roles in the community by bolstering legal aid and other nonprofit programs to help close the gap between the need for and the availability of free legal services. Read the full press release.
HOW DO I ASSUME EMERITUS STATUS?
Application – Attorneys on retired status in Pennsylvania must complete and submit an Application for Emeritus Status, including appropriate documentation and payment as detailed on the application. *Attorneys not currently on retired status may be eligible to simultaneously assume retired and emeritus status.
Legal Aid Organization Approval – Attorneys who have assumed emeritus status must submit an Eligible Legal Aid Organization Form for approval PRIOR to the commencement of services. (A separate form shall be submitted for each organization for which the attorney expects to perform pro bono services.)
Renewal – Attorneys on emeritus status are required to renew annually by January 31. Renewal forms are distributed on or before January 1. Failure to renew by January 31 will result in the transfer to retired status.
The Pennsylvania IOLTA Board provides critical grant funding to legal aid organizations that deliver free civil legal aid to low-income Pennsylvanians facing a legal crisis where a basic human need is at stake. Each of the non-profit organizations funded by the IOLTA Board builds partnerships with pro bono attorneys to help reach even more people in need. Training and support is provided to volunteer attorneys in their representation of people in need of legal services that are not typically provided in their regular practice.
Explore Pro Bono Opportunities with an IOLTA-funded Legal Aid Organization
Pennsylvania attorneys have the option of completing a portion of their CLE requirement with credits earned through pro bono service. One (1) hour of CLE credit may be earned for every five (5) hours of pro bono service performed through an Accredited Provider of Pro Bono CLE. A maximum of three (3) credits earned in this manner may be applied to the annual compliance requirement. Credits must be completed and reported to the CLE Board through an Accredited Provider of Pro Bono CLE.
The CLE Board coordinated this initiative with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in an effort to blend educational opportunities with action to serve to Pennsylvanians in need.
View More Information on This Program and a List of Participating Providers
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) is a statewide consortium of independent legal aid programs that provides civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families. The Network is comprised of 15 legal aid providers serving low-income people across the Commonwealth.
PAProbono.net is an online legal community that provides information and resources for pro bono attorneys, legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and other legal advocates interested in increasing access to justice. Visit the site to locate significant civil legal aid resources and to access the pro bono newsletter, calendar, and more.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (PBA) Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers page connects lawyers with a variety of pro bono opportunities including Pennsylvania Free Legal Answers. More than 6,000 legal aid matters flow through the PBA’s Pro Bono Office annually making pro bono attorneys essential to the success of the program. Volunteers are always needed to support pro bono services across the state.
PBA's Pro Bono Services page provides an overview of how PBA supports pro bono service. Through these programs, lawyer volunteers screen matters and handle cases in their areas of practice or expertise for low-income Pennsylvanians, free of charge.
This County Pro Bono Map displays how each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties handle pro bono locally. Although there is some type of pro bono activity in every county, each county’s approach to pro bono is unique.
The American Bar Association’s CLE Credit for Pro Bono site is a compilation of states that offer CLE credit for pro bono work. Information on individual state rules and links to official resources are included in the list.
PA Law Help, supported by PBA and PLAN, provides information about civil legal issues and also provides answers to many civil legal questions. The site is a resource to individuals with legal needs as well as lawyers searching for information to share with those in need.
Chief Justice's Letter to the Bar
Each year, the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania calls on the legal community to provide pro bono service through direct representation and financial support of legal service programs in an effort to provide greater access to justice for all.
Read the Chief Justice's letter here
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