Chief Justice Debra Todd has published an open letter to Pennsylvania attorneys honoring the 2023 National Celebration of Pro Bono and encouraging support of pro bono legal work across the Commonwealth.
This year’s celebration is observed throughout the week of October 22nd-28th. First begot under the sponsorship of the American Bar Association by Pennsylvania lawyer Sharon Browning, the celebration urges the importance of pro bono legal services provided by attorneys helping to advance equal access to justice. This year's theme, "Voices of Democracy: Ensuring Justice for All”, illuminates ways in which access to legal assistance affects historically-excluded and low-income individuals.
Acknowledging the celebration’s Commonwealth roots, Chief Justice Todd highlights PA lawyers’ ethical duty to pro bono service under Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1:
A lawyer should render public interest legal service. A lawyer may discharge this responsibility by providing professional services at no fee or a reduced fee to persons of limited means or to public service or charitable groups or organizations, by service in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession, and by financial support for organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means.
Read Chief Justice Todd’s full letter here.