What legal work qualifies as pro bono?
The State Bar Board of Trustees defines pro bono as providing or enabling “the direct delivery of legal services, without expectation of compensation other than reimbursement of expenses, to indigent individuals, or to not-for-profit organizations with a primary purpose of providing services to the poor or on behalf of the poor or disadvantaged, not-for-profit organizations with a purpose of improving the law and the legal system, or increasing access to justice.” See the Pro Bono Resolution on the State Bar’s website.
Legal work for clients referred from a legal aid program generally qualifies, but waiving fees for clients unable to pay does not count as pro bono if payment was initially expected. For the work perfrmed to fall within the meaning of pro bono, the lawyer providing the legal services must intend to do so for free, and the recipient must be indient. Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples might include: