This material is general public information for educational purposes only. It should not be used as legal, financial, or tax advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Federal, state, and local rules may vary and may change over time. A qualified professional can review specific circumstances.
Key Facts
- National overview: The ABA Model Rule 6.1 encourages every lawyer to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services each year as a professional responsibility.
- State level: States vary in their adoption of the ABA’s pro bono guidance; some have different hour targets, and others have mandatory reporting or bar admission requirements.
- Federal level: According to a 2022 Legal Services Corporation report, 74% of low-income households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the prior year.
- State level: New York became the first state to mandate 50 hours of pro bono service for bar admission, effective January 1, 2013.
- State level: California initiated mandatory pro bono reporting for attorneys starting with the 2026 licensing cycle.
- Federal level: The U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Government Pro Bono Program has held an annual Pro Bono Week every October since 2003.
- National overview: A 2013 ABA panel titled “Litigators Making a Difference” featured prominent lawyers sharing personal stories of how pro bono service changes lives.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Legal rules, forms, deadlines, and procedures can change by jurisdiction, agency, and court system.
A 2013 ABA Panel Called ‘Litigators Making a Difference’
In May 2013, at the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Conference in Chicago, an extraordinary panel convened under the session title “Litigators Making a Difference.” The panelists were so highly regarded that Judge Ann Claire Williams of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who moderated the session, referred to them as “rock stars.” The session brought together Supreme Court litigator Paul Smith, former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, and National Women’s Law Center founder Marcia Greenberger. They shared deeply personal stories of how pro bono legal work—free legal services for those in need—had a profound impact on their careers and on people’s lives.
Personal Motivations and Stories
During the panel, each speaker recounted a pivotal moment that led them to pro bono work. Neal Katyal shared that his parents initially cried when he decided to go to law school, given the culture in their community favoring medicine or engineering. But after witnessing his father’s successful lawsuit, young Katyal realized, “A lawyer can take a wounded family and stitch it back together.” Paul Smith, known for successfully arguing the landmark gay rights case Lawrence v. Texas before the U.S. Supreme Court, highlighted how available pro bono work is to lawyers. Marcia Greenberger emphasized that private lawyers play a critical role in public-interest law, as organizations like the National Women’s Law Center often rely on them. The panel’s message was clear: pro bono service is not only a professional responsibility but also a deeply human endeavor.
The Professional Responsibility to Provide Pro Bono Service
The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct provide the ethical backdrop for pro bono work. ABA Model Rule 6.1 states that every lawyer “should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.” The rule emphasizes that this responsibility is not enforceable through the disciplinary process; instead, it is an aspirational goal. Lawyers are encouraged to provide a substantial majority of those hours to persons of limited means or to organizations serving them, and the remainder to causes such as civil rights, civil liberties, or public rights. This framework sets a national tone, but actual implementation varies widely by state.
How State Rules on Pro Bono Differ
While the ABA sets a model rule, each state decides its own lawyer conduct rules. Many states have adopted some version of Model Rule 6.1, but specifics differ. For example, New York became the first state to require 50 hours of pro bono service for bar admission in 2013. California, starting with the 2026 licensing cycle, mandated pro bono reporting for attorneys. Other states may set different hour targets or focus on financial contributions to legal aid organizations as an alternative. This variation reflects local needs and resources, and attorneys often look to the rules of the state where they practice to understand the specific expectations. For readers exploring legal fee structures, contingent fees represent a contrast, as they are a form of risk-sharing rather than free service.
Federal Pro Bono Initiatives and the Justice Gap
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Justice runs the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, which has sponsored an annual Pro Bono Week every October since 2003. This program helps federal attorneys navigate ethical rules to provide free legal assistance. The need for pro bono is stark: according to a 2022 report by the Legal Services Corporation, 74% of low-income households faced at least one civil legal problem in the prior year, and 55% of those affected said the problem substantially impacted their lives. Moreover, Americans with low incomes reported getting insufficient help for 92% of such problems. The LSC Pro Bono Task Force Report from 2012 had already warned that many eligible people seeking legal aid were turned away due to resource shortages.
The Enduring Impact of Pro Bono Service
The 2013 panelists’ work illustrates the far-reaching effects of pro bono legal work. Paul Smith’s argument in Lawrence v. Texas struck down criminal penalties for same-sex intimacy, a watershed moment for gay rights. Marcia Greenberger’s leadership at the National Women’s Law Center has advanced gender equity through legal advocacy. Neal Katyal, who later returned to government service, demonstrates how pro bono experience can enrich public service. These examples show that pro bono is not merely an ethical aspiration but a force for systemic change. For more stories of lawyers making a difference, TheFirstFile covered a similar theme in how one in eight women fighting breast cancer got a boost from lawyers.
Looking Forward
The professional obligation to provide pro bono legal work remains central to the American legal system. Recent state actions like California’s reporting requirement signal a shift toward greater accountability, while long-standing federal programs continue to encourage service. As the justice gap persists, the stories shared by those “rock star” litigators in 2013 continue to resonate, reminding the legal community that every lawyer, regardless of prominence or workload, has a role in making justice accessible. The panel’s spirit, captured in Katyal’s reflection, serves as a lasting call to action: a lawyer can stitch a wounded family back together.
