CHICAGO, Oct. 17, 2022— Lawyers and law firms across the country are participating in volunteer events as part of the National Celebration of Pro Bono, which runs Oct. 23-29. This year ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross is highlighting the theme “Law in Everyday Life” and will focus attention on the ways in which access to legal assistance affects historically excluded and low-income individuals across the country in all aspects of life.
“Every year the ABA mobilizes lawyers throughout the country to provide services during the National Celebration of Pro Bono as part of our long-term commitment to furthering access to justice,” Enix-Ross said. “The need for legal services is ever-growing, and lawyers have a responsibility to help provide that assistance. Together we make a difference as we recognize the impact that pro bono help has to those in need.”
The National Celebration of Pro Bono began in 2009 to showcase the difference that pro bono lawyers can make to our nation, to our system of justice, to our communities and most of all to the clients they serve. In the 13 years since, more than 12,000 events have taken place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Recently, the national celebration has focused on specific themes, including service to victims of domestic violence, veterans, homeless youth and disaster resiliency.
Among the law-in-everyday-life events during the National Celebration of Pro Bono are:
- The ABA Tax Law Section on Oct. 24-27 is holding a Virtual Settlement Week, in which volunteer attorneys are matched with unrepresented taxpayers to
- In Indianapolis on Oct. 25, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister is hosting an Afghan asylum pro bono roundtable with the National Immigrant Justice Center to share best practices, challenges and ideas.
- In Daytona Beach, Florida, on Oct. 26, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida is holding a Pro Bono Walk-in Clinic
- In Boston on Oct. 26, the Boston Bar Association and Project Citizenship will hold a workshop to help pre-screened applicants complete or review their applications for naturalization.
- In Tucson, Arizona, on Oct. 27, lawyers from Mesch Clark & Rothschild are partnering with Step Up to Justice to host an all-day clinic.
- In Jackson, Mississippi, on Oct. 27, Bradley law firm will join Entergy Mississippi and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project for a hybrid “Clear the Queue” Legal Clinic.
Also held during the Celebration of Pro Bono is ABA Giving Day on Thursday, Oct. 27. Organized by the ABA Fund for Justice and Education, Giving Day raises attention and support for 16 areas of the ABA that help others through public service, policy initiatives and education programs.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.