Editing Pro bono (section)

===United States===
Lawyers in the [[United States]] are recommended under [[American Bar Association]] (ABA) ethical rules to contribute at least 50 hours of ''pro bono'' service per year.<ref>"ABA Model Rule 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono Service." [http://www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service/policy/aba_model_rule_6_1.html Pro Bono and Public Service.] Retrieved 2 June 2007.</ref> Some state [[bar association]]s, however, may recommend fewer hours. Rule 6.1 of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct strongly encourages lawyers to aspire to provide at least 50 hours of ''pro bono'' service each year and quantifies the minimal financial contributions that lawyers should aspire to make to organizations providing legal services to the poor and underserved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycourts.gov/rules/jointappellate/NY-Rules-Prof-Conduct-1200.pdf|title=Rules of Professional Conduct (22 NYCRR Part 1200)}}</ref> In contrast, other states, such as Illinois, do not have recommended hours, yet require annual disclosure of voluntary ''pro bono'' hours and contributions made to ''pro bono'' organizations.<ref>See Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f).</ref> The Chief Judge of New York has also instituted a requirement that applicants who plan to be admitted in 2015 and onward must complete 50 hours of ''pro bono'' service in order to qualify.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/probono/baradmissionreqs.shtml|title=Pro Bono Bar Admission Requirements - NYCOURTS.GOV|website=www.nycourts.gov}}</ref> All attorneys who register must report their voluntary ''pro bono'' hours or voluntary contributions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycourts.gov/ATTORNEYS/probono/reportingreqs-intro.shtml|title=Reporting Requirements - Attorney Registration - NYCOURTS.GOV|website=www.nycourts.gov}}</ref>
 
The ABA has conducted four national surveys of ''pro bono'' service: one released in August 2005,<ref name="ABA.2">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/probono_public_service/ts/report.pdf |title=Supporting Justice: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America's Lawyers |work= americanbar.org |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |location=Chicago, IL, USA |date=23 July 2008 |orig-year=9 August 2005 |access-date=15 October 2012 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908093331/https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/probono_public_service/ts/report.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> the second in February 2009,<ref name="ABA.3">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/probono_public_service/ts/report2.pdf |title=Supporting Justice II: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America's Lawyers |work= americanbar.org |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |location=Chicago, IL, USA |date=6 February 2009 |access-date=15 October 2012 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908093506/https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/probono_public_service/ts/report2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> the third in March 2013<ref name="ABA.4">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_Supporting_Justice_III_final.pdf |title=Supporting Justice III: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America's Lawyers |work=americanbar.org |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |location=Chicago, IL, USA |date=22 March 2013 |access-date=22 March 2013 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708154021/https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_Supporting_Justice_III_final.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the fourth in April 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/probono_public_service/ls_pb_supporting_justice_iv_final.pdf|title=Supporting Justice: A Report on the Pro Bono Work of America's Lawyers (April 2018)}}</ref>

The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and its project, the Center for Pro Bono, are a national source of information, resources and assistance to support, facilitate, and expand the delivery of ''pro bono'' legal help.<ref name="ABA.1">{{cite web |url= http://www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service.html |title=Standing Committee / Pro Bono and Public Service |work= americanbar.org |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |location=Chicago, IL, USA |access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> The ABA Standing Committee also sponsors Pro Bono Week during the week of 23–29 October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.americanbar.org/abanet/media/release/news_release.cfm?releaseid=691 |title=ABA Recognizes Pro Bono Work by Lawyers in First National Celebration - News Release |publisher=Apps.americanbar.org |date=8 July 2009 |access-date=16 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015070912/http://apps.americanbar.org/abanet/media/release/news_release.cfm?releaseid=691 |archive-date=15 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Para |first=Kathy |url=http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=529116 |title=Peyton proclaims 'Celebrate Pro Bono Week' |publisher=Jaxdailyrecord.com |date=21 September 2009 |access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref> The ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel and Section of Litigation jointly sponsor the ABA Military Pro Bono Project, which delivers ''pro bono'' legal assistance to enlisted, active-duty military personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militaryprobono.org |title=Military Pro Bono Project |publisher=Militaryprobono.org |access-date=16 October 2012}}</ref>

In an October 2007 press conference reported in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' and ''[[The New York Times]]'', the law student group [[Building a Better Legal Profession]] released its first annual ranking of top [[law firm]]s by average billable hours, ''pro bono'' participation, and demographic diversity.<ref name="Efrati">{{citation |first=Amir |last=Efrati |title=You Say You Want a Big-Law Revolution, Take II |url=http://www.law.stanford.edu/news/you-say-you-want-a-big-law-revolution-take-ii |journal=Wall Street Journal |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] (owned by [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]) |location=New York, NY, USA |date=10 October 2007 |access-date=15 October 2012 |archive-date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617123311/http://www.law.stanford.edu/news/you-say-you-want-a-big-law-revolution-take-ii |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Adam Liptak">{{citation |first=Adam |last=Liptak |author-link=Adam Liptak |title=In Students' Eyes, Look-Alike Lawyers Don't Make the Grade |journal=[[New York Times]] |date=29 October 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/us/29bar.html?em&ex=1193889600&en=4b0cd84261ffe5b4&ei=5087%0A |access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref> The report found that most large firms fall short of their ''pro bono'' targets.<ref name="Adcock & Elinson">{{closed access}} {{citation |first1=Thomas |last1=Adcock |author-link1=Thomas Adcock |first2=Zusha |last2=Elinson |title=Student Group Grades Firms on Diversity, Pro Bono Work |journal=[[New York Law Journal]] |date=19 October 2007 |url=http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/PubArticleNY.jsp?id=900005493872 |access-date=15 October 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref> The group has sent the information to top law schools around the country, encouraging students to take this data into account when choosing where to work after graduation.<ref name="Weinstein">{{citation |first=Henry |last=Weinstein |title=Lack of diversity marks L.A. law - A survey finds an 'opportunity gap' for minorities and women at large firms in the area |journal=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=11 October 2007 |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-diversity11oct11,1,661263.story?coll=la-headlines-california |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422183624/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/11/local/me-diversity11 |archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=15 October 2012}}</ref>

''[[The American Lawyer]]'' compiles, from among its 200 top-rated law firms, those that contributed the most ''pro bono'' hours of service during the previous calendar year, publishing the list annually.<ref>[https://abovethelaw.com/2021/08/the-biglaw-firms-where-lawyers-did-the-most-pro-bono-work-2020/ "The Biglaw Firms Where Lawyers Did The Most Pro Bono Work (2020)"] by Staci Zaretsky, ''Above The Law'',  August 19, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2021/06/28/the-2021-pro-bono-scorecard-national-rankings/ "The 2021 Pro Bono Scorecard: National Rankings"] ''The American Lawyer'', June 28, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.</ref> In the United States, the Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that matches volunteer patent professionals with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses for the purpose of securing [[patent]] protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patent Pro Bono Program for independent inventors and small businesses |url=https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/pro-bono/patent-pro-bono-program |access-date=2021-12-31 |website=www.uspto.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>