Pro Bono Partnerships Strengthen Courts, Communities, Country

Recent headlines and public discussion have drawn new attention to the work of law firms and their role in public-interest legal matters. As discussions about law firms’ roles continue, we must recognize how pro bono service contributes to the quiet, steady functioning of our justice system.

Pro bono service plays a critical role ensuring access to justice, strengthening public trust in the legal system, and supporting the effective operation of our nation’s courts. Law firms of all sizes play a crucial role in this work, with large firms bringing significant capacity and expertise.

But their efforts rarely happen in isolation. Legal aid organizations—including those funded by the Legal Services Corporation—provide the backbone for these pro bono efforts.

They identify and match clients with attorneys, offer training and supervision, and ensure that clients receive consistent, high-quality legal assistance. Many even cover malpractice insurance for volunteers. Without these public-private partnerships, the pro bono infrastructure that so many rely on couldn’t function.

Imagine yourself in court with no lawyer and facing the loss of your children, home, or livelihood. Millions of Americans with legal problems that affect their basic human needs, but without the resources to afford legal representation, experience this. These people deserve justice, and the legal profession must uphold its duty to ensure that justice is a right for all rather than a privilege for a few.

Pro bono work—attorneys volunteering their time to represent people who can’t afford legal help—has long been a cornerstone of America’s legal profession. This work helps people have a fighting chance in legal matters that, if left unaddressed, can spiral into greater crises—homelessness, financial instability, unemployment, and family disruption.

As judges and justice system leaders, we see firsthand how access to legal assistance strengthens our courts. When individuals navigate complex legal proceedings without an attorney, cases take longer, court staff must step in to provide guidance and the outcomes can be confusing or unjust.

But when a qualified attorney is present, these concerns dissipate. The presence of counsel improves individual case outcomes—and it enhances the credibility and efficiency of the entire judicial system.

This partnership isn’t just an ethical imperative—it’s an economic one. An Indiana Economic Impact Study showed that for every $1 invested in legal aid, nearly $7 returns to the economy. Preventing wrongful evictions, securing veterans’ benefits, and ensuring fair wages reduces reliance on emergency shelters, public assistance, and other strained social services. Legal aid isn’t a handout; it is a smart investment in community stability and economic resilience.

Courts nationwide have embraced pro bono partnerships to expand access to justice and relieve pressure on an overburdened system. The cases at the heart of this work aren’t controversial—they include survivors of domestic violence seeking protection, veterans applying for earned benefits, disaster survivors rebuilding their lives, and parents navigating custody or housing challenges.

During a time of declining trust in public institutions, committing to pro bono service is especially vital. This work reinforces the credibility and accessibility of our courts and ensures that the promise of justice isn’t hollow. It isn’t about politics; it is about ensuring that all people, regardless of income, have a fair chance to be heard and to resolve disputes lawfully.

The path forward is clear—we must continue to support and expand these partnerships. Not because they attract headlines, but because they change lives, they bring our justice system closer to its highest ideals, and they effectuate the fundamental promise of our courts: equal justice under law.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

Author Information

Loretta H. Rush serves as chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court and is a former president of the Conference of Chief Justices.

Ronald S. Flagg is president of the Legal Services Corporation, a national funder of civil legal aid.

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