We see examples of it every day. Far too many vulnerable populations cannot afford access to basic rights and justice. Low-income Americans cannot get legal help for 92% of their noncriminal legal problems, up from 86% in 2017.
It’s not surprising that seeing so many people denied their rights and justice brings a sense of powerlessness to many of us. But we have reason to be hopeful. A pro bono lawyer can make that access to justice possible, often bringing dramatic change to the lives of their clients and bringing them and all of us hope for the future.
The low-income clients we serve include families, seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, people who are or were incarcerated and others. They may be experiencing violence, trying to obtain disability benefits, seeking documented legal status or have housing problems.
Pro Bono Network trains and supports lawyers who want to be of service but have limited availability or opportunities to do so, including attorneys who are on career breaks, have retired or are solo practitioners. Over 425 PBN volunteer attorneys have provided 28,000 pro bono legal service hours, which equates to $7 million in legal services.
We invite interested attorneys to learn more about our work and our upcoming free CLE trainings by emailing [email protected]. — Heena Musabji, director of development and Kathy Hanley, development associate, Hinsdale
