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Pro-Bono Opportunities

American Bar Association  Rule of Law Initiative
Worldwide
The Rule of Law Initiative is a public service project of the American Bar Association dedicated to promoting rule of law around the world. The Rule of Law Initiative believes that rule of law promotion is the most effective long-term antidote to the pressing problems facing the world community today, including poverty, economic stagnation, and conflict.

Appleseed
U.S.-Based

A non-profit network of 16 public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico, Appleseed is dedicated to building a society where opportunities are genuine, access to the law is universal and equal, and government advances the public interest.

Advocates for International Development (A4ID)
UK-Based
A4ID facilitates free legal assistance to civil society, developing country governments, social enterprise and bar associations to help achieve the UN MDGs. A4ID works with law firms, barristers, legal academics and members of the judiciary willing and able to share pro bono expertise to support the UN MDGs. A4ID involves individual lawyers and development professionals in projects and working groups that promote the achievement of the UN MDGs.

Centrum Pro Bono
Warsaw, Poland
Pro Bono Centrum operates as an interface between NGOs and law firms in Poland.  Centrum Pro Bono accepts cases submitted by NGOs in matters concerning their operational issues which fall within the scope of the law firms specialization i.e. taxes, civil and commercial issues, public procurement, administrative and labor law. All of the law firms participating in the program are offered a list of issues from which they can choose a pro bono request best suiting their field of specialization and interest. Thus, the Centrum Pro Bono links NGOs with law firms willing to provide pro bono legal aid. Centrum Pro Bono cooperates with the Polish branches.

Comisión Pro Bono del Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires        
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Comisión Pro Bonois a network of leading law firms and lawyers in Buenos Aires that are committed to taking on public interest cases on a pro bono basis. It builds relationships with many NGOs that have public interest objectives, and offers them free legal assistance. The Comisión's main objective is to help build a strong pro bono culture among Argentine lawyers through the practice of legal work and trial representation in public interest matters.

Conectas Instituto Pro Bono
Brazil
Conectas Human Rights is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization which aims at strengthening activists and academics in the southern hemisphere and at increasing their interaction with both the United Nations and amongst themselves. In Brazil, and in the region, Conectas promotes strategic and public interest litigation.

Corporate Pro Bono
U.S.-Based
Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a national pro bono partnership project of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the Pro Bono Institute, is the premier resource for legal departments and in-house attorneys interested in doing legal pro bono work. Since 2000, CPBO has offered support to in-house lawyers and legal departments, providing technical assistance, online services, training, surveys, research materials, onsite pro bono clinics, and confidential consultation services to in-house pro bono volunteers – all at no charge.

Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
New York, New York
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice provides support to lawyers around the globe who engage in activities that expand access to justice, ensure a fair and equitable judicial system, develop public policies that address social needs, and create public confidence in the legal profession.

Due Process of Law Foundation
Washington, D.C.
The Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF) is the only private non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes the reform and modernization of Latin America's national justice systems to ensure that the rule of law and respect for human rights are the hallmarks of justice systems throughout the Americas. This work is carried out through academic research, training, and the technical assistance on strategic litigation.

Free Representation Unit
London, England
The Free Representation Unit (FRU) is a registered charity that provides legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in tribunal cases for those who could not otherwise obtain legal support, for want of personal means or public funding. They also train volunteer law students and legal professionals in the early stages of their career in the skills required to give confident and competent support for the rights of others.

Human Rights First
New York City or Washington, DC
Through the Asylum Legal Representation Program at Human Rights First, volunteer lawyers have the unique opportunity to change the lives of refugees by helping them win asylum in the United States. The program’s clients have fled from political, religious, ethnic, and gender-based persecution in countries plagued by human rights violations. They cannot afford counsel and desperately need representation. Volunteer lawyers learn about U.S. asylum law and international human rights law and have the chance to represent individual clients at an asylum interview or a hearing before an immigration judge.

Human Rights Initiative (HRI)
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Human Rights Initiative is the only nonprofit organization providing free representation to asylum seekers and children in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.  Human Rights Initiative recruits, and trains legal professionals to provide pro bono representation for our clients through its William O. Holston Jr. Pro Bono Program.

Human Rights USA
Washington, D.C.
Human Rights USA brings justice to the survivors of these and other major human rights abuses, working to bring the U.S. laws in line with universal human rights standards.  It relies heavily on the critical legal support of pro bono attorneys and law firms.

International Bridges to Justice
Switzerland
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization founded in 2000 that strives to protect due process and achieve fair trials for the accused throughout the world

International Senior Lawyers Project
New York, New York
Through the pro bono work of retired and active practitioners, working independently and in law firms, ISLP helps governments and a citizen develop and implement legal reforms, assists programs that advance the social and economic well-being of people in developing countries, and builds the capacity of local organizations and professionals to meet the needs of their communities.

Law Works
London, England
Law Works is the main pro bono charity in the UK working with law firms to involve their lawyers in pro bono work and also serving individuals and community groups that need free legal advice.

Lawyers for Human Rights
South Africa
Lawyers for Human Rights is an independent human rights organisation with a thirty-year track record of human rights activism and public interest litigation in South Africa. LHR uses the law as a positive instrument for change and to deepen the democratisation of the South African society. To this end, it provides free legal services to vulnerable, marginalised and indigent individuals and communities, both non-national and South African, who are victims of unlawful infringements of their Constitutional rights.

Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
Washington, D.C.
The Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation calls upon Lex Mundi's unique global network of 160 top tier business law firms to provide legal assistance to "social entrepreneurs" on a pro bono basis.

Mental Disability Advocacy Center
Eastern Europe
The Mental Disability Advocacy Center advances the human rights of children and adults with actual or perceived intellectual or psycho-social (mental health) disabilities. Focusing on Europe and central Asia, it uses a combination of law and advocacy to promote equality and social integration.

National Pro Bono Resource Centre
Australia
The National Pro Bono Resource Centre is an independent, non profit organization that aims to encourage pro bono legal services in Australia.

New Perimeter
Washington, D.C.
An affiliate to DLA Piper, New Perimeter comprises lawyers from the firm's offices throughout the world.  It offers legal support for projects of global concern, including health care, hunger, housing, economic development, law reform and human rights.

Pro Bono Law Alberta
Canada
Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is a charitable organization that promotes access to justice in Alberta by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to persons of limited means.

Pro Bono Law of British Columbia
Canada
Pro Bono Law of British Columbia is an innovative, collaborative pro bono system advancing access to justice and serving the legal needs of people and non-profit organizations of limited means throughout British Columbia.

Pro Bono Law Ontario
Ontario, Canada
Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO) is a charitable organization that promotes access to justice in Ontario by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to persons of limited means.