National Celebration of Pro Bono

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, pro bono work is a professional responsibility and an ethical commitment expected and often required of all lawyers. Every October since 2009, legal organizations nationwide have participated in the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service's National Celebration of Pro Bono to recognize the increasing need for pro bono services during harsh economic times and the unprecedented voluntary response of attorneys to meet this demand. Legal services and pro bono programs across the country have held over 12,000 events in the 13 years since the National Celebration began.

A justice gap has long existed in this country between those who can afford to hire a lawyer to help them with their civil legal needs and those who cannot. To help reduce this gap, in 2016, the Committee launched ABA FreeLegalAnswers.org--the first and only online national pro bono legal advice portal--providing modest-means individuals with access to quality legal advice from pro bono attorneys licensed in their state. This access is often the only resource available to those unable to use traditional legal aid due to income, geographic or physical limitations have. Typically offering brief advice and information online in areas such as family law, housing, and consumer rights, Free Legal Answers' pro bono attorneys are able to respond quickly to questions and prevent larger legal crises from developing. ABA Free Legal Answers providers also respond to questions arising from disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and the COVID pandemic, and help eligible individuals with an internet connection or mobile phone, including disaster survivors, veterans, and other vulnerable populations.

Since its launch, over 11,000 pro bono attorneys have registered to respond to the nearly 250,000 civil legal questions that have been posted on ABA Free Legal Answers from over 40 states. While this milestone is a sobering testament of the overwhelming need for pro bono legal services, I hereby applaud the tremendous impact made by ABA Free Legal Answers' pro bono attorneys and ask all licensed attorneys to register as volunteers with ABA FreeLegalAnswers.org during our ongoing celebration of critical pro bono services.

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