Pro bono news around the world
A regular feed of pro bono stories in the media and updates from across the global pro bono sector.
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New Zealand's first pro bono legal network delivers 17,500 hours
We are pleased to be able to share the first annual performance report of the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa. The country’s first pro bono legal network provided more than 17,500 hours of free legal work in 2025.
CFO teams up with iPBA to provide free legal aid for non-resident Filipinos
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and International Pro Bono Alliance (iPBA) formalized their partnership on May 12, 2026 to make legal assistance more accessible to Filipino migrants and their families.
Opinion: Self-represented litigants need pro bono support
Millions of self-represented litigants (SRLs) appear in state and federal courts each year, with some jurisdictions seeing as many as 75% to 97% of litigants go without counsel in certain civil matters. But those figures come at a serious cost. SRLs lose 80-90% of civil cases – often where their housing, physical safety and finances are at stake.
Vinícius Júnior Launches Pro Bono Anti-Racism Legal Office in Brazil
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior announced the establishment of an anti-racist legal office to provide free assistance to victims of discrimination in Brazil. The initiative, integrated with the Vini Jr. Institute, launched on the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the South American nation.
Negotiating Power Imbalance In Pro Bono Client Relationships
Early in my career, as a lawyer at Legal Aid Chicago, I'd check my schedule for an opening to meet with clients. "How's Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.?" I'd ask. Almost always, my clients would say yes. The problem was that many of them wouldn't show up.
How grassroots legal aid helps women and girls reclaim their dignity across Bangladesh
Women in Bangladesh facing domestic violence, dowry abuse, or child marriage frequently encounter enormous barriers before they can even seek legal help. But community-based legal aid is empowering them. The Social Empowerment and Legal Protection program is not only providing legal assistance to women in need but also working to help them reclaim dignity as girls increasingly resist child marriage, and communities slowly rethink deeply rooted social norms.
Opinion: Beyond billables – how pro bono elevates big law
In large law firms, pro bono work is sometimes viewed with hesitation. With demanding client expectations and internal pressure to meet billable‑hour goals, firm leadership may worry that encouraging pro bono participation will detract from revenue-generating work. But this perspective overlooks the meaningful—and strategic—benefits that pro bono engagement brings to clients, attorneys, and the firm as a whole.