pro bono

adjective

\ ˌprō-ˈbō-(ˌ)nō

Definition of pro bono

: being, involving, or doing professional and especially legal work donated especially for the public good pro bono work

Other Words from pro bono Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about pro bono

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Did You Know?

In Latin, pro bono publico means "for the public good;" in English we generally shorten the phrase to pro bono. Donating free legal help to those who need it has long been a practice of American law firms; the American Bar Association actually recommends that all lawyers donate 50 hours a year. Pro bono work is sometimes donated by nonlegal firms as well. For example, an advertising firm might produce a 60-second video for an environmental or educational organization, or a strategic-planning firm might prepare a start-up plan for a charity that funds shelters for battered women.

Examples of pro bono in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In addition to offering emergency shelter services and expert counseling, the nonprofit also offers transitional housing and pro bono legal services. — Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Help Fund Women’s Shelter Repairs in Texas," 22 Feb. 2021 The La Colaborativa location at 318 Broadway will open Thursday after several months of extensive renovations done pro bono by local painters and carpenters unions. — Stephanie Ebbert, BostonGlobe.com, "In Chelsea, an early epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, local groups team up to launch a vaccination site on their own," 3 Feb. 2021 The group, which was started by Suelette Dreyfus, a former journalist who is an old friend and collaborator with Mr. Assange, signed a pro bono contract on Saturday with the lobbyist Robert Stryk to seek a pardon for Mr. Assange. — New York Times, "With Trump Presidency Winding Down, Push for Assange Pardon Ramps Up," 10 Jan. 2021 Operations began on June 1 with 45 Dedman Law students supervised by law school professors, a number of local law firms and more than 80 attorneys providing pro bono assistance to individuals and businesses. — David Buice, Dallas News, "SMU Dedman School of Law offers a free helpline for COVID-related legal issues," 14 Dec. 2020 The lawyers from the ACLU and other pro bono law firms had been tasked by a federal judge with locating the parents of the children. — refinery29.com, "Trump Separated Thousands Of Families. Now, 545 Migrant Children Can’t Find Their Parents," 21 Oct. 2020 Some have been paying clients, many have been pro bono. — New York Times, "Prospect of Pardons in Final Days Fuels Market to Buy Access to Trump," 17 Jan. 2021 Some have been paying clients, many have been pro bono. — Star Tribune, "Prospect of pardons in final days fuels market to buy access to Trump," 17 Jan. 2021 Some have been paying clients, many have been pro bono. — Michael S. Schmidt, BostonGlobe.com, "Prospect of pardons in final days fuels market to buy access to Trump," 17 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pro bono.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.