pro bono
adjective
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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
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
The board is fighting the lawsuit with pro bono legal aid, and no college resources will be used, Gharakhanian said.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
In collaboration with the firm’s Civil Law Reform Unit and pro bono partners, the team also brings class action lawsuits to enjoin federal immigration policies, such as the denial of relief.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 29 June 2025
The police in this lawsuit may receive additional legal aid due to the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to explore a program that could involve law firms providing pro bono assistance to police officers accused of wrongdoing.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pro bono.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pro%20bono. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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