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Pro Bono Opportunities for Lawyers

Lawyers: You Can Help

Our city is fortunate to have a strong network of civil legal services providers that represent low-income litigants for free. Yet, there is still a large gap between the number of people those organizations can serve and the number of people who can’t afford a lawyer. This leaves far too many unrepresented individuals in cases where the stakes are high to navigate the court system without the benefit of counsel.

The District of Columbia Courts are committed to ensuring access to justice for all who use our court system. We can use your help! If you're a lawyer eligible to practice in the DC Courts, you can help advance access to justice in our Courts and the District.

If you’d like more information about how to get involved or are unsure where to start, please contact jodi.feldman [at] dccsystem.gov (Jodi Feldman).

 

Upcoming Events

The DC Courts regularly host events for lawyers interested in learning more about the pro bono needs and opportunities in our local courts and community. Contact jodi.feldman [at] dccsystem.gov (Jodi Feldman) if you’d like to be notified about future events.

Getting Started

If you’re a lawyer interested in helping to bridge the access to justice gap in our city, now is the time to get started!

Identify your pro bono goals.

Volunteer opportunities for lawyers are also available on site at Superior Court’s Family Court Self-Help Center (volunteering details here) and Probate Self-Help Center (volunteering details here).

If you’d like more information about how to get involved or unsure where to start, please contact Jodi.Feldman [at] dccsystem.gov (Jodi Feldman), Pro Bono Manager.

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Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

The District of Columbia Courts, with assistance from the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, established the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll as part of the 2011 National Celebration of Pro Bono. Since then, it has continued annually to celebrate the pro bono contributions made by D.C. Bar members and others authorized to practice under D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49. The Honor Roll recognizes the vital role that private and government lawyers play in providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford counsel, as well as to disadvantaged small businesses and community-based nonprofits.

To register for the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, lawyers submit a declaration indicating they provided 50 or more hours of pro bono service in the calendar year. Lawyers who provided 100 or more hours of pro bono service qualify for the High Honor Roll.

For the 2024 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 5,400 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll, with 3,033 providing 100 hours or more of pro bono service, thus qualifying for the High Honor Roll.

Click here to see the list of 2024 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll honorees and an open letter to the honorees from Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Chief Judge Milton C. Lee, Jr.

Hear from Pro Bono Attorneys

Choosing Pro Bono in the DC Courts

How can you make a difference in our local courts and community? Learn why these lawyers choose pro bono in the DC Courts.


See playlist of all pro bono attorney video profiles

 

Family Court Volunteers

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Over 85% of parties in child custody, divorce and child support cases in Superior Court lack representation. That's why Jill Greaney, Barbara Nielsen and Eddie Allen donate their time to the D.C. Superior Family Self-Help Center.

Learn more about their experiences doing pro bono service here!

Rule 6.1: Voluntary Pro Bono Public Service

Did you know that Rule 6.1 of the DC Bar Rules of Professional Conduct states that a lawyer should participate in serving those who are unable to pay all or a portion of reasonable attorney’s fees?

DC Refers

DC Refers is an online directory of experienced lawyers who are willing to represent clients of modest means for a reduced fee. Are you interested in joining this innovative initiative to expand access to justice in the District of Columbia for individuals, families, and businesses that do not qualify for free legal services but cannot afford representation at market rates? Consider applying to join DC Refers. Learn more about becoming a DC Refers legal professional here.