Despite a significant drop in pro bono work last year, some firm leaders and industry observers anticipate a rise in pro bono hours this year—and beyond—that will be driven by galvanizing political and national events as well as office returns.

A surge in litigation, which drives a lot of pro bono work, could also help push hours back up in 2022, after American Lawyer’s latest Pro Bono Scorecard found pro bono hours at Am Law 200 firms fell 15.8% last year. Fewer than half of the lawyers last year completed at least 20 pro bono hours.