The article “Mandatory Pro Bono: Get Ahead by Giving Back,” that appeared on May 4 in the Law Firm Management Section, proposes that mandatory pro bono programs “are good for the health and strength of law firms” and “are the wave of the future.” This overstates the case for mandatory pro bono: in our experience, mandating pro bono may be good for the health and strength of some law firms, but is not a healthy prescription for the entire industry.
As the article points out, the legal industry witnessed the rapid adoption of structured, formal pro bono programs over the past 15 years. As of 2015, more than 100 attorneys serve as full-time pro bono counsel, managers, directors or partners at U.S. law firms, most of which do not operate a mandatory pro bono regime. Nonetheless, these pro bono counsel have created vibrant, successful pro bono practices that fit within their larger firm cultures.
