pro bono
adjective
ˌprō-ˈbō-(ˌ)nō 
: being, involving, or doing professional and especially legal work donated especially for the public good
pro bono work
pro bono adverb
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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Philanthropists such as attorney Elizabeth Downes, who was executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington and worked pro bono for the Children’s Law Center, became council members. 
Alicia Mundy, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Lucius Outlaw are now representing her pro bono, or for free, according to court filings. Lee O. Sanderlin, Baltimore Sun, 2 June 2022 Through the all-women motorcycle riders, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, James was able to get in touch with Gomez, the Albuquerque attorney, who has a private practice but also works pro bono for families who are dealing with MMIWG cases. Arlyssa Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 7 May 2022 But the justices worked pro bono, and after two hearings in 2021, the court found the government officials guilty of genocide. Dahlia Scheindlin, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2022 Mónica Ramírez Almadani, a former Department of Justice official and American Civil Liberties Union attorney, this week takes over as the new head of the pro bono law firm Public Counsel. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2021 Justice officials said the new task force would respond to a provision in Biden’s executive order to encourage private attorneys and law firms to provide pro bono services for patients and health-care providers. David Nakamura And Rachel Roubein, Anchorage Daily News, 12 July 2022 Offering their services pro bono, attorneys Webster and Andrew J. Poppleton petitioned federal judge Elmer Dundy to grant Standing Bear a writ of habeas corpus, or court order demanding legal justification for an individual’s detention. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 Meanwhile, with the help of community organizations that found pro bono lawyers and held storytelling events to raise awareness, the application for historic-cultural designation wound its way through city agencies. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 See More
Alicia Mundy, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Lucius Outlaw are now representing her pro bono, or for free, according to court filings. Lee O. Sanderlin, Baltimore Sun, 2 June 2022 Through the all-women motorcycle riders, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, James was able to get in touch with Gomez, the Albuquerque attorney, who has a private practice but also works pro bono for families who are dealing with MMIWG cases. Arlyssa Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 7 May 2022 But the justices worked pro bono, and after two hearings in 2021, the court found the government officials guilty of genocide. Dahlia Scheindlin, The New Republic, 18 Apr. 2022 Mónica Ramírez Almadani, a former Department of Justice official and American Civil Liberties Union attorney, this week takes over as the new head of the pro bono law firm Public Counsel. Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2021 Justice officials said the new task force would respond to a provision in Biden’s executive order to encourage private attorneys and law firms to provide pro bono services for patients and health-care providers. David Nakamura And Rachel Roubein, Anchorage Daily News, 12 July 2022 Offering their services pro bono, attorneys Webster and Andrew J. Poppleton petitioned federal judge Elmer Dundy to grant Standing Bear a writ of habeas corpus, or court order demanding legal justification for an individual’s detention. Jane Recker, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 Meanwhile, with the help of community organizations that found pro bono lawyers and held storytelling events to raise awareness, the application for historic-cultural designation wound its way through city agencies. Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin pro bono publico for the public good
First Known Use
1966, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
pro bono
adverb or adjective
ˌprō-ˈbō-nō
: being, involving, or doing legal work donated especially for the public good
pro bono
adjective
as in given
law involving or doing legal work at no cost to the client pro bono work a pro bono case Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- given
- nominal
- free
- gratis
- donated
- complimentary
- voluntary
- optional
- gratuitous
- unpaid
- bestowed
- honorary
- discretionary
- costless
- uncompensated
- freewill
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- paid
- high
- expensive
- costly
- dear