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.

Examples of pro bono in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Akin Gump who represented the Garvey family pro bono dating back to the President George W. Bush administration. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

While Social Venture Partners has been around since 2001 as a national affiliate, the local organization has developed its own program, focusing more on pro bono consulting rather than fundraising and grant giving. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025

Bhakti Mirchandani is a co-founder, along with Stephanie Westen, Sophia Tsai, and Rob Rahbari, of Allocator Collective—a pro bono effort for which no one receives any compensation. —Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Three weeks after retiring as the boat captain for Riverkeeper, the environmental organization, John Lipscomb embarked on a final wintry patrol, pro bono. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

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

Etymology

Latin pro bono publico for the public good