ABA 2025 Celebration of Pro Bono to focus on supporting communities
Lawyers and law firms across the country will participate in volunteer events Oct. 19-25 as part of the National Celebration of Pro Bono. This year’s theme is “Supporting Communities.”
“Now more than ever, lawyers should commit to providing pro bono because this is a key element to access to justice,” said American Bar Association President Michelle Behnke. “Access to justice is also a key element of the rule of law. If citizens are locked out of our systems, they won’t understand what we are fighting for when we say that we are fighting for the rule of law.”
In the 16 years since the national celebration began in 2009, more than 15,000 pro bono events have taken place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Recently, the national celebration has focused on specific themes, justice for all as well as service to victims of domestic violence, veterans, homeless youth and disaster resiliency.
Events taking place this year include:
• Colorado is hosting Legal Resource Days at courthouses throughout the state: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/colorado/
• Alaska is hosting CLE and legal clinics in October: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bo no/events/alaska/
• Illinois circuit courts will host events throughout the state, including one at the DuPage County Animal Services Pavilion, “Puppies and Pro Bono,” https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/illinois/
• Kansas and Missouri are hosting a Bi-Statewide Expungement Clinic: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/ missouri/
• Washington, D.C. has an extensive line-up of events: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/district-columbia/
A listing of opportunities in each state during the national celebration can be found at www.americanbar.org/content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events.
Behnke will give a video welcome at the Celebrating Champions of Justice & Service reception for the ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards presented by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the Sharon L. Corbitt and Judith S. Kaye Awards presented by the ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 29.
ABA Giving Day also is held during the Celebration of Pro Bono. The Oct. 23 event, organized by the ABA Fund for Justice and Education, raises attention and supports nearly 50 ABA programs that help others through public service, policy initiatives and education.
“Now more than ever, lawyers should commit to providing pro bono because this is a key element to access to justice,” said American Bar Association President Michelle Behnke. “Access to justice is also a key element of the rule of law. If citizens are locked out of our systems, they won’t understand what we are fighting for when we say that we are fighting for the rule of law.”
In the 16 years since the national celebration began in 2009, more than 15,000 pro bono events have taken place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Recently, the national celebration has focused on specific themes, justice for all as well as service to victims of domestic violence, veterans, homeless youth and disaster resiliency.
Events taking place this year include:
• Colorado is hosting Legal Resource Days at courthouses throughout the state: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/colorado/
• Alaska is hosting CLE and legal clinics in October: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bo no/events/alaska/
• Illinois circuit courts will host events throughout the state, including one at the DuPage County Animal Services Pavilion, “Puppies and Pro Bono,” https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/illinois/
• Kansas and Missouri are hosting a Bi-Statewide Expungement Clinic: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/ missouri/
• Washington, D.C. has an extensive line-up of events: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events/district-columbia/
A listing of opportunities in each state during the national celebration can be found at www.americanbar.org/content/aba-cms-dotorg/en/groups/center-pro-bono/celebrate-pro-bono/events.
Behnke will give a video welcome at the Celebrating Champions of Justice & Service reception for the ABA Pro Bono Publico Awards presented by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the Sharon L. Corbitt and Judith S. Kaye Awards presented by the ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 29.
ABA Giving Day also is held during the Celebration of Pro Bono. The Oct. 23 event, organized by the ABA Fund for Justice and Education, raises attention and supports nearly 50 ABA programs that help others through public service, policy initiatives and education.
Opinion states lawyer’s duties should not mislead when acting as a third-party neutral mediator
The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion that provides guidance that addresses a lawyer’s duties when acting as a third-party neutral mediator under ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 2.4.
The rule defines a third-party neutral as a lawyer who assists two or more persons – who are not clients of the lawyer – to reach a resolution of a dispute. A lawyer acting as a third-party neutral must inform unrepresented parties that the lawyer-mediator does not represent them. Paragraph (b) also requires the lawyer-mediator to explain the difference between the lawyer-mediator’s role as a third-party neutral and the role of a lawyer representing a client in a mediation when the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the parties do not understand the mediation process.
Formal Opinion 518 says that unless the parties are sophisticated consumers of mediation services, it is prudent for the lawyer-mediator not only to inform all parties that the lawyer-mediator does not represent them but also to afford them an opportunity to discuss what this means. In addition to other rules governing the duties of a mediator, the Model Rules require the lawyer-mediator to avoid communications that are dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful or misrepresentative in violation of Rule 8.4(c). The lawyer-mediator also should be vigilant in conducting the mediation to avoid creating the impression that the lawyer-mediator will be providing the protections of the client-lawyer relationship.
The standing committee periodically issues ethics opinions to guide lawyers, courts and the public in interpreting and applying ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Other recent ABA ethics opinions are available at www.americanbar.org/gro ups/professional_responsibility/publications/ethics_opinions.
The rule defines a third-party neutral as a lawyer who assists two or more persons – who are not clients of the lawyer – to reach a resolution of a dispute. A lawyer acting as a third-party neutral must inform unrepresented parties that the lawyer-mediator does not represent them. Paragraph (b) also requires the lawyer-mediator to explain the difference between the lawyer-mediator’s role as a third-party neutral and the role of a lawyer representing a client in a mediation when the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the parties do not understand the mediation process.
Formal Opinion 518 says that unless the parties are sophisticated consumers of mediation services, it is prudent for the lawyer-mediator not only to inform all parties that the lawyer-mediator does not represent them but also to afford them an opportunity to discuss what this means. In addition to other rules governing the duties of a mediator, the Model Rules require the lawyer-mediator to avoid communications that are dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful or misrepresentative in violation of Rule 8.4(c). The lawyer-mediator also should be vigilant in conducting the mediation to avoid creating the impression that the lawyer-mediator will be providing the protections of the client-lawyer relationship.
The standing committee periodically issues ethics opinions to guide lawyers, courts and the public in interpreting and applying ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Other recent ABA ethics opinions are available at www.americanbar.org/gro ups/professional_responsibility/publications/ethics_opinions.
