[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E59]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF PRO BONO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARY GAY SCANLON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 26, 2023

  Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, pro bono work is a professional 
responsibility and an ethical commitment expected and often required of 
all lawyers. Every October since 2009, legal organizations nationwide 
have participated in the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing 
Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service's National Celebration of Pro 
Bono to recognize the increasing need for pro bono services during 
harsh economic times and the unprecedented voluntary response of 
attorneys to meet this demand. Legal services and pro bono programs 
across the country have held over 12,000 events in the 13 years since 
the National Celebration began.
  A justice gap has long existed in this country between those who can 
afford to hire a lawyer to help them with their civil legal needs and 
those who cannot. To help reduce this gap, in 2016, the Committee 
launched ABA FreeLegalAnswers.org--the first and only online national 
pro bono legal advice portal--providing modest-means individuals with 
access to quality legal advice from pro bono attorneys licensed in 
their state. This access is often the only resource available to those 
unable to use traditional legal aid due to income, geographic or 
physical limitations have. Typically offering brief advice and 
information online in areas such as family law, housing, and consumer 
rights, Free Legal Answers' pro bono attorneys are able to respond 
quickly to questions and prevent larger legal crises from developing. 
ABA Free Legal Answers providers also respond to questions arising from 
disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and the COVID pandemic, and 
help eligible individuals with an internet connection or mobile phone, 
including disaster survivors, veterans, and other vulnerable 
populations.
  Since its launch, over 11,000 pro bono attorneys have registered to 
respond to the nearly 250,000 civil legal questions that have been 
posted on ABA Free Legal Answers from over 40 states. While this 
milestone is a sobering testament of the overwhelming need for pro bono 
legal services, I hereby applaud the tremendous impact made by ABA Free 
Legal Answers' pro bono attorneys and ask all licensed attorneys to 
register as volunteers with ABA FreeLegalAnswers.org during our ongoing 
celebration of critical pro bono services.

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