Chicago Bar Foundation Chair Explains Importance of Pro Bono Amid COVID-19 Challenges

Pro bono and legal aid organizations around the country face a perfect storm: The need for their services is skyrocketing at the same time that law firms, a critical funding source for much of pro bono and legal aid, are under severe stress.

We know that the demand for pro bono and legal aid services is rising — and we can predict that this demand is likely to grow to unprecedented levels. After the Great Recession of 2007-2008, the number of people eligible for legal aid rose by more than 22%, to over 61 million nationally.

We need our law firms across the country to step up now, as they have done in the past, to help fill the gap between the dwindling supply and growing demand. We have done so in the past — and we can do so now. 

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