Concept in Definition ABC

The term pro bono refers to the altruistic and selfless work that lawyers can carry out in advisory tasks. Keep in mind that pro bono Latinism literally means for the public good.

The pro bono work of a lawyer or a law firm is aimed at conducting legal proceedings in a free for people or entities that meet a fundamental principle: the inability to pay for legal services of a professional of right. On the other hand, this type of advice is especially intended for non-profit associations that do not have the resources enough to pay for the legal procedures of your activity. In this way, pro bono work aims to collaborate with charitable or philanthropic associations so that they can focus their activity on those most in need. If these entities had to pay for the services of a lawyer, a part of their scarce resources would cease to be focused on the primary objective, helping others.

Altruism as a profitable strategy for society

The legal professional who guides his activity with this altruistic dimension gives his legal help on a voluntary basis and because he understands that his services have a public dimension. In this way, a pro bono attorney feels the

obligationmoral to collaborate with those most in need, in such a way that a part of its activity is not subject to strictly labor parameters and with criteria of cost effectiveness economical.

The pro bono work of a lawyer reminds us of other similar activities (doctors who operate for free, firefighters who provide their services in underdeveloped countries or engineers who help in the creation of infrastructures in territories without resources).

At present, the cooperative dimension and the social character of certain voluntary activities are framed within a concept, the social responsability corporate This new term has an obvious meaning: profitability cannot be established exclusively with economic parameters and must be understood as a commitment to others.

Let's imagine that a lawyer advises an NGO that works for the social reintegration of adolescents in a marginal area. The pro bono activity of this lawyer allows his community to improve in the integration of adolescents. His action is initially altruistic, since he does not receive a salary for his dedication, but there is undoubtedly a benefit: the lawyer not only It will have helped the public good but those adolescents who have benefited from its efforts will become a neighbor and not a possible threat.

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