Mass Pro Bono, an online resource for legal professionals who want to give their time to meet the legal needs of people with low incomes in Massachusetts, has been updated with a variety of opportunities just in time for Pro Bono Week. On Mass Pro Bono (www.massprobono.org), volunteers can search among more than 50 organizations across the Commonwealth to find a pro bono opportunity that suits their skills, interests, and availability.  Individuals can also find a calendar of trainings and other pro bono related events, as well as a resource library focusing on key legal areas of need. Mass Pro Bono is managed by the Massachusetts Legal Aid Websites Project at the Mass Law Reform Institute. 

“With a few clicks, lawyers, paralegals, and law students can find ways to reduce the justice gap, while organizations can share opportunities with over 2,000 volunteers ready to give back,” said Brian Reichart, attorney at the Websites Project. “Sometimes the hardest part of volunteering is taking that first step of finding the right opportunity; Mass Pro Bono makes it easy for lawyers to get started.  There is no better time to get started than during Pro Bono Week.”

This year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono, an annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the amazing pro bono work by lawyers, paralegals, and law students across the country, takes place October 22-28, 2023. Each October since 2009, organizations are encouraged to host events recognizing pro bono volunteers and highlighting opportunities for pro bono.

Individuals interested in volunteering or Massachusetts nonprofits seeking legal volunteers should visit www.massprobono.org.  Mass Pro Bono was originally launched a decade ago through a Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant and was administered by the Volunteer Lawyers Project.  

Launched in 2005, the Massachusetts Legal Aid Websites Project is a special statewide initiative funded by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.  The Websites Project is developed and maintained by the Mass Law Reform Institute and provides online legal information and other resources to the general public and to the Massachusetts advocacy community.  The Websites Project also runs Mass Legal Help (www.masslegalhelp.org), Mass Legal Services (www.masslegalservices.org), the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder (www.masslrf.org), and Mass Legal Answers Online (www.masslao.org), the Massachusetts home of the ABA Free Legal Answers Project.

Contact:
Brian Reichart
massprobono@mlri.org