Maryland lawyers have collectively contributed over 1 million hours of pro bono legal services, as reported in the "Current Status of Pro Bono Service Among Maryland Lawyers, 2016" document. This report was submitted to the Maryland Court of Appeals by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The data reveals that about 53% of full-time practicing lawyers in Maryland provided free or reduced-fee legal services to individuals with limited means and other vulnerable groups. The American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono highlights Maryland's high rate of pro bono activity compared to other states.
The report surveyed approximately 39,800 lawyers who are required to annually report their pro bono service hours since 2002. Most lawyers dedicated between 10 and more than 50 hours to such work. Findings indicate that attorneys with longer careers are more inclined towards volunteering, with solo practitioners and small firm members being particularly active compared to those in larger firms.
Services offered include direct legal assistance to low-income individuals, support for organizations serving similar populations, nonprofit organizational help, and involvement in civil rights matters. Notably, rural areas like Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore showed significant pro bono participation.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain as many attorneys' practice areas do not align with high-demand fields such as family law, consumer law, housing law, and public benefits.
To facilitate volunteer opportunities for lawyers, the Judiciary’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Service collaborates with the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC) and other programs. These collaborations ensure local availability of training, mentoring, malpractice insurance, and service-learning opportunities. Interested lawyers can reach out to PBRC at www.probonomd.org or [email protected].