A common question encountered in the world of law is the difference between legal aid and pro bono. The latter is considered a more familiar term among the general public and is often conflated with nonprofit legal aid work. However, there are important differences between these two practices.
The term “pro bono” is a Latin term meaning “for the public good”; this refers to the work done by lawyers who offer their professional services for free to the public. All lawyers are encouraged to set aside some time for pro bono, as it helps clients whose cases may otherwise lack access to proper representation and justice. This is a voluntary undertaking, so the lawyer can determine whether their service will cover a portion or the entirety of a client’s case for free. Pro bono is considered to be volunteer work and requires no payment. As lawyers are usually billed hourly, this means that they are not working on any other cases during the time of their pro bono work.
To find pro bono services in your area, use the US Department of Justice’s Pro Bono directory.
Legal aid, on the other hand, is government funded work. While the client still does not directly pay the lawyer, they are still compensated for their work through grants distributed by the government. To qualify for legal aid, one must fit the financial criteria set by the government. This often entails proof of income through documents like bank statements and tax returns, which provide a representation of the client’s financial status. Often, legal aid lawyers specialize in fields that affect underprivileged communities, such as landlord-tenant laws, welfare matters, and consumer laws.
Lone Star Legal Aid provides legal services to 72 Texas and 4 Arkansas counties.If you live outside of Texas, you can refer to the Legal Services website to find your service provider.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
