Attorneys can gain valuable experience in federal court while helping individuals who are unable to afford an attorney by participating in two programs administered by the Court. These programs match pro se litigants with pro bono attorneys at two distinct phases in a civil case: first, during the ADR (settlement) process, and second, at trial. In both circumstances, pro bono counsel is sought only after the court has determined that there is a factual and legal basis for the pro se litigant’s legal claims.

Attorneys participating in both programs assist litigants who have limited access to resources due to their indigency or incarceration and perform important human rights work for litigants who are often asserting that their Constitutional rights have been violated. In addition to representing clients, attorneys can also serve in these two programs as mentors to less experienced attorneys or as liaisons who coordinate the staffing of cases.

Both programs allow attorneys to gain and apply critical professional skills that translate directly into private practice, while serving vulnerable constituencies:

• Attorneys participating in the Pro Bono ADR Program develop important dispute resolution skills such as evaluating cases, communicating with clients and opposing counsel, negotiating consensus, and resolving disputes. With mandatory ADR programs becoming more common nationwide, in both federal and state courts, it is important that all attorneys develop these skills, regardless of their primary area of practice. Both indigent and incarcerated litigants are eligible for appointment of pro bono counsel during the ADR process.
• Attorneys participating in the Pro Bono Trial Program prepare and try a case in federal court, often significantly accelerating their experiential portfolio as a trial attorney. These cases usually involve intellectually challenging issues of Constitutional law that attorneys might not otherwise regularly encounter in their primary legal practice The appointment of pro bono trial counsel is committed to the discretion of the assigned judge.  Although such appointments are typically made only in cases involving incarcerated pro se litigants, the judge may appoint trial counsel in any appropriate case pending in this Court.
• Attorneys participating in either Program may apply for one (1) Pennsylvania Pro Bono CLE credit for every five (5) hours of pro bono service, up to a maximum of three (3) credits per CLE compliance year.  Information about applying for these CLE credits is available on the "Volunteer" page of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation's website, acbf.org, or by contacting Olivia Hilborn at ohilborn@acba.org.

All participating attorneys must be registered users of the Court’s electronic case filing system, (https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account), and must be admitted to practice in this Court, either generally or pro hac vice, (https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/attorney-admission-information). Requests by participating attorneys for waiver of the pro hac vice application fee will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Attorneys interested in volunteering for either of these Programs should complete the Pro Bono Interest Form and return it to PAWD_Pro_Bono@pawd.uscourts.gov. Questions about these Programs or their requirements may also be directed to this email address.

For a list of cases awaiting the appointment of pro bono counsel, click here