Contents
- What is pro bono?
- Key characteristics of pro bono
- Global practice of pro bono
- Challenges and issues of pro bono in Russia
- Personal experience in pro bono
What is pro bono?
Pro bono is the provision of professional assistance to charitable organizations and vulnerable populations free of charge. This format of work is also known as intellectual volunteering. The origin of the term comes from the Latin expression pro bono publico, which translates to "for the public good." Initially, this term was used exclusively in the legal field; however, it now encompasses a wide range of services, including financial and accounting consulting, translation services, business planning, and PR.
In Russia, the organization Pro bono Russia actively provides legal assistance to non-profit organizations and their beneficiaries, which helps improve access to legal information for those in need.
Key characteristics of pro bono
Pro bono has three key characteristics:
- Free of charge: Services are provided without any expectation of compensation, including non-material bonuses or privileges.
- Assistance to those in need: The provision of services is aimed at supporting vulnerable and low-income populations who cannot afford to pay for professional consultations.
- Professionalism: Pro bono services are provided by qualified professionals. Consultations by interns cannot be considered pro bono, as they benefit from the experience, which does not meet the requirements of intellectual volunteering.
To participate in pro bono projects on the social change platform todogood, professionals must have at least 2 years of experience in their field and be willing to dedicate a minimum of 5 hours per week to projects.
Global practice of pro bono
Intellectual volunteering, especially in the legal field, is well developed in the USA and the UK, while in European countries this format is becoming increasingly popular. In Russia, pro bono is a relatively new and not fully established direction.
For example, in Korea, lawyers are required to perform at least 30 hours of community service per year. Professionals who do not want or cannot meet this requirement are subject to a fine of 20 to 30 dollars per hour.
Challenges and issues of pro bono in Russia
Several factors hinder the development of pro bono both in Russia and globally:
- Lack of regulation: Currently, there is no clear document regulating the responsibility of the parties. Interaction between professionals and those in need requires a high degree of trust and openness.
- Low activity of professionals: Many specialists are not ready for long-term and regular collaboration but are willing to participate in one-time projects. It is important to engage experts in initiatives that interest them.
- Poor promotion: Many legal and other issues are difficult to resolve outside of working hours. Employers need to support their employees to make the practice of offering free assistance widespread and accepted.
Personal experience in pro bono
Personally, I have encountered pro bono in legal practice and know a lawyer who actively takes on cases involving police misconduct. This is his personal mission — to fight against injustice.
I have also previously assisted a local Women's Entrepreneurship Development Fund in a pro bono format. However, this was quite challenging work, especially in the context of long-term collaboration. Often, there is a lack of time — the main job takes up all working hours, and outside of it, there are many other commitments. Nevertheless, in the short term, we at the agency consider projects that we can help with in terms of content, which is also a valuable contribution.
Respectfully,
Stasya Sher
Co-founder of the content agency 4X