The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service is has announced plans for the first annual National Pro Bono Celebration.

Scheduled for October 25 through 31, 2009, the National Pro Bono Celebration is designed to be a coordinated national effort to showcase the incredible difference that pro bono lawyers make to our nation, to our system of justice, to our communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve.

One of the guiding principles of the Pro Bono Committee's planning is not to undercut or interfere with existing local pro bono awards, events, programs and celebrations. The legal needs of the poor are local issues, and this nationwide celebration is intended to be local in its focus and impact as well.

The goals of the proposed program are to:

• Recognize the pro bono efforts of America's lawyers,
• Recruit more pro bono volunteers, and
• Mobilize community support for pro bono.

Modeled after the ABA Division for Public Education's Law Day activities, the National Pro Bono Celebration will make local participation simple. Information will be provided on this the Committee's website, by e-mail, and in hard copy on:

• PRO BONO CELEBRATION IDEAS
• CALENDAR OF PRO BONO CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
• SAMPLE OP-EDS, PROCLAMATIONS AND MORE
• PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES
• PRO BONO RECRUITMENT MATERIALS
• And much more!!

You and your organization can participate by:

1. Checking the Celebration web page regularly for updates on planning.
2. Being added to the e-mail list of National Pro Bono Celebration supporters and participants. Click here to add yourself to the list.
3. Register your organization's participation in the National Pro Bono Celebration. Click here to register.

ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service website