The State Bar of Texas launched the inaugural Pro Bono Reporting Challenge in an effort to recognize bar sections for pro bono participation, grow the competitive spirit among the sections, and enhance the culture of pro bono in Texas. Clearly, the challenge has worked. Each year virtually every section reports more hours than they did the year before.
Almost every section also increased the number of members participating in the challenge by reporting their hours, with the top sections nearly doubling their participation rate. Now the Legal Access Division challenges all of the sections to reach 100% participation.
By reporting their hours, members help highlight the importance of pro bono in meeting the legal needs of low-income Texans, provide much-needed support for funding requests for legal services programs, and improve the public perception of lawyers—not to mention earn bragging rights for their section!