ABA Partners with Tech Firms to Boost Pro Bono Legal Tools
The ABA collaborates with tech firms to enhance pro bono services in the U.S.
Why it matters: Enhanced tools can improve legal service delivery for underserved communities, enabling attorneys to maximize their pro bono commitments efficiently.
- ABA launched 'Legal Tech for a Change' with tech firms.
- Free Legal Answers saw a 14.3% rise in pro bono hours from 2024 to 2025.
- Over 17,000 attorneys registered on Free Legal Answers.
- 67% of law firms integrated tech into pro bono programs as of 2025.
The American Bar Association (ABA) is collaborating with legal tech firms through the new initiative "Legal Tech for a Change." This collaboration is designed to improve the capabilities of legal aid agencies by enhancing the digital tools available for pro bono work.
A key component is the enhancement of the ABA's Free Legal Answers platform, which offers a virtual space for income-eligible individuals to receive legal advice. The platform saw volunteer attorneys contribute 18,910 pro bono hours from 2024 to 2025, a 14.3% increase, signaling growing volunteer involvement.
Further insights are provided by the Pro Bono Institute's 2025 report, which reveals that 67% of law firms have embraced technology for managing pro bono actions. This adoption highlights a strategic shift towards using technology to streamline legal service delivery.
While specific technologies from the ABA's initiative are yet to be detailed, the overarching aim is to replicate and expand on the successes achieved by platforms like Free Legal Answers. The push for integrating tech solutions is becoming increasingly recognized as vital to effectively addressing the legal needs of underserved populations across various jurisdictions.
By the numbers:
- 18,910 pro bono hours โ time logged by volunteer attorneys in 2024-2025.
- 67% of law firms โ adopted tech for pro bono management by 2025.