First, Do No Harm: On Building a Sustainable Pro Bono Practice

Picture this: You were called to the bar six months ago. You’re a civil litigator, eager to give back to your community, so you say yes when approached by a family law client needing help with an imminent trial. You soon learn she’s experienced serious trauma and is distrustful of, and unfamiliar with, the legal system. You realize you’ll need to brush up on trauma-informed interview skills and spend more time reporting to her than you would to your institutional clients.

To give this new file the attention it deserves—and to get up to speed in an unfamiliar area—you start pulling all-nighters on weekends and holidays. There’s no supervising lawyer on the file, so you’re unsure whom to ask for help. Your billable target starts slipping, but you’re still being asked to take on more. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and burned out. And you’re not alone.

Pro Bono, In Practice

If you’re just starting out in your legal career, chances are you’ve already heard about the importance of pro bono work. Pro bono is framed as a chance to make a difference, build skills, and reconnect with the purpose that brought many of us to law in the first place. And all of that is true. But what you may not hear as often is this: if you want to do pro bono work well—and sustainably—you’ll need more than good intentions. You’ll need systems that support you.

Too often, pro bono work is treated as an afterthought that junior lawyers should squeeze in “on the side” of an already busy practice. But for junior lawyers who are already juggling steep learning curves with high billable expectations, taking on a pro bono file “on the side” can quickly lead to burnout and overwhelm. At the stage of your career when you are still doing everything for the first time, it is easy to overestimate your capacity and underestimate the complexity of a file or the time commitment that it will realistically require. The risks increase if the file is outside your area of expertise, lacks supervision, or balloons in scope.

And the stakes aren’t just personal. Taking on a file that stretches you too far can result in real harm to vulnerable clients. Pro bono cases are sometimes seen as “stretch” opportunities—but your career growth should never come at the client’s expense. It’s critical to assess whether you have the time, skills, and support to deliver competent service before saying yes. Many pro bono clients face compounding challenges—such as poverty, trauma, systemic discrimination, and housing insecurity. They may not understand the legal system, and they may need more time and explanation from you. Trauma-informed, culturally competent lawyering is essential—and doing it well takes time and support.

So, as you begin your career as a lawyer, how can you set yourself up for a successful and sustainable pro bono practice?

1. Start small and know your limits.

A pro bono file is not the place to “try out” an unfamiliar area of law without mentorship and backup. Take stock of your skills and capacity before you say yes. Early in your career, impactful contributions might look like limited-scope advice, research, or clinic shifts. If taking on a large or complex file, ensure that you have adequate supervision and support to deliver competent legal services to your client. If unsure, ask yourself: if this were a billable file, could I handle it alone or would I need additional support?

2. Set boundaries.

Choose pro bono opportunities that come with clear scope, supervision, and institutional support. Understand the time commitment and the specific client’s needs. Avoid letting pro bono become invisible work done off the side of your desk. You won’t be able to accept every opportunity—and that’s okay. Prioritize opportunities that excite you, offer meaningful learning, and align with your developing practice.

And remember, pro bono work should energize you—not deplete you. If you find yourself overwhelmed, step back, seek support, and reassess your limits. To reiterate a recent quote from Odette Dempsey-Caputo: “Better to help only 20 people and miss 5, than to end up on medical leave for three months and help no one."¹

3. Treat pro bono like real legal work—because it is.

Your obligations don’t change just because the work is unpaid. Ensure you have the time and resources to meet your professional obligations. This includes keeping your client informed, managing timelines, and maintaining quality standards. It also means developing the skills required to serve your client well—like trauma-informed communication or cultural competency.

Seek out resources, mentorship, and precedents from experienced lawyers. Pro bono clients often need more than just legal answers. Consider whether there are legal resources you can access, organizations you can partner with, or mentors you can lean on to help you better serve your new client.

4. Evaluate structural supports in your workplace.

Ask questions about your firm’s (or prospective firm’s) pro bono culture. How are files staffed and supervised? Are pro bono files treated the same as billable files for work allocation purposes, or will you be expected to carry the same billable load regardless of your pro bono commitments? Are pro bono hours counted toward your billable target? Is there a cap on billable credit, and does it match the work required for the file? A mismatch here could leave you doing real work without real recognition.

Ask these questions, especially when choosing articling positions or making early career moves. You need to know whether your prospective workplace will support sustainable pro bono, or quietly penalize it.

5. Remember that you’re not doing this alone.

Use the resources around you. Organizations like Access Pro Bono, Pro Bono Students Canada, or the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program offer structured opportunities for new lawyers and law students to build skills with clear file parameters and institutional support. By supporting early career lawyers with client screening and triage, training, and mentorship, these models can help set you—and your client—up for success.

And don’t hesitate to reach out to other lawyers in the pro bono space if you need support. Most lawyers have been in your shoes and are happy to share what they’ve learned.

A Concluding Note: Handle with Care

With the right systems in place, pro bono can be one of the most rewarding parts of your legal career, and it can allow you to make real change in the lives of your clients. But it’s not just about doing more—it’s about doing it thoughtfully, sustainably, and well. By setting clear boundaries, making thoughtful choices about the files you take on, and seeking appropriate support, you can make a real difference—without burning yourself out in the process.

You don’t have to say yes to every pro bono opportunity. But when you do say yes, do it with care.

1. The Law Foundation, “A Guide to Trauma‑Informed Lawyering,” BarTalk – The Profession (March 4, 2025)