The latest Pro Bono Scorecard for 2024 highlights significant shifts among leading law firms in their dedication to providing legal services to those in need. According to the report, Jenner & Block has climbed to the top spot, unseating Covington & Burling, which had led the previous year. The ranking takes into account both the average number of pro bono hours per attorney and the percentage of attorneys contributing more than 20 hours of such work. Comprehensive data was compiled based on lawyer counts as of December 31, 2023, ensuring the inclusion of newly hired attorneys.
Pro bono efforts, as defined in the report, encompass legal services provided at no cost to organizations or individuals. Notably, work completed by paralegals, summer associates, and non-legal volunteer activities are excluded from the consideration. These rankings are pivotal for understanding which firms are making substantial contributions to societal needs through pro bono legal services.