The 2026 Pro Bono Scorecard, published by The American Lawyer, highlights the exceptional commitment of law firms to pro bono work over the past year. Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler secured the top position, reflecting their dedication to public service. The firm has consistently exceeded the American Bar Association’s pro bono challenge, dedicating over 5% of its annual billable hours to pro bono work each year. In 2025, all attorneys at Patterson Belknap participated in pro bono activities, contributing over 31,000 hours, with an average of more than 185 hours per attorney. ([pbwt.com](https://www.pbwt.com/pro-bono?utm_source=openai))
Munger, Tolles & Olson also demonstrated a strong commitment to pro bono service, ranking first in average pro bono hours per lawyer, with attorneys averaging 186.9 hours. The firm secured the fourth position overall in the national scorecard. ([mto.com](https://www.mto.com/achievements/?utm_source=openai))
The Pro Bono Institute’s 2026 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Report indicates a stabilization in pro bono efforts among law firms from 2024 to 2025. While there were slight declines in some areas, these were offset by gains in others, including an increase in the number of firms meeting the Challenge goal and a rise in charitable giving. In 2025, 116 firms reported a total of 5.14 million hours of pro bono work, representing approximately 3.53% of total client billable hours. ([probonoinst.org](https://www.probonoinst.org/media_release/law-firm-pro-bono-challenge-report-signals-stabilization-amid-evolving-landscape/?utm_source=openai))
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) recognized 33 law firms with the 2026 Beacon of Justice Award for their exceptional commitment to protecting democracy and civil society through pro bono legal service. These firms have advanced justice in areas such as immigration, freedom of speech, and domestic violence, while working to dismantle systemic barriers that limit access to legal assistance. ([nlada.org](https://www.nlada.org/newsroom/2026-beacon-justice-award?utm_source=openai))
In Canada, Canadian Lawyer magazine identified 17 law firms and legal departments as five-star pro bono firms for 2026. The survey revealed that 92% of respondents reported partner and executive engagement in pro bono work, and 44% set formal pro bono targets, up from 15% in 2023. ([canadianlawyermag.com](https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/general/canadian-lawyer-reveals-five-star-pro-bono-firms-for-2026/394284?utm_source=openai))
These developments underscore the legal profession’s ongoing commitment to pro bono work, highlighting the significant contributions of law firms in providing legal services to underserved communities.