Pro Bono Month

WHEREAS, one in every four Alabamians who live in poverty experience legal problems. The majority of these problems are civil problems, consumer issues (creditor harassment, utility non-payment), bankruptcy issues, health issues (Medicaid, government insurance, nursing home), family law issues (divorce, child support/custody, abuse), employment issues (unemployment benefits, pension, lost job) and housing issues (unsatisfactory repairs, foreclosure, eviction, poor living conditions); and

WHEREAS, each year, our low-income citizens lack access to legal assistance for their legal problems that are often critical to their safety and independence, forcing them to resolve complex legal problems on their own; and

WHEREAS, although 4,100 members of Alabama’s legal community donated over 12,000 hours in free legal services last year and made generous financial contributions to legal aid organizations in our state, a huge unmet need for civil legal assistance remains for disadvantaged Alabamians; and

WHEREAS, sponsored by the Alabama State Bar and its Pro Bono Celebration Committee, with support from local bar associations statewide, Pro Bono Month 2014 will educate the public about the extensive work Alabama lawyers are doing donating their time to improve the lives of vulnerable members of our community, and will encourage more individuals in the legal community to get involved in pro bono work and financially support the legal aid system; and

WHEREAS, Pro Bono Month 2014 will feature legal aid clinics throughout Alabama, assisting Alabamians who greatly need legal assistance but cannot afford to pay for that help, and will also feature service projects throughout the state of Alabama helping lawyers and law students make volunteer connections with legal aid organizations serving Alabamians:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2014, as

Pro Bono Month

in the state of Alabama.