From policy to practice: Assessing the effect of large law firm pro bono structure on pro bono commitment

Abstract

Over the past two decades, pro bono has become increasingly integrated into the structure of large law firms across the United States. The institutionalization of pro bono should conceivably have important consequences on firm practices, but few studies have examined this relationship directly. In this study, I examine the effect of formal pro bono programs on firm-level pro bono commitment. Through a cross-sectional analysis of large law firms, I find that a variety of pro bono policies – such as the presence of a coordinator and having a formal written policy – positively affects how much time a firm commits to pro bono work. In addition, I find that the content of a firm's pro bono policy can also affect pro bono commitment. This effect remains after controlling for organizational slack (economic performance and firm size) and firm diversity. These findings have implications for issues of access to justice and organizational theory.

Citation

Boutcher, S.A. (2010), "From policy to practice: Assessing the effect of large law firm pro bono structure on pro bono commitment", Sarat, A. (Ed.) Special Issue Law Firms, Legal Culture, and Legal Practice (Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, Vol. 52), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 145-167. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1059-4337(2010)0000052008