Supported by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and the D.C. Access to Justice Commission, the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll recognizes the vital role that private and government attorneys play in providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford counsel. Thousands of D.C. Bar members and attorneys practicing under D.C. Court of Appeals Rule 49 provide desperately needed free legal services to those living in poverty and/or to disadvantaged small businesses and community-based nonprofits that are critical to the economic well-being of our community.
To register for the honor roll, attorneys must submit a declaration indicating that they provided 50 hours or more of pro bono work — or 100 hours or more to qualify for the High Honor Roll.
Attorneys who qualify for the honor roll are annually recognized on the D.C. Courts’ website.
The 2023 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll has been announced and is posted on the D.C. Courts website. Congratulations to all 5,034 Honor Roll registrants (50+ hours). 2,825 of these registrants were on the High Honor Roll (100+ hours). This represents over 392,950 hours of pro bono service from attorneys representing 166 firms, solo practices, federal and local government agencies, corporations, associations, and public interest organizations. Look at the list by name or by affiliation and see this press release from D.C. Courts.
What is the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll?
As part of the 2011 National Celebration of Pro Bono, the Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program assisted the D.C. Courts to establish the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll; and it has continued annually since then to celebrate the pro bono contributions made by member of the DC Bar. The Honor Roll, which is jointly sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of D.C., recognizes attorneys who provide 50 or more hours of pro bono services (or 100 or more hours of service for a higher recognition category) per year.
How do I register?
To be included in the Honor Roll, D.C. Bar members and others who are authorized to perform pro bono work in the District of Columbia submit an annual registration form, which includes a declaration that they have provided the prerequisite number of hours of pro bono work in the calendar year. The 2024 registration form will be available in early 2025.
History of the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
2023 – 5,034 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,825 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours) *These numbers have been updated as of May 6, 2024*
2022- 4,714 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,712 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2021 – 4,572 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,595 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2020 – 5,223 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 3,161 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2019 – 4,977 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,943 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2018 – 5,095 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 3,047 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2017 – 4,838 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,931 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2016 – 4,336 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,440 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2015 – 4,097 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,243 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2014 – 4,257 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,571 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2013 – 4,253 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with 2,562 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
2012 – Over 4,000 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with over 2,400 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
In the program’s inaugural year in 2011 – Over 3,000 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll (50+ hours) with over 2,000 qualifying for the High Honor Roll (100+ hours).
Lists of current and past Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll honorees by year are available on the court’s website by individual name and affiliation.
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