Pro Bono Program

    Since it's inception in 1993, the Ninth Circuit's Pro Bono Program has grown from 10 cases per year to approximately 160.  The program's tremendous success is due to the hard work of the many attorneys and law schools that have volunteered their time and expertise. If you are an attorney and interested in volunteering, please review the information provided on this web site, then complete the attorney sign-up form (provided in the appendices) and submit it to one of the district coordinators. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

    The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals established its pro bono program in 1993 to provide pro bono counsel to pro se parties with meritorious or complex appeals, to provide a valuable learning experience to young attorneys and law students, and to assist the court in processing pro se civil appeals more equitably and efficiently.

    The program was adopted by the court in June 1993 and has been fully implemented since November 1993. The goal of the program is to provide pro bono counsel to pro se parties in civil appeals in which briefing and argument by counsel would benefit the court's review. (A copy of 1993 Resolution No. 3 is included in the appendices.) All appeals selected for inclusion in the program have been prescreened by a staff attorney, the appellate commissioner, and/or a panel of judges for a determination of the propriety of its inclusion. Only cases presenting issues of first impression or some complexity, or cases otherwise warranting further briefing and oral argument, are selected for the appointment of counsel under the program.  Since the selected appeals are generally more complex than the average pro se case presented by staff attorneys to oral screening panels, counsel is needed to assist the court to ensure that pro se cases receive the same attention as other cases of similar complexity.

    The program is based in large part on the cooperation and volunteer efforts of the private bar, and on the court's commitment to providing a valuable learning experience to participating attorneys and law students. Panels of private volunteer attorneys in each district of the circuit are coordinated and maintained by an attorney in each district serving as district coordinator for the program. The court's pro bono coordinator works with and relies heavily upon the district coordinators in locating counsel for each appeal and for recruiting volunteers for the program. With the potential exception of some of the amicus curiae appointments and those appointments specifically for purposes of mediation, the court has committed to hearing oral argument in all cases selected for the program, which should further enhance the experience of participating attorneys and students.

    The pro bono program offers attorneys and law students a valuable learning experience while providing pro se litigants with meritorious or complex appeals access to quality representation, and benefits the court in the increased efficiency and effectiveness of its review of such cases.