Maryland Pro Bono Legal Participation Declines
The state reports that attorney volunteer rates have dropped steadily since 2005 as civil legal aid demand remains high.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Pro bono participation among Maryland attorneys fell to less than 37% in 2025, down significantly from 50% two decades earlier. This decline persists despite high demand for legal assistance in family law and housing disputes across the state.
Why it matters
Because there is no constitutional right to court-appointed counsel in civil cases, the reliance on volunteer lawyers is critical for many residents. Legal aid organizations report persistent high demand for help with family law, landlord-tenant relations, and consumer debt.
In 2025, participation dropped to under 37% for Maryland attorneys, while 22,406 clients were served by Maryland Legal Aid. Meanwhile, Shore Legal Access engaged 98 volunteers for 8,300 hours of service.
The players
Maryland Legal Aid
This organization provides civil legal assistance to low-income Marylanders and served over 22,000 clients in 2025.
Shore Legal Access
Based in Easton, this group coordinates volunteer legal services for residents across Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland
This nonprofit promotes pro bono work and is preparing to launch a new digital case portal for volunteers.
The details
Attorneys in Maryland are subject to Rule 19-306.1, which sets an aspiration of 50 hours of annual pro bono service. While Am Law 200 firms reported an average of 54.1 hours per attorney in 2025, many domestic cases still lack legal representation, including 85% of such cases in Baltimore as of 2007.
Timeline
In 2005, 50% of Maryland attorneys performed pro bono work.
By 2007, 85% of Baltimore domestic cases lacked attorney representation.
Participation in pro bono work dropped below 37% in 2025.
Baltimore city reached a legal agreement on tax auctions in early 2026.
The Pro Bono Resource Center will launch a new case portal in fall 2026.
Legal Context
The decline in volunteer activity reflects a growing gap between the aspirational goals set by Maryland Rule 19-306.1 and actual practice. This shift mirrors broader challenges in civil legal access where court-appointed counsel is not guaranteed.
Residents struggling with family law, eviction, or debt collection may face increasing difficulties finding legal representation as volunteer numbers remain low. This ongoing gap in civil legal services necessitates new initiatives, such as the upcoming portal, to connect citizens with available help.
The takeaway
The sustained decline in volunteer hours highlights a widening gap in access to justice for residents in civil matters. Practitioners and firms are encouraged to utilize upcoming resources to bridge this service deficiency and meet established pro bono goals.
What happens next
The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland is scheduled to launch a new statewide pro bono case portal in the fall of 2026.
Further reading
Find more updates on the local legal system at Maryland Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Maryland Daily Record.
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