Duty or Burden? The Complex Reality of Mandatory Pro Bono for Young Lawyers

Does required pro bono advocacy improve access to justice, or does it unfairly burden young lawyers? This article critically examines the double effect of compulsory pro bono work, analyzing how this work contributes to providing legal access for subordinate communities and how it overwhelms early-career lawyers. This study compares the advantages vis-à-vis the challenges that young lawyers face by examining pro bono mandates according to the policy purposes, societal benefits, and ethical requirements involved. Pro bono requirements are balanced with support structures, and the recommendations urge making the mandated service beneficial both for the public and those who engage in pro bono.