pro bono

, usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. The term traditionally refereed to provision of legal services by legal professionals for people who are unable to afford them. More recently the term is used to describe specialist services provided by any professional free of charge to an individual or community. Law Pro bono legal counsel may assist an individual or group on a legal case by filing government applications or petitions. A judge may occasionally determine that the loser should compensate a winning pro bono counsel. Japan In Japan, the number of registered NPO Service Grants, which coordinates team-type pro bono programs, has increased tenfold between 2010 and 2020, and has supported more than 1,000 projects. In addition, the introduction of pro bono is gaining attention as an opportunity to promote citizen participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource development in companies, and to solve problems in community development in local governments.