The Latin term “pro bono,” being shortened in common usage from “pro bono publico,” literally means for the good of the public. In cases involving social injustices (e.g., sexual harassment by an employer, freedom of speech or religion, spousal abuse, discrimination in housing or employment, whistle-blowing, environmental pollution), legal fees may be waived by attorneys or nonprofit legal organizations interested in the outcome of the case, especially if it raises new and important issues of law.

Some of the organizations that may offer legal resources or pro bono representation include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Women’s Law Center, and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (for gay and lesbian rights).