Jennifer Mercer

Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland

The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC) is the non-profit organization established in 1990 to serve as the statewide clearinghouse for volunteer legal services. As the "pro bono arm" of the Maryland State Bar Association, its mission is to promote equal access to justice by coordinating and supporting volunteer civil legal services, providing resources and support for legal advocates for the poor, and promoting cooperation within the legal community. Since its inception, PBRC has dramatically increased participation in pro bono work and facilitated free legal assistance to thousands in need. PBRC focuses primarily on the recruitment, training, support and referral of volunteer lawyers who are integrated into a network of legal services agencies serving the most vulnerable populations in our state. PBRC is engaged in advocacy and the development of pro bono policy through its work with the Court of Appeals' Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Service. It also facilitates the incubation of new pro bono projects and models targeting the most critical legal needs of the community. Some of the more recent examples are listed below as "Company Specialties".