The Pro Bono Legal Program, run by the Interdisciplinary Center for Social Law and Political Economy (CIDSEP) of the Catholic University of Our Lady of the Assumption, has completed 14 years as a fundamental aid for people who cannot afford a lawyer. The initiative, which began in 2012, has received more than 800 requests for free legal assistance.
Mónica Cáceres, the program's coordinator, explains that pro bono work – a Latin phrase meaning "for the public good" – is not a favor but a social and ethical responsibility for lawyers. Professionals who join the Pro Bono Commitment pledge to offer at least 20 hours of volunteer work annually, maintaining the same quality standards as paid services.
The most frequent cases involve family law, labor issues, and child and adolescent protection. Situations such as domestic violence, alimony, eviction, neighborhood conflicts, and advisory services for non-profit organizations working with vulnerable groups are also handled.
The program prioritizes people with disabilities, children and adolescents at risk, and women victims of violence. However, cases involving divorce, abortion, and incarcerated persons are excluded from assistance.
To access the service, applicants must prove insufficient resources to pay for a lawyer and lack access to public or private legal aid. Court costs, such as notifications and photocopies, are generally the responsibility of the applicant, although the program may cover minor expenses in exceptional situations.
Currently, the Pro Bono Legal network includes 45 independent lawyers and 12 affiliated law firms, in addition to volunteer students. Expanding the service nationwide remains one of the main challenges for the initiative, which began with support from international organizations such as the Pro Bono Foundation of Chile and the Cyrus Vance Center of the New York City Bar Association.