Governance & Membership
President’s Message – October
Pro Bono: A Promise of Justice for All
By Amber Peckio
As lawyers, we are fortunate to practice in a profession built on the principle that the law should serve everyone – not just those who can afford an attorney. Yet for too many people, access to justice remains out of reach simply because they cannot afford legal representation. That is why pro bono service is not merely an admirable contribution to our communities. It is an essential part of ensuring that our justice system works as it should.
The need is significant. According to the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans received no or inadequate legal help for 92% of the civil legal problems that substantially affected their lives.[1] These problems are not abstract legal questions. They involve housing, health care, income, family matters, safety, and other issues that can fundamentally alter a person’s life. For someone facing eviction, trying to protect a child, seeking benefits, dealing with domestic violence or fighting to keep a home, the legal system can be complicated and intimidating. Without an attorney, navigating that system can feel nearly impossible. And unlike in criminal cases, there generally is no constitutional right to an attorney in civil matters, even when the consequences are profound.
This is where each of us can make a difference. Pro bono is a great way to enhance the public trust by providing quality legal services to those in need. It is an opportunity to put our skills to work for someone who otherwise may have no meaningful opportunity to be heard. One case can make an enormous difference. A few hours spent answering questions at a legal clinic can help someone understand their rights. Helping a victim of domestic violence obtain legal protection can provide a path toward safety. Representing a family facing the loss of their home can help keep that family housed. Drafting a will for an emergency responder can provide peace of mind and protection for loved ones.
These are not simply legal services. They are opportunities to change lives.
Right here in Oklahoma, there are many ways to serve. Our Young Lawyers Division regularly hosts Wills for Heroes events in rural communities, helping the families of law enforcement and first responders be prepared in the event the unthinkable happens. Oklahoma Free Legal Answers[2] is another great opportunity – by using this virtual legal advice clinic, qualifying users can post civil legal questions at no cost to be answered by licensed Oklahoma volunteer attorneys. FAQs and a sign-up link for Oklahoma lawyers interested in volunteering are available at https://oklahoma.freelegalanswers.org. And I am also very excited to share our inaugural Heroes Day Event,[3] co-sponsored by the OBA Military Assistance Committee and the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation, will take place this Veterans Day, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be an in-person clinic providing a wide range of pro bono legal services to those who have honorably served our nation. Learn more and see volunteer registration information on page 81 of this journal.
There is much more you can do to serve your communities and your neighbors. Volunteer with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. Take a pro bono case. Participate in a clinic. Offer your expertise to a nonprofit organization serving people in need. If time is limited, find another way to contribute, whether through financial support, mentoring or helping connect those who need assistance with organizations that can provide it.
As members of the legal profession, we have been given a unique set of skills. Pro bono service gives us an opportunity to share those skills with people who need them most. It reminds us why we became lawyers in the first place: to solve problems, advocate for others and use the law to make a difference. Justice should not depend on the size of someone’s bank account. Every time a lawyer volunteers to help someone who cannot afford legal representation, we move a little closer to making the promise of equal justice a reality.
No single lawyer can close the justice gap. But every lawyer can help narrow it. That is the responsibility we share. And it is one of the most meaningful privileges of being a lawyer.
Amber Peckio is a solo practitioner with the Amber Law Group of Tulsa.
918-895-7216
amber@amberlawgroup.com
ENDNOTES
[1] https://www.lsc.gov/press-release/low-income-americans-face-immense-justice-gap-according-new-legal-services-corporation-report
[2] https://oklahoma.freelegalanswers.org/
[3] https://app.joinpaladin.com/!/okprobono/opportunities/oba-heroes-day-free-legal-clinic-for-veterans
Originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal – OBJ 97 No. 8 (October 2026)
Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.