The term pro bono publico is Latin for "for the public good." Pro bono work reflects one of the legal profession's highest ideals: ensuring that access to justice is not determined solely by a person's financial ability to pay. Pro bono refers to legal services provided at no cost or at a substantially reduced fee to individuals or organizations that would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation. The Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct encourage attorneys to provide public interest legal services. Rule 6.1 states that lawyers may fulfill this professional responsibility by providing legal services without charge or at a reduced fee to persons of limited means, charitable organizations, and public service groups. Attorneys also serve the public by improving the law, the legal system, and the ethics of the legal profession.
As a firm focused on transactional business law, Wandzel's attorneys are most experienced in assisting the public with business matters such as:
Legal advising
Business formation and governance
Contract drafting and contract review
Commercial transaction structuring
Negotiation and out-of-court dispute resolution
When a prospective client's needs are outside our expertise or are better served by another organization, we believe the most helpful service we can provide is directing them to trusted legal resources.
We may refer to organizations such as:
Lakeshore Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families.
Michigan Legal Help, which offers self-help resources, legal information, and tools for individuals handling many common legal matters.
The State Bar of Michigan's Modest Means Program connects eligible individuals with attorneys who provide reduced-fee legal services, such as:
Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy;
Consumer law matters;
Expungements and driver's license restoration;
Family law matters such as divorce, custody, adoption, and name changes;
Probate and estate planning; and
Residential real estate and landlord-tenant matters.
By connecting individuals with these resources, we help ensure they have access to legal guidance even when their needs fall outside our practice.
Pro bono legal services often pair with criminal cases due to the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. The Sixth Amendment addresses criminal proceedings brought by the government against the accused. It provides that a defendant accused of a crime has the right to the assistance of counsel. When the defendant facing criminal charges cannot afford an attorney and meets certain requirements, the government may be required to provide appointed counsel, such as a public defender.
But Wandzel pairs pro bono legal services with civil cases. We recognize that legal services carry a responsibility to serve others in transactional business law. And this may mean reduced-fee services when appropriate. We fulfill our commitment to our clients and our community through access to pro bono legal services and referrals to trusted legal resources.