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The interests of law firms continue to be in the area of political reform through litigation . Given the political divisions, both historical and current, throughout the region, this interest is often seen as suspect by NGOs . Lacking strong civil legal services programs in the region, the impetus to address the unmet legal needs of the poor is weak . The situation is not all that different from that in the United States before the 1970s, following which a collaboration between government and bar leaders led to a renewed focus on pro bono as an unused resource for addressing unmet legal needs . A similar change is possible in Latin America .
Leadership needs to come from the private bar working with government and the judiciary to acknowledge the societal need for greater access to justice; to encourage increased efforts by all parties to address this problem, particularly the need for individual representation; and to develop the relationships and mechanisms necessary for successful pro bono programs . Whether they are up to the challenge remains to be seen . •
Impact: Collected Essays on Expanding Access to Justice