The Call for Proposals for the PBI 2027 Annual Conference is open now through August 14, 2026. Propose a session or suggest a topic or speaker — here’s how.
If you’ve spent the last year testing a new pro bono model, solving a tricky access-to-justice problem, or building a partnership that actually worked, don’t keep it to yourself. The Pro Bono Institute has opened the Call for Proposals for its 2027 Annual Conference, taking place March 3–5, 2027 at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, DC — and the window to contribute closes on August 14, 2026.
What is the Pro Bono Institute?
Founded in 1996, the Pro Bono Institute (PBI) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that has built deep expertise on all things pro bono. Working with law firms, in-house corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations, PBI positions itself as a global thought leader in developing and scaling new approaches to delivering legal services to people who can’t otherwise access them. Its mission centers on supporting, enhancing, and transforming the pro bono efforts of major law firms, in-house legal departments, and public interest organizations in the U.S. and worldwide — it’s worth noting PBI itself does not provide legal representation or make referrals to private attorneys; it works as a consulting and convening body for the organizations that do.
What is the Annual Conference?
The PBI Annual Conference is the flagship event built around that mission — it convenes pro bono practitioners from around the world each year to share ideas and work through the challenges and opportunities facing the field. It’s the legal profession’s only conference designed specifically for pro bono leaders — whether they sit inside a law firm, an in-house legal department, or a public interest or legal services organization.
Two ways to contribute
The call for proposals form is short, and it gives you two options:
- Propose a session — pitch a full topic, format, or panel idea for the 2027 program.
- Suggest topics or speakers — if you don’t want to lead a session yourself but know a subject that deserves airtime, or someone who should be on stage, that’s just as valuable.
Why put your idea forward?
- Share what’s working. Innovative techniques and successful practices don’t spread on their own — someone has to say “here’s what we tried, and here’s what happened.”
- Get visibility. A conference session is one of the fastest ways to establish your expertise and leadership within the pro bono community.
- Build new partnerships. Good ideas presented well tend to attract collaborators you wouldn’t have met otherwise.
- Push the field forward. Every year the conference evolves because someone was willing to propose something a little different.
How to submit: Fill out the form before August 14, 2026 — whether you’re proposing a full session or just flagging a topic or speaker worth considering.
👉 Submit your proposal here
👉 Learn more about the PBI 2027 Annual Conference
Source: Pro Bono Institute, “Annual Conference” — probonoinst.org/events/annual-conference