Established in August 1999, the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services works to promote volunteer legal work in Massachusetts to help people of limited means who are in need of legal representation, in accordance with the  (Supreme Judicial Court 3:07) Rule 6.1, Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Service ("for the public good").

The Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services administers both the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards Program and the newly instituted Pro Bono Recognition Program.  The Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards Program seeks to identify and honor those in the legal profession who have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to the Commonwealth's poor and disadvantaged.  The Pro Bono Recognition Program acknowledges the extraordinary commitment to pro bono legal work by law firms, solo practitioners, in-house corporate counsel offices, government attorneys' offices, non-profit organizations and law schools which certify they have met specific criteria established by the Committee.