Profit, Employment Time and Ethical Value-Added - Pro Bono Work in Global Law Firms Established in France

Pro bono practice unfolding in global law firms is interesting to observe for what it tells us about the contemporary transformations of capitalism and of employment relationship. It is grounded on a process of converting free labour into paid work, as well as on the idea that profit can be supplemented by ethical value-added. Based on interviews and observations conducted in the Parisian branches of several law firms, this article claims to adopt a sociology of work outlook on a phenomenon too commonly approached through the exclusive lens of socio-legal studies.