As a government lawyer, should I assume that my agency or office prohibits pro bono work?

No, you should not assume a prohibition of pro bono work. However, you should recognize that many government lawyers are prohibited from practicing law outside of their employment and that even if such legal work is not prohibited, it may be strictly limited. For example, a policy may limit such work to that which does not involve the entry of an appearance in any federal, state, or local court or work that does not “involve a matter of public controversy.” As a public employee, you should always check with the leadership of your agency or office about practicing law outside of your government employment before commencing such work.