New Publications Available Online
from the Law Firm Pro Bono Project

One of the Pro Bono Institute's most-popular and most-requested publications - What Counts - has been updated and is now available. All Challenge^SM Signatory law firms will receive this publication free of charge. Member Law Firms may download "What Counts" from the Member Clearinghouse on the PBI website. Furthermore, Corporate Pro Bono Challenge^SM Signatories may contact Eve Runyon, Director of the Corporate Pro Bono Project, to receive a copy of the publication. Others may purchase the updated "What Counts" publication via the Publications Page of the PBI website, at a cost of $25.

Furthermore, a new publication on transactional pro bono opportunities has been added to PBI's extensive library of materials on law firm and corporate pro bono. Until recently, most pro bono work has involved litigation, causing many transactional and business lawyers to avoid legal work that could be perceived as outside their traditional areas of expertise. This new release highlights institutional efforts that can be made to engage more transactional lawyers in pro bono opportunities; provides ideas and examples of pro bono opportunities for non-litigators, including work on behalf of qualifying nonprofit groups, small businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs; and suggests possible sources of appropriate transactional opportunities. The paper is now available free of charge to members of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project in the Member Clearinghouse on the PBI website. Corporate Pro Bono Challenge^SM Signatories may contact Eve Runyon, Director of the Corporate Pro Bono Project, to receive a copy of the publication. All others may purchase the publication via the Publications Page on the PBI website, at a cost of $25.

Inspiring Remarks From
2008 Seminar and Forum
Reception Available Online

Based on the evaluations of participants and other post-event feedback, the 2008 Seminar/Forum was a great success! Be sure to mark your calendars now and register early for the 2009 Seminar/Forum scheduled for March 5, 6, and 7.

Held for the second year at the beautiful National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Seminar/Forum reception featured great food and drink, including a signature PBI cocktail, and for the young and young at heart, the rousing music of Deaf Dog and the Indictments. On a more serious note, the reception highlights included inspiring remarks from our great pro bono supporter, Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Please click here to view the text of the Justice's remarks.

The evening also included the presentation of the Zelon Pro Bono Award to the Legal Department of Bank of America Corporation for its leadership in establishing a formal pro bono program in its offices around the nation. Timothy J. Mayopoulos, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Bank of America, accepted the award on behalf of his legal department.

Please click here to view the text of Mr. Mayopoulos' remarks.

To view the text of the 2008 Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award, click here.

Please Note: the 2007
Law Firm Pro Bono Project
Challenge Reporting Form
is now available online

The 2007 Law Firm Pro Bono Project Challenge Reporting Form has now been mailed to all Challenge Signatories and is also available online, in both Word and PDF format. If you have not received your Reporting Form, please download it from this website or contact the Law Firm Pro Bono Project Assistant.

Please Note: Second Acts Project^SM
Funding Guidelines Are
Now Available Online

The Pro Bono Institute's Second Acts Project^SM (i.e., second acts in the lawyering lives of experienced attorneys) is designed to facilitate institutional support for transitioning and retired attorneys who contribute significant time, skills, and experience to help public interest organizations meet the complex legal needs of low-income and underserved communities.

To date, the Second Acts Project^SM has, among other accomplishments:

• Completed “The Results of the Pro Bono Institute Firm Survey on the Viability of a ‘Second Acts’^SM Program to Transition Attorneys to Retirement through Pro Bono Work,” with Professors Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt, of the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington, and Marc Galanter, of the University of Wisconsin Law School. To obtain a copy of the study, please email your request to Second Acts^SM.

• Obtained support to fund Second Acts^SM Pro Bono Pilot Projects to launch in 2008. To obtain a copy of “Information and Application Instructions for Pilot Projects,” or to view a brief document describing the Second Acts Project^SM and the grant application process and requirements for Second Acts^SM funding, please visit the Second Acts^SM page.

For more information about the Institute's "Second Acts" project, contact Ben Bay, Project Assistant at secondacts@probonoinstitute.org.

Welcome to the website of the Pro Bono Institute. The Institute provides support, guidance, training, resources, and inspiration to major law firms, in-house corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations seeking to expand and enhance access to justice for the poor and disadvantaged and promotes effective and productive partnerships among these groups. Please note that the Pro Bono Institute does not provide legal assistance and does not refer individuals and organizations seeking assistance to private attorneys. Please do not telephone, e-mail or write to the Institute with legal questions or requests for referrals as we are unable to respond to these inquiries. If you believe you need a lawyer, please contact your local bar association or legal services program or go to www.findlegalhelp.org or www.lawhelp.org.