Each January around MLK Day, the Comcast** legal department joins with SeniorLAW Center and Blank Rome to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a hands-on “Day of Service” life-planning clinic for older Philadelphians. This event succeeds because of the close partnership and shared commitment of all three organizations: SeniorLAW Center, Blank Rome, and Comcast. The partners serve the clients of SeniorLAW Center, a nonprofit legal services organization founded in 1978 that champions justice for older people through the power of the law, education, and advocacy on local, state, and national levels, focusing on those in greatest economic and social need. Together, they prepare and execute simple wills, living wills, and healthcare and financial powers of attorney — critical documents that protect autonomy and reduce vulnerability to exploitation.
We spoke with Jason Conn, Corporate Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Deputy General Counsel of Comcast Corporation, about this initiative.
1. Please tell us about this project.
The MLK Day life-planning clinic is a long-standing collaboration among SeniorLAW Center, Blank Rome, and Comcast. Together, we provide estate and advance directive documents for older adults in Philadelphia. Volunteers from Comcast and Blank Rome work in small teams — typically two or three attorneys and legal professionals — to interview clients, draft tailored documents, and complete execution with proper witnessing and notarization the same day. We open the morning by reading an excerpt of the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech together, which centers the work in dignity and service. Training is provided in advance and again on site so new volunteers can contribute meaningfully from their first clinic. Given the client population and connection to MLK Day, there is a real feeling that the work continues a tradition of service that spans generations, and the hugs many attorneys receive from their clients at the end of the clinic reinforces that even simple legal assistance can make a profound difference in a client’s life.
2. What has been the role of Comcast in this project?
Comcast is proud to be one of the partners in this collaborative effort. Our Pro Bono Committee helps coordinate volunteers, manage sign-ups, and ensure everyone participates in the SeniorLAW Center training, and we also support day-of operations alongside SeniorLAW Center and Blank Rome. Leadership engagement has helped sustain the tradition and broaden participation across teams and roles. Even though the MLK Day clinic has become an annual event, we also partner with Blank Rome and SeniorLAW Center to do this clinic a couple other times each year to meet the client needs of SeniorLAW Center.
The clinic is typically the first pro bono event of the year for the Comcast Pro Bono Program. Our Program is grounded in our Company’s long-standing commitment to service and community impact. We mobilize attorneys and legal professionals across our law departments to provide thousands of hours of pro bono legal services each year, partnering with leading organizations to expand access to legal services for those in need. Our Program is built on collaboration, innovation, and the belief that using our skills in the communities that Comcast serves is core to who we are as a Company.
3. What organization(s) did the legal department collaborate with for this project? Why are the collaborations with them so important?
This project is a true partnership for SeniorLAW Center, Blank Rome LLP, and Comcast. SeniorLAW Center, a nonprofit dedicated to seeking justice for older people and protecting the rights of older Pennsylvanians, leads outreach and provides elder-law expertise. Blank Rome contributes experienced attorneys and administrative support, while Comcast mobilizes volunteers. The collaborations are essential — they allow us to scale impact, maintain quality, and deliver a dignified experience for every client.
We are also regularly inspired by the staff on the frontlines at legal services organizations like SeniorLAW Center, whose expertise and dedication make this work possible.
4. What is the impact of this pro bono work?
For older adults, having properly executed wills and decision-making documents is truly transformative. Clients leave with peace of mind, protection from financial exploitation, and clarity for their loved ones and healthcare providers. At our most recent MLK Day clinic, our collaborative team supported over 20 clients through document execution in a single day. For the SeniorLAW Center, pro bono volunteers expand the organization’s capacity, enabling staff to dedicate more time to complex legal matters and litigation.
Last year, we had the privilege of assisting a client who was 105 years old — a humbling reminder of the life stories we encounter. The impact goes far beyond legal paperwork: clients feel their dignity is honored and their voices heard, while volunteers gain deep fulfillment from serving those who might otherwise be overlooked.
5. What would you say is the most challenging part of this type of work?
Two things stand out. First, logistics are key to matching volunteer capacity to client needs; forming teams that pair new and experienced volunteers; and ensuring each document is tailored, witnessed, and notarized within a single morning. Second, client-centered pacing is important as clients may arrive with complex family dynamics, questions about capacity, or limited documentation. The clinic’s design — including training, expert review, and flexible team roles — helps us slow down, and ensure that our attorneys, who are used to working in a fast-paced corporate environment, are prepared to make their clients feel informed, respected, and in control.
We’ve also had some interesting one-off challenges over the years. Most notably, during the height of the pandemic, adapting to a virtual format required new approaches and extra coordination, especially given the vulnerability of the population.
6. Is there any advice that you would give to other legal departments who want to become more focused on a certain pro bono issue?
Build strong partnerships — with legal services organizations and within your own teams — and encourage colleagues to pursue pro bono opportunities that are personally meaningful, while also supporting them in stepping outside their comfort zones to serve a broader range of clients and legal areas.
Recognize and celebrate contributions regularly. Each year, we host a Pro Bono Celebration and Recognition Event to honor our collective impact, inspire continued engagement, and help our team learn about new pro bono opportunities they may not have been aware of. Sharing volunteer stories and tracking participation at these events broadens participation, deepens our impact, and reinforces a culture of service.
Above all, remember that pro bono work is about providing dignity and building trust in the legal system. The most successful initiatives are those rooted in collaboration and shared purpose.
| Each year, the signatories to the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® and Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® initiatives provide important pro bono services to underserved, disadvantaged, and other individuals or groups unable to secure the legal assistance needed to address critical problems. The PBI Signatory Showcase spotlights some of the amazing work signatories have done to serve those in need.VIEW THE SIGNATORY SHOWCASE |
* denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® signatory
** denotes a Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® signatory
† denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Project® member