EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day, led by the PBI Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project, in partnership with Entergy Corporation’s legal department and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), brings together legal departments across the energy and utility industries to provide pro bono legal assistance to underserved communities. This year’s event takes place on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with events welcome within two weeks before or after that date.
This Volunteer Menu highlights pro bono opportunities open to in-house lawyers and legal professionals from any legal department, regardless of their organization. Many participating legal departments also host internal events for their own teams; those opportunities are not included here.
The opportunities below include virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, with details on participation requirements and how to RSVP. Some events have limited capacity, so early registration is encouraged. This list is updated on a rolling basis; check back for new opportunities.
A comprehensive overview of all EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day events and their collective impact will be shared in the 2026 EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day Impact Summary following the event. View the 2025 EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day Impact Summary for reference.
Justice in Action Pro Bono Sprint – Charting Change: Mapping the Landscape Shaping the Lives of Children and Young People Worldwide (APAC, EMEA & Americas)
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM HKT (APAC); Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM CT (EMEA & India); Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM PT (Americas) | Virtual
Volunteers will join Baker McKenzie’s Justice in Action initiative to research laws, policies, and justice systems affecting children and young people around the world. The project will examine issues including children’s participation in legal decisions, climate and environmental justice, digital privacy and online safety, discrimination, and interactions with law enforcement and child protection systems. The resulting global research resource will support NGOs, legal aid organizations, advocates, and policymakers working to strengthen children’s rights and improve access to justice. Volunteers may indicate preferred jurisdictions based on their interests, experience, and language skills.
All work related to the Sprint is conducted during the Sprint. Volunteers are trained at the start of the session and then divided into small teams to work on specific research assignments. Volunteers wrap up their work after three hours, then come together to reflect on the substantive legal work. Participants may join virtually or coordinate to work together in person.
Open To: Lawyers and legal professionals in any jurisdiction.
RSVP: By Friday, October 16 (APAC; EMEA & India; Americas).
Legal Primer on U.S. Nonprofit Incorporation
Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM ET | Virtual
Volunteers will work with the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice to develop a legal primer on the establishment and ongoing obligations of U.S. nonprofit corporations, including organizations serving as fiscal sponsors for domestic and international projects. The primer will provide practical guidance to organizations working in human rights, institutional integrity, public interest reporting, and environmental protection that are seeking to establish, expand, or restructure their U.S. operations.
Open To: Lawyers with any bar license.
RSVP: By Tuesday, November 10 to Pedro Villegas at pvillegas@nycbar.org to express interest. Selected volunteers will receive Zoom registration information.
Houston Bar Association LegalLine
Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM GMT | Virtual
Volunteers will join El Paso Electric Company, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, and Houston Volunteer Lawyers to provide brief civil legal advice to individuals who need legal assistance but are not eligible for extended representation. Lawyers will work in pairs to conduct telephone consultations with approximately three clients over a two- to three-hour period. Houston Volunteer Lawyers will provide relevant legal resources and mentor lawyers to help volunteers deliver targeted advice, with additional support available during client calls.
Open To: Lawyers and legal professionals in any jurisdiction.
RSVP: Registration details forthcoming. For more information, contact Hillary Foster at hillary.foster@epelectric.com.
Domestic Violence Complaint Review: Supporting Survivors Through the Process (Virtual & Charlotte, North Carolina)
Thursday, November 12, 2026 | Available Shifts: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM ET or 11:30 AM–2:30 PM ET | Hybrid (Virtual and In-Person at Safe Alliance, 800 E. Fourth Street, First Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202)
In partnership with Safe Alliance, volunteers will assist survivors of domestic violence by reviewing and finalizing 50B Domestic Violence Protective Orders and 50C Civil No-Contact Orders. Safe Alliance staff will conduct initial client interviews and prepare draft complaints. Volunteers, working on-site or remotely, will review and edit these drafts before final filing. A Safe Alliance lawyer will supervise all casework, and volunteers can select from morning or midday shifts.
Open To: Lawyers and legal professionals in any jurisdiction.
RSVP: By Monday, November 9 to Rachel James at Rachel.James@safealliance.org.
Urban League Background Check Clinic (Madison, Wisconsin)
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM CT | In-Person at 2222 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53713
Volunteers will join Alliant Energy and Legal Action of Wisconsin to help Dane County residents address criminal record barriers to employment and housing. Volunteers will review participants’ background checks, identify arrest records that may qualify for removal, correction, expungement, or pardon, and assist eligible participants with the necessary paperwork. Volunteers must complete a recorded training before the clinic.
Open to: Wisconsin-licensed lawyers and legal professionals.
RSVP: Register here by Wednesday, October 21 to allow time to complete the recorded training.
Tenant Power Toolkit Clinic (Los Angeles, California)
Friday, November 13, 2026 | 12:00 PM–3:00 PM PT; 9:00 AM–12:00 PM PT | In-Person at LA Law Library, 301 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012
In partnership with Southern California Edison and Inner City Law Center, volunteers will help tenants who are facing eviction by completing and filing their court documents, using an innovative guided web site developed for this purpose. Volunteers will meet with clients, review their records, and help them formulate the responses that will form the basis for their own court filings. Volunteers fluent in languages other than English are encouraged to participate.
Open To: Lawyers and legal professionals in any jurisdiction.
RSVP: By Sunday, November 1 to Kelly Henderson at kelly.henderson@sce.com.
