Author: dlipscomb

The 2014 midterm election is quickly approaching and the struggle to protect voting rights is ongoing. Since last year, when the U.S. Supreme Court weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act with its decision in Shelby County v. Holder, a number of states have moved forward with restrictive voter identification laws, laws impeding voter registration, cutbacks on early voting (which could exacerbate the problem of long lines on Election Day), and laws making it more difficult to restore voting rights to those with past criminal convictions. These restrictions create hurdles to the ballot box that disproportionately affect low-income, minority, college-age, and

With Independence Day behind us, we are officially on to the second half of 2014. The long summer days provide the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on our accomplishments, our shortcomings, and our plans for the future. Recently, the notion of “disruption” has caught our eye, here at The PBEye. Clayton Christenson defines “disruptive innovations” as “innovations that transform products which . . . are complicated and expensive into things that are so affordable and accessible that a larger population of people has access to them.” Industry by industry (Uber! Twitter!), these disruptive innovations have flipped the status quo

The Colbert Report Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Colbert Report on Facebook   Last month, the satirical news show The Colbert Report shed light on a persistently troubling part of our nation’s justice system: criminal justice debt. As we’ve previously reported, the costs associated with being a low-income offender can be overwhelming as many states and localities charge fees and surcharges to fund the criminal justice system at every step of the process, from the courtroom to jail to probation. These may include fees for public defenders, jail fees, court administrative fees, prosecution fees, probation fees, parole

Is your firm making the most of its pro bono program in developing your attorneys’ skills? Are you strategically linking your pro bono efforts with professional development opportunities and performance evaluations? Although the nexus between pro bono and professional development has long been acknowledged, largely in an informal way, many firms have come to recognize that the hands-on experience that pro bono work provides can be invaluable. Developmental pro bono assignments, or targeting pro bono work to cultivate skills, are particularly effective ways for attorneys to develop and demonstrate many of the “hard” and “soft” skills required for advancement. The

It’s time to enroll or renew as a Member of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project for 2014-2015. Complete and return the enrollment form today to demonstrate your law firm’s support for access to justice and pro bono service. Submit your form before September 1, 2014, to receive a 10 percent discount. As a Member Firm, you’ll have access to high-quality resources to help you strengthen and grow your firm’s pro bono program, such as free publications and exclusive access to the Members-only section of the Project’s Resource Clearinghouse. This section of our website, which is available only to Member

There was more than one hero in this week’s episode of Lifetime’s legal comedy/drama, “Drop Dead Diva.” Kim, one of the show’s main attorneys, is saved from a mugger by a mystery man dressed as a superhero. The man turns out to be Hank, the court bailiff, and when he is fired for his unusual after-hours work, Kim plays the hero and takes his case on pro bono. Her legal team even dons costumes when opposing counsel demands Hank appear in court in his superhero attire. “Pro Bono Man” and “Lady Adjudicator” fight the case in court and in the

The legal profession is at an extraordinary demographic crossroads, with vast numbers of baby-boom attorneys facing career transitions. This wave of lawyers nearing retirement offers enormous opportunity and capacity to deliver desperately needed legal services to low-income and underserved populations. PBI’s Second Acts® initiative pioneered efforts to support transitioning and retired lawyers interested in second, volunteer careers in public interest law by identifying and implementing a range of workable models within law firms, legal departments, and public interest organizations that take advantage of the skills and expertise of these lawyers. Second Acts programs can help transition attorneys to retirement, ensure