Author: dlipscomb

Although it’s still summer and the temperatures say it’s here to stay for a bit, recruiting season is getting started at major law firms around the country.  With early interviews coming up, many law students are looking to join firms where pro bono is well integrated into the culture.  Every year we are honored to be able to draw attention to our Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatory Firms and their demonstrated commitment to pro bono.  Accordingly, PBI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project mailed its annual Challenge poster to the career services and public interest offices of all ABA-accredited law schools. 

There are more than 500,000 children in foster care in the United States and nearly 30,000 young people “age out” of the foster care system each year.  Aging out increases the risk of poverty, unemployment, poor education, early pregnancy, substance abuse, and future incarceration, but there is hope.  Pro bono attorneys can help these young adults in securing education, employment, safe housing, healthcare, and financial stability in a variety of ways. Here are a few inspiring examples, among many, of pro bono work to help youth aging out of foster care: Greenberg Traurig† provides pro bono legal representation to children

Looking for an innovative and engaging way to showcase your law firm’s commitment to pro bono?  Consider creating a pro bono video!  In recent years, many firms have chosen video as a medium for advertising and promoting their dedication to pro bono. Producing a successful video has many benefits.  Videos not only allow firms to present their commitment to pro bono in a concise and effective manner but also provide them with the opportunity to display the character of their firm to the public.  Moreover, videos have the power to inspire and motivate firm attorneys and other staff to contribute

The PBEye previously reported on the many barriers convicts face after being released from prison.  In addition to the myriad obstacles including legal barriers such as lack of identification, suspension of driver’s license, child support payments, and problems receiving government benefits, many ex-offenders face the struggles of trying to pay a number of other fees.  States charge numerous fees at every stage of criminal processing—fees for public defenders, jail fees, prison fees, court administrative fees, prosecution fees, probation fees, parole fees, etc.  Many offenders struggle to make payments, resulting in them having to serve an additional prison sentence or other