dlipscomb, Author at Pro Bono Institute

It Gets Better

December 2, 2011

Approximately one in every five high school students is bullied, demoralizing young victims and endangering their lives. When schools fail to prevent bullying, the targets feel isolated, lonely, and depressed. Many cannot focus on their studies because they are haunted by fear. Sadly, suicides and attempted suicides are all too common. While many people assume that schools will protect their children, school officials are often reluctant to assume responsibilities beyond their core educational role. It can be difficult to gain officials’ cooperation to discuss how schools can manage bullying that can occur any time from a bus ride in the

VIDEO: Meet the Face of Pro Bono

November 17, 2011

Just a week away from Thanksgiving, we at The PBEye are thinking about what we’re most thankful for. Overall, we’re very thankful for all of our friends and supporters who spend so much of their time and energy fighting for access to justice for those in need. We’re also thankful this year for having had the opportunity to meet Dewey Bozella and hear his words on the importance of pro bono at the 2011 PBI Annual Dinner. Bozella, who spent 26 years in prison for a wrongful murder conviction, was freed two years ago with the help of pro bono

GE, Arnold & Porter, CLC Partner for Kids

November 11, 2011

In the summer of 2010, representatives from General Electric Company** and Arnold & Porter LLP*combined forces to help address some of the issues facing at-risk youth in the Washington, D.C. area. The team met with the Children’s Law Center (CLC), an organization that provides free legal counsel to low-income children in the D.C. area, to formulate a plan. After meeting with CLC, the organizations decided to focus their efforts on increasing access to special education resources. Washington, D.C. has an exceptionally high prevalence of disability among children, with more than 12,000 children who have disabilities requiring special education accommodations. Many schools

Pro Bono to Honor Those Who Serve

November 10, 2011

“In an unbroken line of valor stretching across more than two centuries, our veterans have charged into harm’s way, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, to protect the freedoms that have blessed America. Whether Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard, they are our Nation’s finest citizens, and they have shown the heights to which Americans can rise when asked and inspired to do so.” — President Barack Obama (2010) This Veterans Day, Americans will recognize the sacrifices of the country’s veterans with parades, memorials, and tokens of appreciation. Providing pro bono services to eligible veterans is a unique opportunity for lawyers

VIDEO: Why Do Pro Bono?

November 9, 2011

Why do pro bono? It’s a question that The PBEye loves hearing because there are so many good reasons. For starters, it may help you live longer. You can literally change the world with pro bono. With enough dedication to pro bono, you can help someone get his life back. Or maybe you do pro bono because you believe that access to justice is a fundamental human right that no one should be denied. We could go on and on, but we’d rather let you hear it from those who do it every day. YouTube Link

Guest Blog: Deere Celebrates Giving Back to the Community

November 2, 2011

The Deere & Company** Global Law Services Group held its bi-annual Pro Bono and Community Service Celebration at Deere & Company’s Worldwide Headquarters in Moline, Ill., on Oct. 19. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride was the event’s keynote speaker. The celebration’s theme, “Giving Back to the Community,” reflected the Global Law Services Group’s dedication to serving those in need of legal services and, more generally, Deere’s commitment to an environment in which employees are encouraged to engage in volunteerism for the betterment of their communities. In his keynote address, Chief Justice Kilbride encouraged participation in pro bono

VIDEO: Pro Bono for Global Social Change

October 25, 2011

The PBEye has been excited to report on various global pro bono efforts that have harnessed the power of attorneys to affect social change. So of course we were delighted to talk to Edwin Rekosh, executive director of PILnet (formerly the Public Interest Law Institute), abut his organization’s mission to promote the use of law for social change. Internationally, civil society organizations are using legal tools to pursue certain public interests, but don’t always have the backing of pro bono lawyers that they do in the U.S. That’s where PILnet seeks to strengthen pro bono culture to assist foreign NGOs.

Ford, Dykema , and CLR Team Up

October 25, 2011

In 2008, Ford Motor Company**, Dykema Gossett PLLC*, and Community Legal Resources (CLR) conceived of a program to provide legal support to Michigan nonprofit organizations. In the wake of the recession, the nonprofits faced significant financial hardship and found it increasingly difficult to serve their clients. Michigan was one of the states hit hardest by the economic downturn, rendering the services provided by nonprofit organizations all the more important. Witnessing the vulnerability of nonprofits in the state, Ford, Dykema, and CLR developed a program called the Nonprofit Survival Clinic to help implement legal strategies to improve their financial wellbeing. In preparation

TKO for Pro Bono

October 17, 2011

The PBEye sends special congratulations to Dewey Bozella on winning his first and only professional boxing match on Saturday. As we’ve reported on this blog previously, Bozella was an amateur boxer when he as wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 26 years in prison. He was released in 2008 thanks to the hard work of attorneys at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP*, which took his case pro bono. Incidentally, Bozella will be our special guest at the 2011 PBI Annual Dinner in New York. Bozella’s story is truly inspiring and reminds us of the importance of pro bono in closing

VIDEO: Broadening the Bench: Involving Non-Attorneys

October 12, 2011

Law firms and legal departments are made up of a lot of people – many of whom may not be lawyers. Involving paralegals; librarians; compliance specialists; marketing staff; policy, science, human resources, and information technology experts; and other non-lawyer staff in your pro bono efforts is one way to effectively increase your pro bono practice and serve more clients. In order for non-lawyers to successfully contribute to your pro bono efforts: (1) the culture of your firm or organization must support non-lawyer participation; (2) non-lawyers must be informed and made aware of relevant pro bono opportunities; (3) you should cater

Author: dlipscomb