Corporate Pro Bono Archives - Page 15 of 19

CPBO Spotlight On: Aetna Inc.

March 13, 2012

Aetna, the recipient of the 2009 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award, has a longstanding tradition of pro bono service. Among the first to do so, the legal department adopted a formal pro bono program in 1981. The program’s longevity is due in large part to consistent support from general counsel over the years, including current Senior Vice President and General Counsel Bill Casazza. Connecticut Lawyers’ Legal Aid to the Elderly Since the program’s inception, Aetna’s lawyers have handled hundreds of cases in the greater Hartford, Conn., area dealing with elder law issues such as estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, landlord-tenant disputes

CPBO Spotlight On: The Williams Companies

February 15, 2012

The Williams Companies*, a nationwide energy company based in Tulsa, Okla., has a strong pro bono program. The program’s success is due in large part to the support and encouragement of its past and present general counsels. Elder Care Adopting one of the most efficient pro bono service models, the Williams legal department has committed to handling all of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.’s (Oklahoma Legal Aid) cases concerning estate planning and other end-of-life issues for the elderly poor in its community. For several years, the University of Tulsa Law School operated a clinic providing free legal services

2011 In-House Pro Bono Lessons Learned

February 8, 2012

The PBEye thinks there’s no reason to re-invent the wheel. Having worked with hundreds of legal departments on their pro bono programs since 2000, CPBO knows that while each program is unique and reflects the particular characteristics, interests, and culture of the legal department, there are a number of common issues that legal departments face in starting and growing pro bono programs. So that legal departments may learn from each other, CPBO publishes best practices profiles that highlight the experiences of various legal departments and share lessons they have learned. Below is a list of the 10 most common lessons learned. 1.) General counsel and management support is key for the creation and growth of an in-house program. 2.)

CPBO Spotlight On: Nationwide

January 27, 2012

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company** adopted a formal pro bono program in 2007. Members of the legal department gathered to discuss opportunities, potential obstacles, and how the program should be structured and then presented a proposal to Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Governance Officer Pat Hatler. She embraced the team’s ideas and recommendations, and the legal department kicked off its pro bono program by co-hosting a Clinic in a BoxSM program with CPBO. The clinic brought together nearly 40 lawyers, paralegals, and administrative staff to provide legal assistance to central Ohio nonprofit organizations. The success of the clinic provided a

CPBO Spotlight On: Accenture

January 17, 2012

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company that makes corporate citizenship a priority. From its Skills to Succeed initiative that aims to equip 250,000 people worldwide with the skills to get a job or build a business, to environmental stewardship to pro bono work and corporate giving, Accenture and its people are working to making a sustainable difference in communities around the world. With such a serious company commitment to doing social good, it is no wonder that Accenture’s legal department boasts an exceptional pro bono program. Under the helm of Accenture General Counsel, Secretary &

Guest Blog: BNY Mellon’s Pro Bono Program

December 22, 2011

The Bank of New York Mellon recently launched its pro bono program. Learn more about it below. Why Global Pro Bono at BNY Mellon? When Jane Sherburne, BNY Mellon’s general counsel, asked me to chair a new Global Pro Bono Program 10 months ago, I didn’t hesitate. Jane has been a significant supporter of pro bono service, noting that it reflects BNY Mellon’s commitment to making our communities better places to live and work, and is fundamental to our team-oriented business culture and core values: trust, teamwork, client focus and outperformance. For perspective, in 2010, BNY Mellon and its employees around

Minnesota Legal Departments Lead in Pro Bono

December 16, 2011

Four months since Corporate Pro Bono last visited Minnesota, CPBO was back to attend the Regional Convocation in Minneapolis and meet one-on-one with a number of the state’s leading companies, whose in-house attorneys dedicate their time and legal skills to their communities. In particular, CPBO met with pro bono attorneys and staff from 3M Company**, Best Buy Co., Inc.**, Cargill, Incorporated, and Target Corporation, and gained further insight into each organization’s pro bono activities. The first stop on the itinerary was lunch with Mike Skoglund at Cargill, where CPBO learned more about Cargill’s pro bono efforts, including a joint project with

Gap Meets with Local Nonprofits

December 7, 2011

Last week, Gap, Inc.’s** legal department met with ten local nonprofits to conduct a legal audit of the organizations and ensure that they are operating in good legal health. Gap partnered with CPBO, Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) of The Bar Association of San Francisco, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP* to host a Clinic in a BoxSM program. The Clinic, held at the Gap headquarters in San Francisco, attracted 42 members of the Gap legal department, including Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer Michelle Banks, who participated in the training session and met with a

VIDEO: Verizon on the Pro Bono Horizon

December 7, 2011

Our friend John Frantz, vice president and associate general counsel at Verizon Communications Inc.**, heads the company’s pro bono program and spoke with us about two emerging areas in pro bono we care a lot about: multijurisdictional practice rules reform and pro bono partnerships. In the video below, Frantz explains why both are important to pro bono culture, and both are subjects Frantz knows something about. In April, the Virginia Supreme Court removed restrictions on pro bono practice by in-house lawyers in the state, a great victory for pro bono and Verizon, which was looking to get attorneys more involved

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

Category: Corporate Pro Bono