Corporate Pro Bono Archives - Page 15 of 19

VIDEO: Why Do Pro Bono? Bruce Kuhlik, Merck & Co., Inc.

June 12, 2012

We at The PBEye have been pleased to see corporate legal departments increasingly engage in pro bono as a means to do good work for people who need it and build better relationships with the communities they serve. We applaud the corporate community for helping pro bono culture evolve to better serve those in need. This week hear from Bruce Kuhlik, executive vice president and general counsel of Merck & Co., Inc*, about the benefits of doing pro bono. YouTube Link * denotes a Signatory to the Corporate Pro Bono ChallengeSM

Congrats to Victorian In-House Attorneys

June 5, 2012

Times have changed! Until last month, “corporate practising certificates” applicable to in-house lawyers in Victoria, Australia, limited them to providing legal advice only to their employers. This restriction prevented these lawyers from volunteering their services for pro bono work in the same manner as their law firm counterparts and in-house lawyers in other Australian states. Thankfully, the Legal Profession and Public Notaries Amendment Bill 2012 was passed by the Victorian Parliament on March 27, given Royal Assent on April 3, and became effective on May 2. The bill amended the Legal Profession Act 2004 by lifting restrictions on in-house lawyers

Honoring Their Memory

April 19, 2012

Today is Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Imagine your youth and family destroyed by the Nazis and now your old age is tormented by the crushing burden of poverty. This is the reality for a great number of survivors worldwide who live below the poverty line. In May 2008, Bet Tzedek launched the Holocaust Survivors Justice Network in response to two German government sponsored payment programs. The Network partners pro bono attorneys with Jewish social service providers to provide free legal assistance to eligible Holocaust

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

Category: Corporate Pro Bono