Corporate Pro Bono Archives - Page 18 of 19

Guest Blog: Social Media And Pro Bono

June 8, 2011

Considering my 20+ years of law practice, I might be an old fogey, but I’m also an “early adopter” – not a techie by any stretch, but I enjoy using new technologies. I’ve been on Facebook forever, and I’m closing in on 2000 Tweets. I first used social media for personal fun – keeping up with old friends, fomenting minor revolutions with political rantings, but began to realize how social media could be a powerful tool. Everybody needs a website – people tend not to be interested in any organization without one. When my firm got involved with the fabulous

Disaster Relief: Lawyers Pitching In

June 6, 2011

Mother Nature is wreaking havoc across the United States and around the world. Images of disaster-stricken towns and cities feature prominently and regularly in recent news programming. Naturally, these images of desperation ignite in all of us a desire to take action. Lawyers are no exception. In the wake of a seemingly endless string of floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes, lawyers are interested in providing pro bono assistance to the victims. And as always, The PBI can offer thoughts on the many ways for attorneys to lend a hand. Staffing Clinics and Hotlines Staffing clinics and hotlines are time-limited ways for lawyers to

Walmart to Launch Signature Medical-Legal Partnership

May 5, 2011

A new player enters the world of in-house pro bono with a bang. The Walmart* legal department will launch a medical-legal partnership (MLP) project with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Legal Aid of Arkansas this spring. A relatively unchartered arena in in-house pro bono, Walmart’s MLP will be a signature project for its legal department, and will include both onsite and virtual pro bono opportunities for Walmart lawyers and legal staff. Onsite, legal professionals become a part of the healthcare team. Doctors will refer patients to lawyers for legal assistance when appropriate. Just as a pediatrician refers a patient to a radiologist for

Guest Blog: Pro Bono and Your Partner Retreat

May 3, 2011

For a relatively new Pro Bono Director like me, the opportunity to present at the annual McCarter & English* partner retreat would ordinarily be an invaluable time to educate partners about our growing pro bono program. The only wrinkle: our 2011 retreat’s theme of “business development.” After a moment of panic (“I am a public interest lawyer, what in the heck do I know about business development?”), I realized that this theme would push me to educate the partnership about how a meaningful pro bono program can contribute to the bottom line — an important topic in these challenging economic

VIDEO: Pro Bono Potential in Virginia

May 2, 2011

In the most recent edition of The National Law Journal, PBI President and CEO Esther F. Lardent writes about multijurisdictional practice issues through the lens of two states that have made progressive decisions that impact in-house pro bono. Lardent’s column examines the rules in many states that “handcuff [attorneys] with restrictions that are unnecessary, insulting and unjustifiable in the face of the crisis in access to justice,” while making the case for more freedom for in-house attorneys to do pro bono work. As you may have read here on The PBEye, last month the Virginia Supreme Court removed restrictions on pro bono practice

Getting Others Involved in Pro Bono

April 26, 2011

In-house pro bono is not just for lawyers. A recent benchmarking survey published by CPBO found that nearly 92 percent of responding legal departments involve non-lawyers in pro bono work. Aside from managing the administration of pro bono work and serving on pro bono committees, paralegals and other staff play an important role in serving in-house pro bono clients. Involving non-lawyers in pro bono activities increases the department’s capacity to provide legal services. Quite simply, more hands on deck means that more legal needs are met. Non-lawyers often possess unique skills useful in the provision of pro bono legal service. For example, some

Virginia is for Pro Bono Lovers

April 19, 2011

The PBEye was delighted to see that, effective April 15, 2011, the Virginia Supreme Court approved an amendment to its rules, removing restrictions that limited certified in-house counsel’s ability to provide pro bono work to deserving and needy clients in Virginia. Now, certified in-house attorneys may provide pro bono service, subject only to the conditions that apply to all Virginia attorneys – the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct. This change empowers the more than 800 certified in-house attorneys in Virginia to provide desperately needed assistance to low-income individuals and organizations. We hope this amendment will serve as an example for other

Do You Track Your In-House Pro Bono?

April 18, 2011

Should in-house legal departments track pro bono activities? The answer is a resounding YES! Even if your company does not track work by time spent, it is still a best practice among legal departments to measure pro bono work. When it comes to pro bono, there are several metrics you might consider tracking. Many departments track the percentage of lawyers and legal department staff that participate in pro bono in a year. This metric encourages teamwork and engagement and helps a department measure the growth of the pro bono program over time. The Corporate Pro Bono ChallengeSM – the only national

Top 10 Things to Consider For Your Pro Bono Partnership

April 15, 2011

We all learn at an early age how to work together . . . and pro bono is no different! A successful pro bono partnership between a law firm and a corporate legal department is an important evolution of both pro bono programs. Done properly and building on existing strengths, a partnership can generate more resources for pro bono and can foster a valuable relationship. Here is a top ten list of questions to consider before embarking on a pro bono partnership: 1. Is your firm or legal department ready for a partnership? Do you have a sustained and effective pro

Arkansas Decision Good, But Not Good Enough

April 12, 2011

Unnecessary Restrictions on In-House Pro Bono While in-house pro bono has grown considerably in the past few years, state restrictions on multijurisdictional practice are still a significant hurdle. CPBO, with PBI, ACC, and a taskforce of in-house counsel, is working to address this important issue and has drafted model language to help. The rules in most states allow in-house counsel who are admitted to practice and are in good standing in one or more jurisdictions, but are not licensed in the state in which they are working, to provide legal services to their in-state employer. However, many of these states are

Category: Corporate Pro Bono