Category: Law Firm Pro Bono

We at The PBEye spend a lot of time thinking, talking, and writing about why lawyers, law firms, and legal departments should do pro bono work. In case you need yet another reason, check out a recent Huffington Post article on why it’s especially important for high-level business executives to lead by example and foster a culture of giving back in the workplace. The piece persuasively makes the case that volunteering can improve a leader’s emotional strength and on-the-job effectiveness, enhance their team’s confidence and problem-solving skills, and expand a business’s network of contacts. For many of the same reasons,

Summer associates haven’t even arrived yet, but the next recruiting season at major law firms will be here before we know it. Many law students around the country are looking to join firms where pro bono is an integral part of the culture. Every year we are honored to be able to promote our Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories and their demonstrated commitment to pro bono. Accordingly, the Law Firm Pro Bono Project is mailing its annual Challenge poster to the career services offices of all ABA-accredited law schools. The poster lists every Challenge Signatory, raising the visibility of

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and there is still more work to be done to fight discrimination and promote equal access, independence, opportunity, and freedom from abuse and neglect. Disability rights issues are fertile ground for lawyers, law firms, and legal departments looking to develop or expand their pro bono practice. The range of opportunities is broad and deep, with options for both small and large-scale projects and those that would appeal to litigators and non-litigators alike. Through a variety of pro bono engagements and partnerships with advocacy organizations, pro bono lawyers

Is your firm interested in improving its pro bono program? If so, the spring season, with its emphasis on renewal and growth, makes it the perfect time to check out our Law Firm Pro Bono Self-Assessment Guide, which is designed to help large law firms assess the strengths and weaknesses of their programs and engage in goal-setting and long-term strategic planning. In order to be effective and successful, pro bono programs should be compatible with the firm’s environment, culture, and history. There are a range of ever-evolving factors that shape a firm’s program, such as firm size, geographic location, the

Today is Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to commemorate the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Imagine having your family and childhood destroyed by the Nazis, only to be tormented by the crushing burden of poverty in old age. This is unfortunately the reality for a great number of survivors worldwide who live below the poverty line. There are a range of opportunities for pro bono lawyers to help survivors with their legal needs. One inspiring example that has been in the news recently involves a team of pro bono lawyers from Akin Gump

Don’t miss your chance to schedule a house call with the Law Firm Pro Bono Project. We have upcoming trips to Austin, Texas, and Richmond, Va., and we are currently planning our travel schedule for 2015 and early 2016. Make sure your city is one of our destinations! These house calls are part of our expert and confidential consultative services program. Law Firm Pro Bono Project staff visit law firms and meet with firm and office leaders; pro bono committees; pro bono partners, coordinators, directors, and managers; and others to offer individualized assistance. During these meetings we discuss issues and

March Madness is winding down as we head into the Final Four this weekend, and we hope that your brackets are doing as well as ours. The good news is that the excitement doesn’t have to stop on Monday evening after we crown a new champion. The PBEye is thrilled to announce that PBI is partnering with several governing bodies on a new program – Pro Bono Madness! Over the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in various types of informal competitions (i.e., between different offices or practice groups) to boost pro bono performance within law firms. We were

  On this week’s episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver tackled the issue of criminal justice debt, providing an in-depth look at how relatively small violations can have disastrous effects on the lives of low-income people. He explained how fines and fees arising from traffic and other low-level offenses, often used as a way to fund local governments without raising taxes, can trap those unable to pay in a vicious cycle of debt. Failure to pay a fine can lead to additional surcharges and fees, the suspension of one’s driver’s license, or even jail time in some cases. Furthermore,

Pro bono has become a significant part of the summer associate experience and a crucial differentiator as talented law students make decisions about their futures. Again this year, Law Firm Pro Bono Project staff members are available to speak at events for summer associates. Each summer, we participate in a number of informational programs, during which Project staff, along with firm partners, directors, managers, coordinators, associates, and pro bono committee members, discuss an array of pro bono-related topics, such as: • the relationship of pro bono to professional and skill development; • national trends in pro bono; • “hot” and