Category: Law Firm Pro Bono

April 15 is just around the corner and this time of year can be stressful, especially for low-income Americans. They may fall victim to exploitation by commercial tax preparers charging unduly high fees for their services. Many also face obstacles when claiming their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides them and their families a refundable tax credit based on earnings and number of children.  There are numerous ways that pro bono lawyers can get involved during tax season and all year long to help low-income taxpayers. 1. Participate in a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program or a Low-Income Taxpayer

“Last Chance,” the most recent episode of the CBS true-crime investigative program “48 Hours,” tells the compelling story of Damon Thibodeaux.  Thibodeaux was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of his “step-cousin” in 1996, and spent 15 years on death row in Louisiana.  The PBEye previously reported on his exoneration, which was made possible through the heroic pro bono legal assistance of attorneys and staff at Fredrikson & Byron*† in collaboration with the Innocence Project and the Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana. Among those interviewed and seen on the program are our friends, attorney Steve Kaplan and Pro

Earlier this month, while we were celebrating pro bono at the 2014 PBI Annual Conference, the U.S. Senate rejected President Barack Obama’s nomination of Debo Adegbile to lead the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.  All Republicans and seven Democrats voted against the nomination ostensibly because, while working for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), Adegbile contributed to a series of briefs on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a death-row inmate convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer.  Abu-Jamal’s death sentence was ultimately overturned on the grounds of unconstitutional jury-sentencing instructions. Adegbile’s defeat on these grounds sends

The Law Firm Pro Bono Project is still accepting Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® reports for the 2013 calendar year.  Time is running out, so act quickly! We e-mailed customized survey links to Challenge Signatories in January, so contact Law Firm Pro Bono Project Assistant Eva Richardson if you have not received yours.  Please assist us in communicating the good news about the work of law firms to our colleagues in the legal profession and to the public with your submission of the electronic reporting form.  We also urge you to let us know about your firm’s accomplishments and news.

New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman delivered his annual State of the Judiciary speech this week, and in it, he reassured New Yorkers of his commitment to improve and enhance the justice system as it faces evolving challenges. Pro bono was once again a focal point of Chief Judge Lippman’s speech.  Building on the mandatory pro bono requirement for prospective attorneys that he implemented last year, he has proposed a new Pro Bono Scholars program, which would allow students to dedicate the final semester of their third year of law school to doing pro bono. Pro Bono Scholars will receive

Do you need examples of pro bono policies from firms similar to yours?  Could you use ethics guidance related to a pro bono matter?  Are you re-vamping your pro bono annual report and looking for models?  Visit the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s Resource Clearinghouse for helpful research and publications. The Resource Clearinghouse is a one-stop destination for publications, best practices, model policies, and other materials related to law firm pro bono.  Browse and be inspired.  The growing catalog comprises PBI’s research and expert analysis with additional resources from trusted and verified sources.  Materials available include: • Original publications • Best practices

When presented with the opportunity to work on a project about which he felt passionately, former Pro Bono Institute summer intern John Treat jumped at the chance.  Like many families, his has been affected by autism.  It is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the U.S., currently affecting one in 88 children.  Families with an autistic member can encounter a multitude of legal challenges over the course of a lifetime, such as those related to education, the criminal justice system, guardianship/conservatorship, healthcare, insurance, housing, and more. Treat conducted original research and prepared a comprehensive report that documents the meaningful work