Category: Podcast

Mary Gay Scanlon of Ballard Spahr*† joins PBI on the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, to explore how she connects lawyers with pro bono opportunities tailored to their interests, motivates attorneys with a sticker incentive program and alerts, and how the firm’s upcoming merger with Lindquist & Vennum will reinforce both firms’ strong commitments to pro bono. Mary Gay also discusses the increase in immigration-related pro bono since January, pro bono efforts to promote access to nutritious food, broadcasting leadership’s pro bono work throughout the firm, and cultivating a mindfulness practice to reduce stress.

BJ Jensen of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison*† joins us on the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, to discuss his role as the firm’s first Pro Bono Associate, the firm’s pro bono work for immigrants, transgender clients, and more. He describes how he infuses emails with the personal relationships he’s built throughout the firm to better recruit volunteers to staff pro bono matters. BJ also discusses how the firm leadership’s deep commitment to pro bono encouraged them to quickly mobilize in response to January’s travel ban and engage in meaningful “airport advocacy.” Take

Katharyn Christian McGee of Duane Morris*† joins us on the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, to discuss the firm’s medical-legal partnerships, protecting survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking, and one of her favorite parts of her job: getting to know every attorney at the firm. Kat advises getting associates “hooked” on pro bono early in their careers and finding niche pro bono areas that are underserved by other firms and that appeal to individual attorneys. Take 50 minutes to listen to our conversation with Kat about how pro bono “feeds the soul.” Subscribe

“What does it mean to build a culture of pro bono?” In the continuation of our conversation with Greg McConnell  of Winston & Strawn*†, we explore how pro bono is “more than winning” and how he, his pro bono team, and firm leadership took the program from “good” to “excellent,” including integrating pro bono into its firm-wide strategic plan. Take 40 minutes to listen to part two of our conversation with Greg on the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour. If you missed part one, it is available on Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Subscribe to

Winston & Strawn*†’s Greg McConnell speaks with PBI on this week’s Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast  about his career path, leading a mission-driven pro bono program, and how he and his team use a “seven-second” rule to get the attention of busy attorneys. Greg describes the satisfying double-boost of serving both pro bono clients and attorneys and how he and his team make it as easy as possible at the firm to do pro bono. He discusses the firm’s recently-created Corporate Social Responsibility Officer position and the professionalization of law firm pro bono. Take 40 minutes to listen to part

Rebecca Naylor has always been a passionate advocate for human rights. Becca manages the firm’s pro bono efforts in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia together with 70 champions at all levels throughout the firm. She spent 10-12 hour days assisting refugees in Greece and Jordan with her Reed Smith*† colleagues. Take 40 minutes to listen to Becca talk about her experiences on the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts and be sure to leave a review! We’d appreciate the feedback

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Theodore Howard of Wiley Rein*†. Ted talks to us about serving as the firm’s first full-time Pro Bono Partner, his pro bono work on behalf of inmates and prison reform efforts, the firm’s pro bono program, and more. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts and be sure to leave a review! We’d appreciate the feedback and it would help us expand the conversation about access to justice. The podcast is also available on YouTube. Links to all

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Katie Cronin of Stinson Leonard Street*†. Katie talks to us about her career, the firm’s pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Kansas City, and how pro bono work “feeds her soul.” Want to learn more about the firm’s pro bono program? Search our archives for the episode featuring Theresa Hughes, Katie’s colleague and pro bono role model. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts and be sure to leave a review! We’d appreciate the feedback