EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day 2025

2025 EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day Impact Summary: Electric & Utility Industry Legal Departments Unite for Fourth Annual Pro Bono Day

On November 13, 2025, the fourth annual EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day brought together in-house legal teams from electric and utility companies across the country to deliver critical pro bono legal assistance to underserved communities. The CPBO project partners with Entergy Corporation’s legal department and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) each year to organize and champion this industry-wide day of pro bono service.

EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day mobilizes volunteer lawyers and legal professionals from electric and utility companies in collaboration with law firms and legal services organizations to create pro bono opportunities addressing urgent and unmet civil legal needs. This initiative deepens the culture of pro bono within the energy sector while expanding access to justice for low-income and marginalized communities.

This year, pro bono leaders from 13 in-house legal departments — including Alliant Energy Corporation, Ameren Corporation, Avangrid, Inc., Con Edison, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy Corporation**, El Paso Electric Company, Entergy Corporation**, Exelon Corporation** (Pepco & BGE — DC and Baltimore Offices; PECO Energy Company), FirstEnergy Service Company, PPL Corporation, PSE&G, Southern California Edison Company — organized and participated in 25 meaningful pro bono service and training events across the country.

Volunteers partnered with leading law firms and legal services organizations to support clients facing a wide range of issues, including:

Life-planning for seniors (wills, powers of attorney, advance directives)
Record expungement, sealing, and pardon eligibility screenings
Immigration legal support, including asylum and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals
Legal wellness services for veterans
Tenant defense, eviction diversion, and housing stability support
Applications for public benefits, utility assistance, and income supports
Breaking down employment barriers, including background checks and license restoration
Special protections and services for children, families, and vulnerable community members

Together, volunteers provided life-changing support to clients who may not have otherwise had access to legal assistance

By the Numbers

25 pro bono events serving underserved clients, held nationally and across 15 states
271 in-house volunteers from 13 in-house legal departments
235 law firm volunteers
Almost 400 clients served

A Day of Impact

Across the country, volunteer lawyers and legal professionals worked side-by-side with community partners to address barriers to housing stability, income and employment opportunities, immigration relief, access to healthcare and benefits, and life-planning through wills and directives. Volunteers reviewed records, completed applications, drafted legal documents, interviewed clients, and developed clear action plans tailored to their client’s circumstances. Clients received immediate, practical and often transformative support.

Several EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day events generated impact that extends far beyond a single clinic. Trainings equipped volunteers with new skills to take on future pro bono matters; research initiatives contributed to long-term advocacy and public-facing resources; and some teams created tools that community organizations will rely on well after the event.

Taken together, these efforts demonstrate the power of coordinated, industry-wide pro bono service to strengthen communities, expand legal access, and build a deeper culture of pro bono service across the energy sector. Legal departments proudly shared that they remain #ProBonoProud, helping spotlight the collective commitment of electric and utility companies to expanding access to justice.

Reflections from the Day

Volunteers reported meaningful experiences assisting community members with legal needs. Clients expressed appreciation for the care, clarity, and dignity volunteers brought to each interaction.

Volunteer Feedback

“Volunteering at the pro bono background check clinic was an incredibly rewarding experience. I was able to use my skills to help navigate a complex system and make a positive difference for people who are working to improve their lives. To have such a meaningful impact by donating just three hours of my time was truly worth it and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to contribute.”

“I felt that I truly made a difference in one sweet lady's life. I left feeling very fulfilled.”

“Great experience!”

"It was very interesting to just get to know someone."

“This was such an awesome event/initiative."

"It was a great clinic!”

Clinic volunteers expressed their appreciation at having the opportunity to give back to their local community in such a meaningful and personal way. Many of the clients shared their personal stories and history with the pro bono attorneys and volunteers. The teams felt grateful to participate in an event where they could make an immediate impact by helping these clients organize their estate documents and alleviate the worry of being unprepared for life events.

Volunteers said the clinic is a very rewarding experience because it takes about an hour to tip the scales toward justice for tenants facing eviction.

Client Feedback

“[B]eing able to show I’m here legally under DACA, and having spent nearly my entire life in the U.S., brings peace of mind. I went to school here, built a career, married, and now have children in school. DACA not only gives me security but also reassures my kids that I can prove I'm here legally....”

“I wanna thank you all for a wonderful day! So exciting I'm finally getting this ball rolling. Thank you to everyone that made this possible. It truly means alot to me.”

"It didn't take long. In January, I had a liver transplant. My son had to make decisions and didn't know what I wanted. Now it's on paper."

“I can't afford to take a Lyft every time I want to leave the house, but I feel like I am wasting away being homebound all the time. This will be such a gift because I will get some independence back.”

“Took a burden off my shoulders.”

“I'm so grateful... [N]ow I can go home to NY for the holidays.”

All clients were grateful for the assistance and appreciated the extra effort for the off site visit. Those customers receiving energy assistance and energy efficiency tips were grateful to learn about the programs and appreciated the outreach.

CPBO extends sincere thanks to all volunteers, legal departments, law firms, and legal services partners who contributed to the success of EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day 2025!

* denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge^® signatory
** denotes a Corporate Pro Bono Challenge^® signatory
† denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Project^® member

National

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Entergy Corporation**	Husch Blackwell*	National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Legal Research re Vacatur (Virtual)

Volunteers conducted a 50-state legal survey related to child sex trafficking and co-occurring offenses with a focus on which states permit vacatur.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Various	Davis Wright Tremaine^*†	The Veterans Consortium

Discharge Upgrade Intake Clinic with The Veterans Consortium (Virtual)
Volunteers interviewed veterans to help evaluate eligibility for discharge upgrades and related benefits. The intake clinic began with a 1-hour training, followed by team-based, 1-hour interview slots to gather service history and discharge details and complete intake forms used by The Veterans Consortium for full representation review.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Duke Energy Corporation; Entergy Corporation		Safe Alliance

Domestic Violence Complaint Drafting & Review with Safe Alliance (Virtual & In Person — Charlotte, North Carolina)
Volunteers assisted survivors of domestic violence by reviewing and finalizing 50B Domestic Violence Protective Orders and 50C Civil No-Contact Orders. Volunteers reviewed and edited these drafts before final filing.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Various	Davis Wright Tremaine^*†	Mapping Segregation DC

Identifying Racially Restrictive Language in Property Deeds (Mapping Segregation in DC) (Virtual)
Volunteers mapped racially restrictive covenants and detailed the impact covenants have had on the District over several decades. Resulting maps will be publicly available to inform efforts addressing the legacy of restrictive covenants, redlining, and discrimination.

California

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Southern California Edison Company		Inner City Law Center

Tenant Power Toolkit Clinic (In-Person)*
Volunteers helped tenants who are facing eviction by completing and filing their court documents, using an innovative guided web site developed for this purpose. Volunteers met with clients, reviewed their records, and helped them formulate the responses that will form the basis for their own court filings.

*Southern California Edison Company hosted the Tenant Power Toolkit Clinic as two separate events.

Illinois

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Exelon Legal Department	Jenner & Block*	National Immigrant Justice Center

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Renewal Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers provided free legal support for eligible individuals renewing their DACA status. The Clinic streamlined the renewal process by helping recipients gather documents, correct misinformation, reduce costs, and complete and file applications to avoid renewal lapses.

Kentucky

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
PPL Corporation		Legal Aid Society of Louisville

Expungement Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers met with clients, reviewed files, and made preliminary determinations regarding eligibility of clients for expungement of their criminal records.

Louisiana

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Entergy Corporation**	Baker Botts*^†; Jones Walker

Driver’s License Restoration Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers assisted underserved community members in restoring their driver’s licenses during an event co-hosted by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles and several judges, providing free guidance and support throughout the process.

Massachusetts

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Avangrid, Inc.	Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP	The Legal Aid Society

Asylum Seekers Employment Authorization Legal Clinic (Virtual)
Volunteers helped prepare applications for employment authorization documents based on their pending asylum petitions. Volunteers reviewed supporting documents, interviewed clients, and completed the applications, helping asylum-seekers obtain authorization to work in the United States.

Mississippi

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Entergy Corporation**		Mission First

Client Intake Support for Mission First (In Person)
Volunteers conducted client intake, meeting with clients and gathering relevant information, saving Mission First time and helping clients receive services faster.

Missouri

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Ameren Corporation	Lewis Rice	Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Durable Power of Attorneys and Advance Directives (In Person)
Volunteers drafted durable powers of attorney and advance directives. These services supported underserved community members by helping them plan for future medical and financial decisionmaking.

New Jersey

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
PSE&G	Gibbons†; McCarter & English†	Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic (Virtual)
Volunteers met with veterans and conducted holistic intakes to identify legal issues they may be facing. Volunteers provided advice and referrals, as well as worked with veterans to develop action plans that prioritized their concerns and outlined recommended next steps.

New York

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
El Paso Electric Company—Office of the General Counsel	Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher*†	Legal Services NYC

Emergency Grants for Eviction (Virtual)
Volunteers participated in an emergency grants initiative supporting tenants at risk of eviction. After completing a virtual, on-demand training, volunteers helped clients complete applications for assistance, monitored matters for approximately one week to track the outcome, and provided a summary of their work for Legal Services NYC.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Con Edison—Law Department		Safe Passage Project

Safe Passage Project—Legal Screening Clinic (Virtual)
Volunteers participated in a virtual legal screening clinic to support refugee and immigrant children facing deportation. Volunteers conducted screenings to identify potential forms of immigration relief and connect children with free legal representation.

North Carolina

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Duke Energy Corporation**	Paker Poe Adams & Bernstein	Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Wills for Low Income Seniors Legal Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers assisted clients with drafting and execution of durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and last will and testament.

Ohio

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
FirstEnergy Service Company	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius*	Community Legal Aid Services, Inc.

Wills & Advanced Directives Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers supported area residents by providing legal advice and assistance with the preparation of wills and other essential documents.

Pennsylvania

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
FirstEnergy Service Company	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius*	MidPenn Legal Services

Advanced Directives Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers assisted area residents with legal advice and assistance with preparing Power of Attorney and Living Wills, as well as Advanced Healthcare Directives.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
PPL Corporation—Office of the General Counsel		Pennsylvania Bar Association

Pennsylvania/American Bar Association Free Legal Answers (Virtual)
Volunteers supported Pennsylvania Free Legal Answers, a virtual legal advice clinic where qualifying users post civil legal questions at no cost. Volunteers reviewed submitted questions, conducted necessary research, and provided written responses to help increase access to legal information and guidance for individuals who cannot afford an attorney.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Exelon Corporation** (PECO Energy Company)	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius*	Veterans Law Center

Veteran Discharge Upgrade Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers met with veterans to discuss and analyze whether they can apply for discharge upgrades. Volunteers assisted veterans in drafting personal statements in support of their pro se discharge upgrade applications.

Virginia

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Dominion Energy	McGuireWoods^*†

Pro Bono Medical-Legal Partnership with VCU Health (In Person)
Volunteers learned about the pro bono medical-legal partnership (MLP), received CLE trainings focused on key areas, and learned how to assist those in need. CLEs were offered across the five critical legal service areas at the heart of the MLP’s work: educational advocacy, family law, housing, immigration, and life-planning documents such as guardianships, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and wills.

Wisconsin

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Alliant Energy Corporation		Legal Action of Wisconsin

Urban League of Greater Madison Background Check Clinic (Virtual & In Person)
Volunteers helped clients navigate barriers to employment, housing, and driving by reviewing their background and arrest histories to determine eligibility for record removal, expungement, or, in some cases, a pardon.

Washington, DC

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Exelon Corporation** (Pepco & BGE—DC and Baltimore Offices		Ayuda

Brief Immigration Advice and Referral Clinic (Virtual)
Volunteers provided one-on-one consultations to immigrants seeking assistance with legal issues. Using interpreter services, volunteers offered advice, made referrals to appropriate legal resources, and helped clients navigate their immigration challenges.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Edison Electric Institute		AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly

Edison Electric Institute Utility Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers assisted elderly clinic participants by helping them complete Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and utility assistance applications, set up My Social Security accounts, and conducted public benefit checkups to identify available supports.

Participating Legal Department	Law Firm Partner	Legal Services Partner
Entergy Corporation**	Eversheds Sutherland^*†	AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly

Schedule H Clinic (In Person)
Volunteers assisted elderly clients with completing Schedule H tax forms to enable them to participate in a property tax program offered by the DC Office of Tax and Revenue, which provides DC seniors with the opportunity to submit up to three years of applications for tax credit to offset significant housing costs that they may face.