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Read archived issues of The Wire here.
Share Your Stories and Memories for the PBI 30th Anniversary
The Annual Dinner will feature a special recognition of the PBI 30th anniversary. We are collecting stories, photos, and quotes to add to our PBI 30th Anniversary Timeline and related marketing materials for the Dinner. We welcome submissions from friends of PBI across the years.
Pro Bono Institute (PBI) welcomes Lindsay Ayers as the Director of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project. Lindsay brings impressive experience in law firm pro bono, previously serving as the Pro Bono Practice Manager at DLA Piper*†, where she worked closely with the DLA pro bono team and its global nonprofit, New Perimeter.
“We look forward to the valuable expertise Lindsay brings to this role, coming from a major law firm pro bono program,” said Eve Runyon, PBI President & CEO. “Her deep understanding of pro bono strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement will be an asset to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project and PBI as a whole.”
Prior to joining DLA Piper in 2022, Lindsay served as Policy Counsel at DC Justice Lab, where she developed policy strategies and worked with community stakeholders to advance criminal justice reform initiatives in the District of Columbia.
Before that, she was Director of Legal Services at Christian Legal Aid of DC, overseeing legal clinics, managing a network of more than 160 pro bono attorneys, and expanding access to legal services for low-income residents. Earlier in her legal career, Lindsay practiced in the areas of administrative, business, and employment law in Chicago.
“Throughout my career, I have seen the impact pro bono can have for individuals, communities, and the legal profession. I am excited to join PBI and lead its Law Firm Pro Bono Project and work with pro bono leaders across the profession to enhance law firm pro bono and support the broader access to justice movement,” said Lindsay.
Lindsay received a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a B.S. in Community Health, with a minor in Business Administration, from Georgia College & State University. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.
The PBI 2027 Annual Conference Call for Proposals is open through Friday, August 14. PBI welcomes timely, thought-provoking session and topic ideas to inspire collaboration, spark innovation, and enhance the delivery of pro bono legal services.
Two Ways to Contribute:
Submit a session proposal if you would like to organize or present a session at the Conference. We welcome both traditional panel presentations and interactive formats, including workshops, facilitated discussions, case studies, and peer-learning sessions.
If selected, speakers will work with PBI staff to meet Conference planning deadlines, including the preparation of CLE materials. All speakers are required to register for the Conference and will receive the lowest available registration rate for their track (In-House, Law Firm, Public Interest, or Tech & Business Affiliate).
Have an idea for a topic, trend, challenge, or speaker but don’t want to organize a session? We’d still love to hear from you. Share your suggestions through the same submission form and help us build the strongest possible program.
Law Firm Pro Bono Project membership enrollment is LIVE! Early-bird membership rates are available through August 14, 2026, and 2-year memberships enjoy additional savings. Member benefits include:
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Corporate Pro Bono CommunityThe PBI Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) Community is a virtual space for in-house pro bono leaders to meet one another, share best practices and opportunities, and ask questions of peers. On bimonthly Community Calls, in-house pro bono professionals gather for candid conversation on a high-interest topic. Participants in the CPBO Community are also invited to participate in the quarterly PBI Leadership Series. CONTACT CPBO STAFF TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND ATTEND PROGRAMS! |
Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge Report
The 2026 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Report, based on 2025 data from reporting Law Firm Challenge signatories, showed signs of stabilization in pro bono performed by law firms from 2024 to 2025 with slight declines in some areas offset by encouraging gains in others, including more law firms meeting the Challenge goal and increased charitable giving. Law Firm Challenge signatories reported performing a total of 5.14 million hours of pro bono in 2025.
READ MORE IN THE LAW FIRM PRO BONO CHALLENGE REPORT
Corporate Pro Bono Challenge Report
The 2026 Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® Report, based on 2025 data from reporting Challenge signatories, showed that overall participation increased in 2025 for both U.S. lawyers and legal staff at responding legal departments, with global pro bono engagement and collaboration with law firm partners also growing. The 2026 Report also coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) Challenge initiative and highlights the evolution of in-house pro bono into a standardized component of legal department culture and practice.
Duane Morris LLP* and Gilead Sciences developed an innovative pro bono partnership to address HIV criminalization, supporting people living with HIV who face unjust criminal charges, sex‑offender registration requirements, and other legal consequences rooted in outdated science and stigma. Together, they are driving meaningful change for individuals impacted by HIV criminalization and contributing to broader education and reform efforts.
PBI facilitated the latest virtual credit repair clinic for survivors of human trafficking, hosted by Rutan & Tucker, LLP† and the Orange County Human Trafficking Project (OCHTP), which created this clinic model three years ago. Volunteers from Rutan were joined by volunteers from the legal departments at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Prudential Financial*, and Vanguard*. An incredible network of organizations facilitated survivors’ participation in this clinic, including assisting clients with obtaining Victim Determination Documents (VDDs). PBI is grateful to these organizations for their pro bono engagement, and we extend a special thank you to Rutan for being an early leader in this clinic model and for inviting PBI to scale its impact nationally.
Please reach out to pbi@probonoinst.org if you are interested in helping organizations become VDD-authorized or if you are interested in co-hosting or participating in future Credit Repair Clinics.
CLE Credit and Pro Bono Participation: Growth in the U.S. and Beyond
An increasing number of jurisdictions in the U.S. have begun allowing attorneys to receive continuing legal education (CLE) credit for qualifying pro bono legal services. Other legal systems globally have adopted similar rules for recognizing pro bono as professional development. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG
Expanding Opportunity for Second Chances in Missouri
Missouri joined 13 states and the District of Columbia that have clean slate laws with Missouri’s set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Clean slate laws automatically seal or expunge certain offenses from an individual’s criminal record and help remove barriers to successful reentry. In addition to a broader impact for reentry, clean slate laws also open the door for pro bono engagement beyond expungement. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG
Access to Justice, AI, and the Unauthorized Practice of Law
As organizations leverage AI and other innovative approaches to address unmet legal needs, questions continue to arise regarding unauthorized practice of law. This includes recent developments in the Upsolve case, nonlawyer advocate programs, and emerging challenges for legal technology providers. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG
130+ Chief Legal Officers and General Counsel Urge Congress to Support Funding for Civil Legal Aid
The PBI Corporate Pro Bono project worked, for the 10th year, in partnership with the National Legal Aid & Defender Association to invite General Counsel and Chief Legal Officers to sign a letter calling on Congress to approve funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the cornerstone of civil legal aid in the U.S. This year, 132 legal department leaders signed the letter to Congress. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG
Check out the latest updates to PBI resources for the pro bono community.
Legal Services and Public Interest Organizations:
Strengthen Your Pro Bono Work with the PBI ExpertConnect Pro Bono Hub
The ExpertConnect Hub connects legal services and public interest organizations with expert services providers offering pro bono support across a wide range of areas, from litigation-focused expertise to organizational and operational support, all at no cost.
In our blog post, “Connecting Expertise to Impact: Expert Support for Legal Services Organizations,” we highlight:
Read more on the PBEye Blog and submit your ExpertConnect Hub request today!
* denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® signatory
** denotes a Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® signatory
† denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Project® member
