The Pro Bono Wire

The Pro Bono Wire is PBI’s online newsletter. We encourage Law Firm, In-House, and Public Interest pro bono leaders as well as other interested stakeholders to sign up to receive this valuable resource. Members of the Press are also encouraged to receive The Wire. To subscribe to The Wire, click here.

Read archived issues of The Wire here.

May 2025

Financial & Insurance Industries Unite for Sixth Annual Financial Institution Pro Bono Day

April 24, 2025, marked the sixth annual Financial Institution Pro Bono Day® (FIPBD®) event, led by Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), the global in-house project of PBI, in collaboration with 41 legal departments from the financial and insurance sectors. Pro bono leaders from legal departments, in partnership with law firms and legal services organizations, organized 70 pro bono service and training opportunities, continuing to expand access to justice through the delivery of vital legal services to underserved communities.

More than 1,100 financial and insurance company volunteers and their partners came together to address critical legal needs in their communities. Almost 800 in-house attorneys and legal staff participated in a FIPBD event, offering legal support and guidance on a wide range of issues affecting low-income and marginalized individuals. An additional 350 law firm volunteers joined their in-house colleagues.

CPBO extends sincere thanks to all volunteers, legal departments, law firms, and legal services partners who contributed to the success of #FIPBD2025. Together, we are #ProBonoProud to expand access to justice and foster a culture of service within the financial and insurance sectors—one client, one clinic, and one success at a time. READ MORE IN THE FULL 2025 FIPBD EVENT RECAP

SIGNATORY SHOWCASE

Resilience and Representation: A Legal Path Forward for Asylum Seekers

In the face of a growing humanitarian need, Stinson LLP* has stepped up with a powerful response. Through its Deinard Legal Clinic – the nation’s oldest firm-led medical legal partnership – Stinson launched a pro se asylum project to support newly arrived West African asylum seekers, primarily from Guinea and Liberia.

With trusted partners The Advocates for Human Rights and Community University Health Care Center, Stinson attorneys and staff have assisted more than 100 asylum seekers with filings and legal guidance, provided trauma-informed support with translation in multiple languages, helped unaccompanied minors secure Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and co-authored a United Nations stakeholder report on human rights abuses in Guinea. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG

ICYMI: Submit a Request to the PBI ExpertConnect Pro Bono Hub

The PBI ExpertConnect Pro Bono Hub is an exciting pilot program designed to connect pro bono and public interest legal teams with expert services. By offering specialized support in areas like forensic accounting, e-discovery, case management, and translation, the ExpertConnect Hub empowers legal teams tackle complex cases, better serve their clients, and advance access to justice in the communities that need it most.

Requesting pro bono expert services is simple and easy:

  1. Review the Guidelines: Understand the process and eligibility for request expert support through the ExpertConnect Hub.
  2. Assess Your Needs: Identify the type of expert support required and get client consent.
  3. Submit the Request: Complete PBI’s simple form detailing your project and required expertise.

ExpertConnect Hub providers like Charles River Associates, Relativity, Insight Economics, and StoneTurn are already making a difference. Please share the ExpertConnect Hub with public interest and pro bono legal teams you know and encourage them to submit a request! LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXPERTCONNECT HUB

PBEYE BLOG

Bridging the Justice Gap in Legal Deserts: Community Justice Workers and Legal Advocates in Arizona

Arizona is among the states with the lowest number of attorneys per capita, and the disparity is only exacerbated in more rural areas of the state. To tackle this access to justice challenge, Arizona is taking measures to bridge this growing divide through the creation of a community justice worker (CJW) and community legal advocate (CLA) program — a way for non-lawyers to help residents meet legal needs where representation is scarce or unattainable. Arizona’s model is tailored to the needs of Arizonans and offers a blueprint for other states to reimagine access to justice for marginalized and rural communities. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG

The Role of Pro Bono in Land and Environmental Justice in Hawaiʻi

Known as a tropical paradise, Hawaiʻi is a beautiful home to its residents and a dream destination for many. But behind the postcard image are significant environmental harms, including soil degradation and water pollution, that are a legacy of plantations in Hawai’i. The resulting challenges to the health, safety, and livelihoods of Native Hawaiians and others who call Hawai‘i home are further complicated by limited access to legal resources. Pro bono service has played an important role in addressing these challenges, empowering Native Hawaiian communities to navigate legal systems, protect their rights, and advocate for sustainable solutions to land and environmental issues. READ MORE ON THE PBEYE BLOG

Updated Infographic and Guide for In-House Pro Bono

CPBO publishes and updates a collection of infographics and guides focused on building and maintaining in-house pro bono programs. View the recently updated infographic and guide below, and stay tuned for additional resource updates.

PBI and Partners Launch Scam Justice Legal Clinic

The Scam Justice Legal Clinic (SJLC) was launched at an event recognizing National Scam Survivor Day in early May. SJLC is a novel partnership between Amazon, the Better Business Bureau, Davis, Wright, Tremaine*†, and PBI. PBI is proud to be part of SJLC leveraging our expertise and network to help mobilize legal professionals in providing pro bono legal services to scam survivors.

When the Scam Justice Legal Clinic evolves beyond the pilot phase, we look forward to welcoming pro bono volunteers from additional organizations to join this effort. LEARN MORE ABOUT SJLC HERE

Expert Services Highlighted at ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference

Erin Palmer, Associate Director, Corporate Pro Bono project, moderated the session, “Building Bridges: Enhancing Impact Through Strategic Partnerships with Experts,” at the American Bar Association/National Legal Aid & Defender Association Equal Justice Conference in San Francisco, with the following panelists:

  • Lisa Q. Dane, Charles River Associates
  • Lesley Johannsen, Sanctuary for Families
  • Dara Sheinfeld, Davis Polk & Wardwell
  • Beth Hofmeister, The Legal Aid Society
  • Samantha R. DiDomenico, Stout

The panel explored how companies, law firms, and legal services organizations can partner with expert consultants providing pro bono and low bono services to strengthen pro bono efforts and expand access to justice. From investigative support in individual matters to economic analysis in impact litigation to strategic assessments for organizational growth, the conversation underscored the value of collaboration on pro bono matters both big and small. The discussion also highlighted practical, cross-sector strategies to better serve low-income and marginalized communities. Learn more about the expert services available through the PBI ExpertConnect Pro Bono Hub.

Save the Date for the PBI 2025 Annual Dinner

Monday, October 27, 2025

Gotham Hall, New York

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

Pro Bono Institute®, PBI®, Law Firm Pro Bono Project®and CPBO® are registered trademarks of Pro Bono Institute