PBEye Blog - Page 20 of 67 - Pro Bono Institute

Clorox Honored as 2017 Best Legal Department

June 27, 2017

In early June, Corporate Counsel announced CPBO Challenge® signatory, The Clorox Company**, as one of four 2017 Best Legal Departments. The awardees were selected based on success stories indicating the department has been integral in leading innovation and change. According to Corporate Counsel’s write-up on Clorox’s award, Cleaning up with Clorox’s Legal Team, the department received the award in part because of its knack for successfully collaborating with the company’s business side. “Our hallmark is partnering with business,” says Laura Stein, Clorox’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel and CPBO’s Advisory Board Co-Chair, “The global legal implications of doing business today

Measuring the Justice Gap

June 22, 2017

Last week, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) released a report, “The Justice Gap: Measuring the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans,” which is the result of a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago of 2,000 Americans living at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. The report takes a detailed look at documents the extent of the “the justice gap,” which LSC defines “as the difference between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs.” Key findings include: Seventy-one percent of low-income households experienced at least one civil

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

June 19, 2017

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Ronald Flagg of the Legal Services Corporation. Ron talks to us about his career, his transition to LSC from private practice, his experience leading a law firm pro bono program while he was at Sidley Austin*†, LSC’s current challenges and opportunities, 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

The State of Law Firm Pro Bono

June 15, 2017

One hundred thirty-five law firms collectively reported increases in total pro bono hours, pro bono hours for those of limited means, attorney participation rates, and charitable giving to legal services organizations, according to PBI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s recently released Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Report. This annual report examines the pro bono activities of signatories to the Challenge, a unique, aspirational standard. More good news? Lives are being improved, rights are being protected, and access to justice is being advanced every day. Among the many takeaways from this year’s Report: firms are surpassing their challenge goals. Fifty-six percent of

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

June 12, 2017

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Julie Orr of Davis Wright Tremaine*†. Julie talks to us about the firm’s pro bono program, pro bono valentines and heart of justice award, medical-legal partnerships, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and more. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Be sure to rate us on iTunes! 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 of our episodes can be found

Act Now!

June 8, 2017

It’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project membership season. Complete and return the 2017-2018 membership enrollment form now to publicly demonstrate your firm’s support for pro bono. Submit your form before September 1 to receive a 10 percent discount. Why wait? Renew or join today so you don’t lose the many valuable benefits available exclusively to Law Firm Project members, such as free publications, webinars, and the members-only section in the Project’s Resource Clearinghouse. As a member firm, you will have access to a variety of additional services and resources designed to help you create and maintain a successful pro bono program, such as expert consultative services and discounted registration

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

June 5, 2017

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Bill Belitsky of Paul Hastings*†. Bill talks to us about why pro bono isn’t just for litigators, his career, the firm’s pro bono program, and more. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Be sure to rate us on iTunes! 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 of our episodes can be found here. Listen along and let us know

Pro Bono for Mother Nature

June 1, 2017

As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, we are all eager to head outside and enjoy the summer season. Spending time outdoors reminds us how valuable and important it is to preserve our natural environment. As we have previously reported, there are many opportunities that bypass both traditional and business conflicts for pro bono lawyers to use their legal skills to further environmental protections. A number of Law Firm Pro Bono Project member firms and Challenge® signatories are devoting significant time and resources to eco pro bono work. Notable examples include: Baker McKenzie*† represented the National Resources

Pro Bono Summer Reading

May 25, 2017

Interested in a good read for the upcoming long weekend? Check out Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Harvard University Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Justice and Poverty Project, Matthew Desmond. It’s been described by The New York Times as “an astonishing book,” and we agree. Desmond takes readers into the heart and homes of eight families in Milwaukee, America’s fourth poorest city, as they struggle to maintain their housing. Using on-the-ground research and data, Desmond explores poverty, economic exploitation, income inequality, housing, and race at a time when 1 in 8 tenants have faced involuntary

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

May 22, 2017

Don’t miss the latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, “You’ve Got Mail.” In part two, the Law Firm Pro Bono Project answers questions from listeners about the 2017 PBI Conference, what’s keeping us busy these days, and our upcoming annual Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® initiative. Do you have questions about law firm pro bono? Send them to us at probono@probonoinst.org and they may be featured on an upcoming episode. Feel free to also share your comments, thoughts, feedback, and suggestions. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour