PBEye Blog - Page 21 of 67 - Pro Bono Institute

Pro Bono Work Removing Barriers to Employment

May 16, 2017

As May Day protests wind down, the issue of workers’ rights continues to linger in the public’s mind. Immigrant and LGBTQI+ worker rights were popular subjects this year, but an often overlooked issue is the immense hurdle a criminal record poses to individuals seeking employment. Although campaigns like Ban the Box are working to limit the lasting impact of a criminal record, not all states have adopted this policy. This is problematic because helping individuals clear their criminal records can dramatically increase their chances of finding work. Unfortunately, many who qualify for expungement of their records or who may obtain

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

May 15, 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 one, we answer questions from listeners about pro bono in pop culture, reading recommendations, and our “favorite” and most-requested publications. Tune in on Thursday to catch part two. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Have you rated us on iTunes yet? Would you consider doing it now? We’d appreciate feedback and it would help make it easier for others to find the show and expand the conversation about access to justice. The podcast is

“The Time to Lead is Now”

May 11, 2017

“The future will belong to those who can embrace change.” – Hilarie Bass, President-Elect, American Bar Association; Greenberg Traurig*†, Co-President We have previously reported that a video can be an innovative and engaging way to promote law firms pro bono program and demonstrate the firm’s dedication to pro bono. Similarly, a video is an eye-catching and informative way to promote legal services organizations and create awareness about needs and opportunities. This year, our friends at The Florida Bar Foundation released an inspiring video, “The Time to Lead Is Now.” The fast-paced and catchy video is a call to action and

Welcome, Greenberg Traurig, to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®

May 4, 2017

The Law Firm Pro Bono Project is pleased to announce a new signatory to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® initiative. We are excited to welcome Greenberg Traurig*† whose attorneys and staff have shown a strong dedication to pro bono work by providing a range of meaningful legal services to those in need. Since 1993, the Challenge, an initiative of PBI’s Law Firm Project, has served as a guidepost to assist major law firms in increasing their commitment to pro bono legal services. The Challenge principles are designed to offer institutional support and maximize the efficacy of law firm pro bono programs. The

The Power of Stories and Pro Bono

May 2, 2017

Long time readers of The PBEye might remember a blog post from 2014: Television and Pro Bono: An Innovative Approach. The post detailed how Viacom Inc.**, one of the world’s premier entertainment brands, combined the medium of television with the unique skills of its legal department and production staff to engage in pro bono. To increase public awareness of gender-based violence and the implications of Kenya’s 2006 Sexual Offences Act, Viacom worked with the producers of its television program, Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, to incorporate important legal information into the storyline and leverage the program to educate the Kenyan community and viewers

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

May 1, 2017

Don’t miss our latest episode of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, featuring Norah Rogers of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough*†. Norah talks to us about the firm’s pro bono program, impact litigation, efforts to help the homeless and veterans, assisting unique clients such as the Burrito Riders, and more. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Have you rated us on iTunes yet? Would you consider doing it now? We’d appreciate feedback and it would help make it easier for others to find the show and expand the conversation about access

Pro Bono Spring Break

April 27, 2017

Law schools, law firms, and public interest organizations have made tremendous progress in their efforts to inculcate the value of service and involve law students in providing meaningful pro bono. During the spring break season, a wide array of schools offered their versions of “alternative spring breaks,” during which students spent their vacation time offering pro bono work. Earlier this year on the Law Firm Project’s Podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, we the discussed Columbia Law School’s alternative spring break with Laren Spirer. Their Spring Break Pro Bono Caravans, with support from Dentons*† and others, enables law students to

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

April 24, 2017

Need something to hold you over between Stanley Cup playoff games? Tune in to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, and learn about exciting and meaningful developments in the world of law firm pro bono and access to justice. Don’t miss our latest episode featuring Hilarie Atkisson of Fenwick & West*†. Hilarie talks to us about her career, the intersection of pro bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Justice Bus, the access to justice culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, and more Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Have

Pro Bono and Pop Culture

April 20, 2017

What are you doing on Saturday night? Check out the premiere of HBO’s adaption of the best-selling novel, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The film, starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne, tells the story of an impoverished black woman whose cancer cells were used to aid in lucrative medical discoveries after she died in 1950. Meanwhile Lacks’ surviving relatives were left poor and unable to afford health insurance. Lowenstein Sandler*† provided pro bono legal assistance both to set up the Henrietta Lacks Foundation and secure it tax-exempt status. The Foundation aims to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals who

CLO Letter in Support of Funding LSC Reaches 195 Signatories

April 18, 2017

In response to The White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recommendation to eliminate federal funding for the Legal Services Corp. (LSC) for FY18, 195 chief legal officers and general counsel from across the U.S. have signed their names to a letter in support of funding LSC at $450 million for the next fiscal year. The National Law Journal pointed out that the signatories represent numerous industries and some of the country’s biggest companies. Why are so many general counsel committed to supporting LSC? As the largest funder of civil legal services in the U.S., LSC funds the legal aid