PBEye Blog - Page 27 of 67 - Pro Bono Institute

Making Democracy Work

August 25, 2016

Voting is at the heart of our democracy, yet our voting system remains deeply flawed. A number of prominent civil rights and public interest groups are leading non-partisan efforts to ensure that every eligible voter can vote and that every proper vote is counted. Pro bono lawyers are often at the forefront of legal efforts to cure legal flaws in the system, which threaten the accuracy, legitimacy, and fairness of the voting process. Lawyers have important roles to play at all levels of the election protection and reform processes – crafting legislation, enforcing voting laws, researching legal developments, monitoring the

Guest Blog: Pro Bono Spotlight on AIG

August 23, 2016

We at The PBEye are inspired every day by the Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® signatories. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the CPBO Challenge® initiative, we are showcasing some of their projects with the hope that they inspire you, too. Hundreds of children will be trick or treating more safely this Halloween thanks to AIG** colleague Shama Elliott. Elliott, an Intellectual Property (IP) Manager in the Global Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, and Government Affairs department, assisted Food Allergy Research Education (FARE) with securing its trademark registrations for the Teal Pumpkin Project design (pictured). This distinct pumpkin design logo is

Salary “Wars”

August 18, 2016

Here we go again. In early June, Cravath, Swaine & Moore announced that it was increasing starting salaries for associates from $160,000 to $180,000, the first material hike in almost a decade. (The last time law firms made significant changes to the associate compensation scale was in 2007, and before that it was 1999.) Predictably, Cravath’s move triggered similar raises with firms announcing matching compensation scales. As the legal market continues to evolve, the consequences of the pay increases remain unsettled, including their impact on minimum billable hour requirements. Whatever actions law firms take, it is critically important that they

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

August 15, 2016

Need some listening material for your end of Summer vacation? 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 recent interview with Ben Weinberg of Dentons US*†. Ben talks to us about his favorite moments as a lawyer, the firm’s entrepreneurial approach to developing its probono docket, his pro bono role models, and more. Subscribe to the Pro Bono Happy Hour in iTunes. Have you rated us on iTunes yet? Would you

Cutting Edge Pro Bono: Patent Law and Low-Income Inventors

August 12, 2016

Over the past several years, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Pro Bono Program, working with partners across the U.S., has offered unique pro bono opportunities that engage lawyers to help low-income inventors apply for and secure patents. The first client-side patent pro bono program to assist low-income inventors in prosecuting patents was initially piloted in Minnesota with attorneys from Smiths Medical and Patterson Thuente Pedersen, among others. Since then, the Patent Pro Bono Program has become a nationwide effort, available in 47 states. For low-income inventors, the impact of pro bono assistance is significant. A patent can be extremely

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late To Save!

August 11, 2016

Dozens of firms have already become Law Firm Pro Bono Project members for 2016-2017. These firms have publically demonstrated their leadership and commitment to pro bono service and access to justice, and we are grateful for their support. Submit your firm’s enrollment form before September 1 to receive a 10% discount. As a member firm, you will have exclusive access to resources to help ensure the health and vitality of your pro bono program, such as expert consultative services; discounted registration for every individual attending the PBI Annual Conference; free access to live webinars and on-demand programming with our network

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

August 8, 2016

Looking for an inspiring pro bono opportunity? Tune in to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, for a special episode about supporting survivors of domestic violence. One in four women and one in seven men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Don’t miss our interview with Spencer Cantrell, Legal Access Coordinator of JCADA (Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse). JCADA’s mission is to support, educate, and prevent future generations from suffering abuse by raising awareness. Its services are provided without regard to ability, background, faith, gender, and sexual orientation. Spencer

Guest Blog: Legal Pro Bono Project Helping Those in Need

August 4, 2016

We at The PBEye are inspired every day by the Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® signatories. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the CPBO Challenge® initiative, we are showcasing some of their projects and letting them inspire you too. PNC Bank** Legal’s Pro Bono Project is just two years old, but it’s already made a big difference in the lives of those who otherwise could not afford to pay for legal services. With 30 engagements in the second half of 2014 and more than 70 in 2015, the Project has surpassed its goals. Those numbers also show the program is

The Power of “Defaults”

July 28, 2016

Traditionally, economic theory has treated people as wholly rational actors – when presented with a choice, we choose the utility-maximizing option, regardless of what the default or status quo might be. Recent social science research has shown that real people don’t always act so rationally; we are influenced by social pressures. One of the most powerful norms that drive behavior are default rules. As Cass Sunstein describes them, defaults are invisible “nudges.” They don’t force us to choose one way or another, but they can make us lean in a particular direction. The impact that defaults can have on individual decision-making

It’s Pro Bono Podcast Monday

July 25, 2016

Feeling overwhelmed at work and need some tips on how to manage your time? Tune in to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s podcast, the Pro Bono Happy Hour, for a special episode about time management for lawyers and legal professionals. Don’t miss our interview with Meg Spencer Dixon of Spencer Consulting. Meg talks about why time management is critical and offers practical tips and techniques for how lawyers and legal professionals can better manage their time. Check out the episode and learn how you can take ownership of your workload to maximize your time for pro bono and promoting