PBEye Blog - Page 36 of 68 - Pro Bono Institute

Liberia, the Magna Carta, and the Rule of Law

June 17, 2015

On June 15, thousands of people from around the world descended on a field in Runnymede in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. Although the Magna Carta was not the first time a monarch agreed to respect the rights and liberties of others, it went on to become an icon for the revolutionary concepts of due process and the rule of law. As British Prime Minister David Cameron noted at the commemoration, “Think of South Africa – of that courtroom in Rivonia. As Nelson Mandela stood in the dock, looking at

Pro Bono Matchmaking

June 11, 2015

We can’t believe it’s already been three months since pro bono leaders from law firms, legal departments, and public interest organizations from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2015 PBI Annual Conference to share ideas on how to enhance the performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of their pro bono efforts. Each year, law firm and in-house attendees make new connections and forge fruitful relationships with public interest organizations during the Pro Bono Expo Lunch and other networking opportunities throughout the Conference. For example, the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) has attended the Conference for the past

In-House Pro Bono in the News… Again!

June 9, 2015

Two more legal teams recently caught the attention of The PBEye when The National Law Journal (NLJ) released its Chicago Legal Departments of the Year Awards: Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), which was named as department of year, and McDonald’s Corporation**, recipient of top honors for pro bono. Among the many reasons ADM was selected, NLJ noted the department’s up-and-coming pro bono program. When ADM General Counsel Cameron Findlay joined the company in mid-2013, the department had no pro bono program to speak of. Since then, Findlay has prioritized pro bono and called upon members of ADM’s newly formed law

Don’t Miss Out!

June 4, 2015

It’s time to enroll or renew as a Member of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project for 2015-2016. Complete and return the enrollment form today to demonstrate your law firm’s support for access to justice and pro bono service. Submit your form before September 1 to receive a 10 percent discount. As a Member Firm, you’ll have access to resources to help you strengthen and grow your firm’s pro bono program, such as: • Expert consultative services and priority scheduling for house call visits by Project staff; • Discounted PBI Annual Conference registration fees; • Free publications, surveys,

Video: Why Do Pro Bono? Larry Bennett, Intel

June 3, 2015

Do you remember what inspired you to become an attorney? This week, we hear from Larry Bennett, patent attorney, Intel Corporation**, as he describes how using various practice skills on pro bono cases remind him of why he decided to practice law. YouTube Link ** denotes a Corporate Pro Bono Challenge® signatory

In-House Pro Bono: Kids in Foster Care

June 2, 2015

National Foster Care Month has just concluded, but the unmet legal needs of the more than 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. continue on, as do pro bono efforts to help address those needs. Such efforts include helping the more than 100,000 foster care children and families seeking adoption each year navigate those proceedings and providing the more than 23,000 children who age-out each year with legal and financial advice. The PBEye previously reported some of this work by law firms and legal services organizations. In-house counsel have also played an important role. In 2004, Pfizer Inc.** co-launched

Pro Bono Summer Reading

May 21, 2015

Interested in a good read for the upcoming long weekend? With recent attention focused on events in Baltimore, Cleveland, Ferguson, Staten Island, and beyond, look no further than Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. It’s one of the most inspiring books we’ve read this year. In his best-selling memoir, Stevenson tells the story of how he became a public interest lawyer, dedicating his career to defending the poor and the wrongly convicted and reforming our nation’s broken justice system. Among Stevenson’s many victories, which include securing

Slave Labor in Australia

May 15, 2015

According to the International Labour Organization’s 2012 Global Estimate of Forced Labour, there were an estimated 20.9 million people in forced labor around the world at any given point between 2002 and 2012. The majority of those individuals, 68 percent (14.2 million), were forced to work by private individuals or enterprise in activities such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and manufacturing. In Australia, most investigations of forced labor have related to sexual exploitation. However, in March of this year, one victim of labor exploitation secured restitution, thanks to the help of pro bono counsel from Clayton Utz. On March 27,

Why Leaders Should Do Pro Bono

May 14, 2015

We at The PBEye spend a lot of time thinking, talking, and writing about why lawyers, law firms, and legal departments should do pro bono work. In case you need yet another reason, check out a recent Huffington Post article on why it’s especially important for high-level business executives to lead by example and foster a culture of giving back in the workplace. The piece persuasively makes the case that volunteering can improve a leader’s emotional strength and on-the-job effectiveness, enhance their team’s confidence and problem-solving skills, and expand a business’s network of contacts. For many of the same reasons,

It’s in the Mail

May 7, 2015

Summer associates haven’t even arrived yet, but the next recruiting season at major law firms will be here before we know it. Many law students around the country are looking to join firms where pro bono is an integral part of the culture. Every year we are honored to be able to promote our Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories and their demonstrated commitment to pro bono. Accordingly, the Law Firm Pro Bono Project is mailing its annual Challenge poster to the career services offices of all ABA-accredited law schools. The poster lists every Challenge Signatory, raising the visibility of