Last Call: Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Reporting

The Law Firm Pro Bono Project is still accepting Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® data for the 2014 calendar year. Time is running out, so act quickly! Reporting is easier than ever. This year, we have issued a more streamlined survey with fewer mandatory questions. Signatories need only provide information about their pro bono hours, pro bono hours provided to those of limited means, and attorney participation, although we welcome responses to the optional questions as well. We have also prepared a new, user-friendly, comprehensive FAQ to make responding straight-forward and efficient. Thank you to those who have already submitted

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One-Stop for All Your Law Firm Pro Bono Resource Needs

Are you new to the Law Firm Pro Bono Project’s Resource Clearinghouse? Could you use a refresher on what resources we have to offer? The Law Firm Pro Bono Project has released a catalog that provides a sampling of the available publications and materials. Law Firm Pro Bono Project Members recently received a copy of this new catalog in the mail. Others may contact Law Firm Pro Bono Project Assistant Eva Richardson to request a copy. The Resource Clearinghouse is a one-stop, online resource for publications, best practices, surveys, model policies, and other materials on law firm pro bono. The

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Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Reporting Is Now Open!

Reporting season for the 2014 calendar year is now open. We have emailed unique survey links to all Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories, so be sure to check your spam filter if you did not receive the email. The deadline for reporting is February 27. This year, we have issued a more streamlined survey with fewer questions; we are only requiring that Signatories provide information about their pro bono hours, pro bono hours provided to those of limited means, and attorney participation. We have also prepared a new, user-friendly, comprehensive FAQ to make responding easy and efficient. Since 1993,

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New Jersey, New Year, New In-House MJP Rule!

Effective January 1, the New Jersey Supreme Court adopted Rule 1:27-2(g), which empowers non-locally licensed in-house counsel registered to work in-state for their employers to also provide pro bono services as volunteers with approved organizations. Previously, non-locally licensed lawyers in New Jersey could provide pro bono services under a practice rule that authorized all out-of-state lawyers to engage in pro bono. However, this rule required not only that the volunteer attorney work with an approved organization, but that the lead attorney of the organization file a letter with the New Jersey Supreme Court and that the volunteer be supervised by a

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Farewell and Good Luck to Bob Dell!

We at The PBEye bid farewell to longtime Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins*† Bob Dell who has retired from the firm. Bob led the firm for two decades before officially retiring December 31. As a member of PBI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project Advisory Committee, Bob has been a great supporter of pro bono over the years and a dear friend to PBI. We wanted to share with you this touching video from Latham & Watkins that highlights Bob’s stellar career and includes comments from his colleagues on his commitment to pro bono. We wish Bob well in his

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Video: Why Do Pro Bono? Regina Hopkins, DC Bar

Are you looking for ways to give back to your community? Pro bono is a great start. This week, we hear from Regina Hopkins, assistant director for community economic development, DC Bar, as she explains why pro bono plays an important role in enhancing our communities. YouTube Link

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Cold Outside? Heat Up with Pro Bono

Earlier this week, The National Law Journal released its annual Pro Bono Hot List, which showcases significant and noteworthy pro bono efforts at major law firms. This year’s issue recognized 10 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories and/or Law Firm Pro Bono Project Member Firms for their inspiring and exceptional pro bono initiatives: Arnold & Porter*† (litigating two significant voter identification cases); Chadbourne & Parke*† (providing legal help to immigrant youth fleeing Central America and Mexico); Crowell & Moring* (assisting those affected by unfair sentencing laws in clemency cases); Farella Braun + Martel* (defending a gun safety ordinance in state

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Great Causes, Great Work

We at The PBEye wanted to share this inspiring video from our friends at Morrison & Foerster*†.  Highlighting the firm’s 85,000+ hours of pro bono in 2013, the video explores the current crisis in access to justice and the important role that pro bono plays in helping close the justice gap. Watch above as the attorneys featured in the video explain what it means to be “MoFo.” † denotes a Member of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project * denotes a Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® signatory

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‘Tis the Season…for Challenge Reporting!

Reporting season for the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® will open in January, and Challenge Signatories should be on the lookout for an email with your unique survey link. The deadline for reporting data for calendar year 2014 is February 27. Each year, Challenge Signatories provide a brief, confidential report to the Law Firm Project on their progress in meeting the Challenge. The individual firm data is kept confidential, but each report provides the basis for critically important aggregate statistics about trends in law firm pro bono. Among other things, Challenge Signatories aspire to devote a majority of their pro bono

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ACE Group Aces the Launch of its Pro Bono Program

On November 17th, ACE Group Holdings, Inc. launched its formal pro bono program with a CLE presentation on the ethics rules relevant to in-house pro bono.  Like a number of other legal departments, including Towers Watson & Co. and PNC Bank, ACE called on CPBO to assist.  CPBO Director Eve Runyon presented once again, alongside longtime in-house pro bono supporter Susan Hackett, chief executive and chief legal officer, Legal Executive Leadership, LLC. The live event was broadcast from ACE’s offices in Philadelphia to its satellite offices in Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, and New Jersey. The presentation began with a warm welcome

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