Pro bono services are not only beneficial to clients; they are also beneficial to attorneys. This week we hear from Savaria Harris, partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP*† on why she believes attorneys have an ethical obligation to pro bono, and how pro bono work can help sharpen their skills in various areas of practice. YouTube Link
Recently, PBI hosted “Tackling Mega-Challenges: Systemic Pro Bono” in conjunction with our partner West LegalEdcenter. The webinar, which is part of the Best of the 2013 Conference Series, explored ways to “move the needle” on a persistent aspect of poverty or an area of law in which underrepresentation is particularly acute to ensure that pro bono efforts are having the most significant impact possible. The program featured experts Silvia R. Argueta from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Kevin J. Curnin from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP†, and Esther F. Lardent, from the Pro Bono Institute. The lively
Don’t miss out on your chance to enroll or renew as a Member of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project for 2013-2014. Complete and return the Membership invoice today to demonstrate your law firm’s support for access to justice and pro bono service. Submit your form before September 1 to get a 10% discount. Join or renew today to receive these exciting Member benefits: • Access to the Members-only section of the Project’s Resource Clearinghouse, which provides convenient and exclusive access to PBI original publications, attorney interest surveys, law firm annual reports, best practices for program structure, and more. •
As The PBEye previously detailed, the judiciary is becoming an increasingly prominent player in the fight to advance access to justice. In order to learn more, PBI hosted a panel of distinguished judges at the closing plenary session of its 2013 Annual Conference. The panel, moderated by PBI President and CEO Esther F. Lardent, included: • Hon. William Bright—Judge, Connecticut Superior Court • Hon. Bernice B. Donald—Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit • Hon. Jonathan Lippman—Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals • Hon. Eric Washington—Chief Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals The judges discussed the
At the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Windsor, striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), marked a turning point in the nation’s struggle for LGBT equality. One notable feature of this case and others like it is the significant contribution made by pro bono lawyers, both as counsel of record and on behalf of various amici curiae. Despite the recent accomplishments, the struggle for LGBT equality marches on. The PBEye previously highlighted examples of pro bono efforts aimed at reducing bullying in schools. Additional inspiring examples of law firms collaborating with
PBI’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project is currently updating What Counts? A Compilation of Questions and Answers, a guide of frequently asked questions and explanations of “what counts” as pro bono legal services for the purpose of the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®. Since its original publication in 2003 and its revision in 2008, we have continued to receive a steady flow of new inquiries, whose inclusion in the upcoming version of What Counts will help further fine-tune our guidance regarding the definition of pro bono legal services in a principled, clear, and consistent fashion. Among some of the more frequent
Partnerships formed between public interest groups and law firms can be very beneficial to pro bono clients. This week we hear from Margaret Middleton, executive director of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center as she explains the importance of the legal community taking on pro bono projects together. YouTube Link
The National Law Journal has released its annual “Appellate Hot List,” recognizing elite law firms involved in the most significant appeals of the year with stellar records of appellate advocacy before “the Supreme Court, federal circuit courts of appeal, and state courts of last resort.” What struck us most about the Appellate and Supreme Court Practices doing “killer appellate work” is the prominent role pro bono plays in their self-described and reported accomplishments. In addition to achievements in commercial matters over the past year, the 20 firms on the Hot List were involved as pro bono counsel in a wide-range
Looking for a pro bono-themed read for the upcoming long weekend? In summers past, our suggestions have included the best-selling The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, an article on feedback loops, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic To Kill A Mockingbird. This year, we continue to be inspired by Dewey Bozella and the work of our friends at Fredrikson & Byron P.A.*†on behalf of Damon Thibodeaux, and have made selections that focus on pro bono work to exonerate the wrongfully convicted. John Hollway and Ronald Gauthier’s Killing Time: An 18-Year Odyssey From Death Row To Freedom tells the true story of
Is your firm taking full advantage of your Law Firm Pro Bono Project Member Benefits? Why not invite the Law Firm Project for a visit! The Law Firm Project provides a variety of expert consultative services to Member Law Firms. One benefit of Membership is a House Call where Law Firm Project Director Tammy Taylor and Law Firm Project Assistant Director Reena Glazer visit your city or one nearby. During the visits Project staff meet with pro bono committees, firm and office leaders, partners, and pro bono managers to discuss national trends in pro bono and to learn about innovative pro
