PBEye Blog - Page 49 of 67 - Pro Bono Institute

Guest Blog: Work in Progress – Pro bono and the In-house Counsel Population?

May 14, 2013

I have had the opportunity to serve on the Multijurisdictional Practice Task Force (a joint initiative of PBI and CPBO) for a little over a year. When the purpose of the Task Force was being explained to me, its mission sounded like an easy sell: help change states’ practice rules to allow in-house counsel operating on limited licenses to do pro bono. Most states have practice rules that allow in-house lawyers working locally but licensed in another jurisdiction to practice solely for their employers without going through the full bar process (“in-house counsel rules”), but many of those rules don’t

Pro Bono Isn’t Just For Litigators!

May 9, 2013

Transactional or business-related pro bono projects can offer meaningful long-term solutions for individuals, families, and communities in need. In addition, involving non-litigators is one of the most effective ways to enhance pro bono performance and broaden institutional support for pro bono. Law firms and legal departments that want to expand their pro bono programs by involving their business and transactional lawyers, however, often report difficulty in finding a steady, varied, and reliable stream of appropriate transactional pro bono matters. It is one of the most common topics of requests for expert consultation that we receive, and we can help! Recently,

Video: Why Do Pro Bono? Nicky Friedman, Allens

May 6, 2013

Most lawyers who dedicate a lot of their time to pro bono will tell you they do it because “it’s the right thing to do,” and we at The PBEye would have to agree. Lawyers are gifted with a particular set of skills that are very useful to those in our communities and especially those who are disadvantaged and cannot afford legal aid. This week we hear from Nicky Friedman, senior associate and national coordinator of pro bono and community programs at Allens, on why her firm believes it’s important to do pro bono. YouTube Link

Mother Nature Needs Pro Bono Lawyers

April 25, 2013

In the days between Earth Day and Arbor Day, our thoughts turn to spring, nature, and environmental sustainability. The increased attention given to environmental and climate change issues over the past few years has brought about local, national, and international concern for the health of our planet. In their annual reports, newsletters and on their websites, a number of companies and law firms emphasize their adoption and implementation of green business practices. Recycling programs, energy-efficient lighting, and the use of e-mail and technology instead of paper are just a few ways in which law firms and legal departments, and indeed

Pro Bono Assistance for Young Immigrants

April 23, 2013

When President Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in June 2012, undocumented immigrants were given the opportunity to step out of the shadows and finally pursue their dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, and teachers in the U.S. The program gives a two-year, renewable reprieve from deportation to undocumented immigrants who meet a variety of eligibility requirements, including those who came to the U.S. before age 16 and are in school, high school graduates, or military veterans. Potential participants also need to be under the age of 31 and have lived in the U.S. for five years.

Pro Bono and a Food Desert Near You

April 11, 2013

The PBEye closely follows pro bono efforts designed to increase access to nutritious and affordable food. As a society, we continue to pay greater attention to the food we eat and the impact it has on our health and well-being. Unhealthy eating habits and limited access to fresh food, however, are systemic issues for many Americans. This is particularly problematic because the number of poor and hungry residents in the U.S. climbed recently (47.3 million, nearly one in seven Americans, participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps). Pro bono work in this area has

Illinois In-House Pro Bono Rule Now Effective

April 9, 2013

On April 8, the Illinois Supreme Court made effective a new rule that empowers more than 400 limited license in-house attorneys in the state to provide pro bono legal services free from unnecessary restrictions. As The PBEye recently reported, the Court approved an amendment to its practice rules in March regarding limited license in-house attorneys providing pro bono legal services. The Illinois action is striking for two reasons. First, like Virginia two years ago, Illinois amended an existing rule that allowed non-locally licensed in-house counsel to provide pro bono but imposed various restrictions to their participation, such as only providing

Illinois Adopts Cutting Edge In-House Pro Bono Rule!

March 19, 2013

The PBEye is delighted to report that the Illinois Supreme Court has approved amendments to its practice rules that remove unnecessary restrictions on limited license in-house attorneys providing pro bono legal services. As a result, more than 400 limited license in-house attorneys in the state will be free to provide pro bono legal services to needy Illinoisan individuals and organizations to the same extent as other Illinois licensed lawyers. The Illinois Supreme Court is currently preparing the filing upon which the amendment will become effective. Check back with The PBEye for more details about this cutting edge new rule. For

ACC Chapters and Pro Bono

January 30, 2013

Since its inception, CPBO has worked closely with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and many local chapters of the organization on pro bono matters. ACC currently has 54 chapters, which represent more than 30,000 in-house counsel around the globe. ACC Chapters are engaged in improving access to justice in a number of ways, including coordinating pro bono projects for their members, supporting local legal services organizations, developing important connections between in-house volunteers and pro bono opportunities, and expressing the voice of the in-house bar on access to justice related issues, such as authorized in-house counsels’ right to practice pro

New Year Brings New In-House Pro Bono Practice Rules in Minnesota

January 25, 2013

On January 17, Minnesota amended its practice rules to permit “house counsel” registered under Rule 10 and “temporary house counsel” registered under Rule 9 to provide pro bono legal services to pro bono clients referred to the lawyer through an approved legal services provider. Minnesota, like most other states, permits in-house counsel licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction to work for their employer in Minnesota. Prior to the rule change, Minnesota did not allow those lawyers to also provide pro bono services. In revising its practice rules, the state joins others, like Connecticut and Iowa, that have recently