The PBEye recently had a chance to speak with Bruce Goldstein, executive director of the nonprofit Farmworker Justice, to learn about what the organization does and, of course, how pro bono attorneys can help. We learned some interesting information about the state of many farmworkers and what Farmworker Justice is doing to promote their interests. Among other things, the organization works to influence immigration policy to help undocumented workers attain legal immigration status, improve working wages and conditions, and build coalitions among pro farmworker organizations. And of course, Bruce mentions several ways in which pro bono attorneys assist. YouTube Link

The PBEye recently had the privilege of meeting with Appleseed Executive Director Betsy Cavendish who has guided the organization through a number of social justice programs, particularly in the areas of financial access, education, and immigrant rights — and has a unique perspective on the issues. The PBEye snagged Cavendish for a few minutes to talk about trends in pro bono through the recession from the perspective of a public interest organization that works with law firms and legal departments to help close the justice gap on daily basis. We’ve shared her thoughts on the growth of pro bono work through the recession,