Pro Bono Institute

?? Pledging to Do More In-House Pro Bono: Challenge Accepted! ?? ICYMI: In-house pro bono efforts are gaining global traction, with many legal teams making significant strides through “Challenge,” “Pledge,” and “Target” initiatives. Learn how these initiatives empower legal departments to lead by example and help bridge the access-to-justice gap on the PBEye blog: https://lnkd.in/gBK987bY

?? Save the Date: EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day is Coming! ?? We're excited to announce the 3rd Annual EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day on November 14, 2024! This impactful event brings together volunteer attorneys and legal professionals from electric and gas companies to provide pro bono legal services to underserved communities. Since its inception in 2022, EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day has engaged over 250 in-house volunteers, who have collectively assisted 425+ clients, addressing critical legal needs and creating lasting change. Organized by the Corporate Pro Bono project of PBI, this initiative shines a spotlight on the access to justice gap while fostering collaboration among in-house teams, law firms, and legal services organizations. Read more about the impact of last year’s event: https://lnkd.in/e3vWt6Rh ?? Let’s make an even bigger impact this year! Stay updated on the event's activities and impact by following #EmPOWERProBono2024. Together, we can empower communities and strengthen our commitment to pro bono work. #EmPOWERProBono2024 #ProBono #AccessToJustice #A2J #InHouseCounsel?

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month concludes, it’s essential to continue focusing on the urgent issue of domestic violence in Indigenous communities, where women face alarmingly high rates of violence and significant barriers to accessing support services. ?? Why This Matters: Over 84% of Native American and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetime, making access to crucial legal support essential for safety and healing. ?? Legislative Action and Progress: The federal POWER Act promotes pro bono legal services specifically for survivors of gender-based violence, fostering collaboration with Indigenous communities to ensure culturally relevant support. In 2022, 81% of federal judicial districts hosted POWER Act events, engaging over 43,000 Americans and addressing the unique legal needs of Indigenous populations. ?? Learn More: Read Pro Bono Institute’s latest PBEye blog post, "Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Domestic Violence in Indigenous Communities": https://lnkd.in/eZr3VGbC #DomesticViolenceAwareness #IndigenousCommunities #ProBono #POWERAct #AccessToJustice #SurvivorSupport #CommunityEngagement

????Calling all Texans!? Your voice matters! ?? Did you know that over 5 million low-income Texans are eligible for free legal assistance, but most cannot access the help they need? With 92% of low-income Americans’ civil legal needs going unmet, the Supreme Court of Texas has proposed a set of rule amendments to help bridge the justice gap in the Lone Star State. The proposed amendments would license legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to provide civil legal services to low-income Texans. ????♀? How can you help? ??♂? Community members are being invited to share their thoughts on these measures by emailing [email protected] with comments by November 1. PBI is here to provide more information, if you have questions or need additional background on nonlawyer legal service providers. ?? You can also check our recent blog post to learn more about these developments in Texas and other jurisdictions. Let’s come together to make a difference in Texas! ?? https://lnkd.in/ei3KKQzg #ProBono #TexasCommunity #AccessToJustice #ActNow?

Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga has been a trailblazer in advancing access to justice in Brazil, dedicating its pro bono efforts to some of the most pressing social issues. Their work addresses racial discrimination, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and refugee protection, leaving a profound and lasting impact on both individuals and communities. In 2023 alone, the firm provided approximately 20,000 hours of free legal assistance, handled 270 cases, and engaged over 400 legal professionals. Their comprehensive pro bono practice spans individual case defense, support for civil society organizations, strategic litigation, and impactful partnerships with both national and international entities. Thanks to Flavia Regina Souza Oliveira and Caroline Sena for sharing your insight and expertise! Listen to the latest episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNzV-QVQ #probono #a2j #socialjustice

In continuing our celebration of #ProBonoWeek, we have been highlighting the pro bono achievements of the 2024 PBI Annual Dinner award recipients. PSEG, in partnership with Gibbons P.C., McCarter & English, LLP, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, are recipients of the 2024 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award. Together, they launched the Veterans Legal Program (VLP) in 2014, offering legal assistance to veterans on issues such as child support modifications, driver’s license restoration, criminal record expungements, estate planning, eviction defense and other civil legal issues. The VLP is the first project of its kind in New Jersey and bridges a gap in existing legal services for veterans in the state. Hear more about this project and its impact on the community from PSE&G, Gibbons P.C, McCarter & English, LLP, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice: https://lnkd.in/e34CMHjf #CelebrateProBono #AccesstoJustice

As PBI celebrates #ProBonoWeek, we are spotlighting our 2024 Annual Dinner awardees, who exemplify the transformative power of pro bono work in our communities and in expanding access to justice. Paramount Global in partnership with Loeb & Loeb LLP, are recipients of the 2024 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award. Over the past 5 years, they have worked together to develop sustainable projects to address critical legal needs in the communities where they live and work, by providing pro bono legal services through both local and national legal aid organizations. The partnership’s projects range from brief advice clinics to long-term representation of pro bono clients, and cover legal issues including voting rights, humanitarian parole, SNAP benefits, veterans’ benefits, healthcare directives, small business support, and more. Learn more about the partnership between Paramount Global and Loeb & Loeb LLP and the pro bono services it provides: https://lnkd.in/gAbTKfAG ? #CelebrateProBono #AccesstoJustice

?? Join PBI for the webinar "Celebrating In-House Pro Bono Impact" on Friday, October 25 at 2 p.m. ET - REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/gsTwRx4V Corporate Pro Bono Director Alyssa Saunders will moderate a panel with speakers from Microsoft, Verizon, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. This session will highlight the vital contributions in-house legal teams make to their communities through a diverse array of pro bono initiatives, including bite-size and long-term opportunities. While this program is offered through DC Pro Bono Week, the content will be relevant to in-house counsel and legal staff across the United States. #DCProBono24 #CelebrateProBono

In celebration of #ProBonoWeek, PBI is spotlighting our 2024 Annual Dinner awardees who provide a powerful example of pro bono work and its profound impact on our communities and expanding access to justice. Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, recipient of the 2024 Pickering Award, has set a high standard in the legal community with its dedication of resources to pro bono efforts that address critical issues such as voting rights, civil liberties, racial and criminal justice, housing, women’s rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights. MTO was a charter signatory to the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge??initiative, and its attorneys have consistently devoted more than 6 percent of their billable time to pro bono work. Hear more from Munger, Tolles & Olson on their pro bono work here: https://lnkd.in/gbBYeQAi #CelebrateProBono #AccesstoJustice

?? Driving Change: The Chief Legal Officer's Perspective on Innovation and Pro Bono Read more on the PBEye blog here: https://lnkd.in/ez7z3-R4 At the 2024 Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting in Nashville, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) hosted an insightful session on the vital role of pro bono work in advancing access to justice. Moderated by Alyssa Saunders, the session featured Gayle Littleton (Exelon) and Bimal Patel (PayPal) sharing how Chief Legal Officers can drive meaningful change. ??? Key Takeaways: Core Mission: Pro bono strengthens communities and enhances the social impact of corporate legal departments. Employee Engagement: Diverse participation and opportunities foster a culture of service and boost morale. Innovative Practices: Aligning pro bono initiatives with corporate mission enhances engagement and impact. Sustainable Relationships: Building strong ties with community organizations boosts pro bono efforts. Overcoming Barriers: "Bite-size" projects, training, and partnerships help address common concerns about and barriers to participation. Thank you, Exelon and PayPal, for your leadership! ?? Legal departments looking to enhance their pro bono efforts should reach out to CPBO at [email protected] for valuable resources. Let’s drive change and make a lasting impact together! ? #ProBono #AccessToJustice #CorporateSocialResponsibility #ACCAM24