Pro Bono Institute

🗣️ 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 rulescomments@txcourts.gov 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 cpbo@probonoinst.org for valuable resources. Let’s drive change and make a lasting impact together! ✨ #ProBono #AccessToJustice #CorporateSocialResponsibility #ACCAM24

🌟 Exploring Nonlawyer Providers to Enhance Access to Justice in DC 🌟 The DC Courts are considering proposals to allow trained nonlawyers to provide legal assistance for residents facing civil legal challenges, aligning with similar efforts in states. 🔍 Why This Matters: Access to Justice Gap: A staggering 75-97% of individuals in certain civil cases in DC do not have legal representation, often due to cost barriers and limited resources. Innovative Approaches: The DC Civil Legal Regulatory Reform Task Force is exploring proposals to use trained nonlawyers—like licensed paraprofessionals and community justice workers—to address urgent legal needs in housing, family law, and public benefits. Broader Landscape: Similar initiatives are underway in other states, including Texas, to enhance access to justice for underserved communities and improve overall court efficiency. 🗣️ Get Involved: The DC Task Force is seeking input through: Surveys: Online surveys for legal and social service professionals and community members are open until October 11. Focus Groups: Join focus groups on October 16 and 21 to discuss the proposals in detail and share your thoughts on nonlawyer assistance. Check out Pro Bono Institute’s latest PBEye blog post, “Exploring Nonlawyer Providers to Enhance Access to Justice in DC,” and join the discussion on how nonlawyer assistance can improve access to justice for underserved populations: https://lnkd.in/eDAFfzAs #AccessToJustice #ProBono #LegalInnovation #CommunityEngagement #NonlawyerProviders #LegalAid

The Pro Bono Institute 2024 Annual Dinner was a great celebration of pro bono achievements! It was inspiring to see New York’s Gotham Hall filled with leaders dedicated to improving access to justice. Thank you to our Co-Chairs Tonya Robinson, (former) Vice Chair, General Counsel and Secretary, KPMG US LLP, and David Zapolsky Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy and General Counsel, Amazon, whose leadership made the night such a success. We celebrated the exceptional pro bono efforts of our award recipients through the stories they shared of their programs, projects, and the individuals they have helped. The 2024 award recipients are listed below, and learn more about their pro bono work here: https://lnkd.in/e6NhcP7y Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Paramount Global, in partnership with Loeb & Loeb LLP; and PSEG in partnership with Gibbons P.C., McCarter & English, LLP, and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice

Are you in Nashville for the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting? Be sure to stop by Corporate Pro Bono project booth in the exhibit hall! We will be here until 6:30 pm today honoring pro bono royalty 👑 – come by, say hi, pick up a ring pop and bookmark, and find out the many great resources CPBO has available for your in-house pro bono program! Be sure to check out the session moderated by PBI on Driving Change: The Chief Legal Officer’s View on Innovation and Pro Bono, on Tuesday, October 8, 2:45-4:15 pm. We will host two pro bono leaders: Gayle Littleton, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary at Exelon and Bimal Patel, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at PayPal. They will discuss how they promote innovation through their pro bono programs and align their efforts to further their companies’ impact. Sure to be a great session! #ProBonoProud #ACCAM24