Pro Bono Happy Hour: Recent Episodes
Pro Bono Institute
Lively conversations about law firm pro bono news, infrastructure, and best practices featuring insightful and entertaining expert guests from Law Firm Pro Bono Project Member Firms and Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories.
Through an innovative pro bono partnership, Duane Morris LLP* and Gilead Sciences are combatting HIV criminalization, supporting people living with HIV who face unjust criminal charges, sex offender registry requirements and other legal consequences rooted in outdated science and stigma.
In this Challenge Signatory Showcase episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, Nihad Mansour, Associate Director of the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Project and Innovation Specialist, is joined by Katharyn I. Christian Voit, Pro Bono Special Counsel at Duane Morris, and Joel Silver, Vice President of Legal at Gilead Sciences, to discuss their partnership on this powerful pro bono initiative.
At the PBI 2026 Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C., Nihad Mansour, host of the PBI Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, and Alicia Aiken, host of the Practising Law Institute Pursuing Justice podcast, recorded interviews with Conference attendees.
This special, collaborative episode features inspiring pro bono stories and insights from a few of those interviewees, including Sirena Castillo (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips), Sara Ghadiri (Chapman and Cutler), Elba Gutiérrez Castillo (Greenberg Traurig), Sateesh Nori (LawDroid), Jim Sandman (Penn Carey Law), Brian Soja (LPL Financial) and Angela Vigil (Baker McKenzie).
Corebridge Financial partners with the Alliance for Children’s Rights in Southern California to help children in foster care find permanent homes through adoption and legal guardianship. Through this initiative, Corebridge attorneys and paralegals prepare adoption documents and represent families in court, ensuring adoptions are finalized on National Adoption Days. Their work has brought joy to countless families, strengthened collaboration across legal and compliance teams, and provided critical support to children navigating difficult transitions. This effort underscores how pro bono service can transform lives, build community, and create lasting impact one family at a time.
In this Signatory Showcase episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, Nihad Mansour, PBI Associate Director of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project, is joined by Sarah Baldwin, Chief Counsel of the Corporate Legal Team, Mitchell M. Chupack, Associate General Counsel of Institutional Markers, and Kyoko Rossman, Senior Director of Legal Services and Individual Retirement, at Corebridge Financial.
Kramer Levin’s commitment to justice is powerfully exemplified in its pro bono work to overturn the wrongful conviction of Anthony Hall, who spent 26 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Through relentless legal advocacy, strategic litigation, and an impactful partnership with Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, the firm fought to expose critical flaws in the case – from unreliable eyewitness testimony to systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Their unwavering dedication not only helped secure Hall’s freedom but also underscored the transformative power of pro bono work in changing lives and addressing injustice.
In this Challenge Signatory Showcase episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, Nihad Mansour, Assistant Director, Law Firm Pro Bono Project, is joined by David Alexander, Litigation Associate at Kramer Levin. Listen to hear more about this inspiring work!
Accenture has been a leader in expanding legal access, with impactful projects like Disability:In and a name change pro bono initiative in Brazil with NGO Casa Florescer. These efforts highlight how in-house legal teams can structure and deliver different pro bono legal services, even within the same corporation.
In this Challenge Signatory Showcase episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, Nihad Mansour, Assistant Director, Law Firm Pro Bono Project, interviewed Derek Bolka, Contract Specialist and Project Lead for Disability:In at Accenture, and Luciana Arana, Senior Contracting Counsel at Accenture Brazil. Listen to hear more about their respective pro bono efforts.
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.
In this episode of the Pro Bono Happy Hour podcast, we’re joined by Flavia Regina Oliveira, Pro Bono Partner and Partner of Social Impact and Philanthropy, along with Caroline Sena, Litigation Associate in Mattos Filho’s 100% Pro Bono Practice Group. Listen to hear more about this inspiring work!
The St. Louis Pro Bono Partnership is a remarkable collaboration involving three key organizations, Citigroup Inc. (Citi), Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, and the local legal aid organization, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, that are focused on providing legal support to underserved communities. The partnership is a testament to the impact that can be achieved through collaboration. From elderly clients to domestic violence victims and micro-entrepreneurs, this decade-long initiative has made a significant difference in the community.
We spoke with Emily Elam, Head of Legal Strategic Priorities at Citi, for this Signatory Showcase podcast. Find out more about this exemplary collaboration.
In 2022, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), the global in-house project of Pro Bono Institute (PBI),partnered with the legal department of Entergy Corporation and Edison Electric Institute (EEI) to establish EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day. EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day is an annual day of pro bono service for volunteer attorneys and legal staff from electric and gas companies. For the past two years on EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day, Entergy has offered significant pro bono events and opportunities across jurisdictions engaging their pro bono volunteers in innovative ways.
We spoke with Christy Kane, Pro Bono Counsel at Entergy, for this Signatory Showcase episode. Listen to hear more about Entergy’s participation, community, and leadership around PBI’s annual EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day. The third annual EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day will take place on November 14, 2024.
In partnership with The Bronx Defenders, Cleary attorneys have been supporting the launch of New York State’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licensing program. The first of its kind, this program prioritizes licensing individuals affected by the past criminalization of marijuana use. We spoke with Cleary Gottlieb Pro Bono Counsel, Katherine Hughes, for this PBEye Signatory Showcase podcast. Listen to Hughes speak about creating a successful program in New York that could serve as a blueprint for other states when looking towards cannabis legalization from a social equity and social justice perspective.
In 2023, 148 members of GSK's Legal and Compliance Department global pro bono program served 160 clients,providing over 1200 hours of service. Since 2015, GSK has partnered with Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP), an organization that provides free legal services to individuals and families who experience or face homelessness in Philadelphia. GSK lawyers and legal professionals assist with securing birth certificates for clients which addresses homelessness and enables them to apply for housing. GSK also participates in HAP’s SOAR (SSI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) project to obtain expedited rulings on Supplemental Security Income and SSDI cases to help provide income to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability.
We spoke with GSK Assistant General Counsel, Andy Boczkowski, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast. Listen to how GSK got involved with HAP.
In 2021, Intel Corporation partnered with legal service organizations across the country to provide pro bono assistance through expungement clinics in support of their commitment to racial justice.
With unique volunteer opportunities available for all staff, Intel was able to bring in a much larger group of volunteers beyond attorneys. Their teams quickly saw an overwhelmingly positive impact within communities both socially and financially. Since 2022, Intel has worked with well over 150 clients across the U.S. who have been successful in getting their dismissal petitions granted.
For our latest Signatory Showcase series podcast episode, we spoke with Eva Almirantearena, Intel's Vice President and Associate General Counsel in Antitrust and Commercial Litigation Group about Intel’s incredible pro bono work expunging criminal records.
ADM and Skadden formed a pro bono partnership in 2019 to create a series of pro bono days of service, including clinics hosted in Skadden’s office. Since then, they have provided pro bono legal assistance to an array of clients – and over the years the partnership has averaged in assisting 12 to 40 individuals during each clinic. ADM and Skadden have worked most recently with the National Immigrant Justice Center to assist immigrants who had obtained asylee or refugee status in filing their green card applications. Find out more about this impactful project.
Religious Discrimination In a pro bono case Milbank represented All Muslim Association of America (AMAA), a non-profit that provides low-cost burial and funeral services to Muslims in the DMV area, against a county in Virginia that created an ordinance that specifically made it impossible for AMAA to put a cemetery on their property. Milbank prevailed, resulting in the county rolling back that provision and awarding the client a large settlement in damages.
We spoke with Milbank LLP Special Counsel, Melanie Westover Yanez, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast.
On June 28, 2021, in a victory for racial justice, a settlement was announced on behalf of four residents of Baltimore’s Harlem Park, a predominately Black neighborhood, who filed a federal court lawsuit against the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) and former Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. The residents’ lawsuit charged that their state and federal constitutional rights were violated during a six-day, multi-block lockdown of their neighborhood following the shooting death of Detective Sean Suiter.
We spoke with Crowell & Moring Partner, Daniel Wolff, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast.
Robins Kaplan
Pro Bono and Indigenous People
In a pro bono case that has drawn national attention, Robins Kaplan sued the federal government on behalf of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services closed the only emergency room on the Rosebud Reservation. On behalf of the Tribe, Robins Kaplan attorneys argued that the closure of the emergency room violated the federal government’s treaty duty to provide the Tribe with adequate health care services.
We spoke with Robins Kaplan Partner, Tim Billion, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast. Listen to how Robins Kaplan got involved, and how they won the case for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
Robins Kaplan
Pro Bono and Indigenous People
In a pro bono case that has drawn national attention, Robins Kaplan sued the federal government on behalf of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services closed the only emergency room on the Rosebud Reservation. On behalf of the Tribe, Robins Kaplan attorneys argued that the closure of the emergency room violated the federal government’s treaty duty to provide the Tribe with adequate health care services.
We spoke with Robins Kaplan Partner, Tim Billion, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast. Listen to how Robins Kaplan got involved, and how they won the case for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
In this episode, PBI interviews Chris Walters, Senior Pro Bono Counsel at Reed Smith. Chris describes Reed Smith’s successful appeal in the Ninth Circuit of a lower court’s refusal to grant Reed Smith attorney fees in conjunction with the firm’s pro bono representation of a mistreated prisoner in the California correctional system. Listen and learn about best practices when litigating claims for attorney fees in prisoner pro bono cases and how this precedent affects the pro bono community.
For 14 years, Mexico Appleseed has been growing a network of law firms and corporate counsel engaging in pro bono in Mexico. In this episode, NihadMansour, Assistant Director, Law Firm Pro Bono Project® interviews Lisa Dewey, Pro Bono Partner, in DLA Piper’s Washington DC office, Maru Cortazar Executive Director of Mexico Appleseed and Gabriela Alaña, Partner, in DLA Piper’s Mexico City Office. Hear how Mexico Appleseed and DLA Piper have been working together to expand access to justice through pro bono in Mexico.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has given rise to many legal needs for those in Ukraine. In this episode, Nihad Mansour, Assistant Director, Law Firm Pro Bono Project® interviews Lauren Worsek, Director of Pro Bono Initiatives at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG). Hear more about L4GG’s pro bono program offering assistance to those in Ukraine and how law firms and corporations can get involved.
In honor of May Mental Health Awareness Month, PBI takes a look at what one firm, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, is doing to support health & wellness through pro bono. In this episode, Nihad interviews Jonathan Baum, Senior Counsel and Director of Pro Bono Services, and Janet Hoffman, Senior Counsel and Pro Bono Counsel. Hear ways in which Katten is embracing pro bono and supporting mental health and well-being.
Since 2020, many law firms have incorporated new racial justice efforts into their pro bono programs. Some have hired pro bono professional staff whose primary focus is to expand the firm’s racial justice work. Others have expanded the roles and responsibilities of their pro bono professionals to include racial justice. In this episode, hear from pro bono professional staff focused on racial justice: Diane Lucas, Pro Bono Counsel for Racial Justice Initiative at Davis Polk, Quinncy McNeal, Pro Bono Counsel at Husch Blackwell, and Corrine Irish, heading pro bono as a Partner at Squire Patton Boggs. Learn how the establishment of these pro bono professional roles has incorporated racial justice and pro bono to contribute to the firm’s long-term racial justice commitment.
As we wind down 2021 and gear up for 2022, PBI takes a look back at 2020, which was an extraordinary year for legal pro bono, despite the many challenges. In this episode, Nihad interviews members of the PBI Team, Eve Runyon, President & CEO, Erik Swenson, Director of Law Firm Pro Bono Project and Alyssa Saunders, Director of Corporate Pro Bono. Hear Eve, Erik, and Alyssa share reflections on the 2021 Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Initiative and the 2021 Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) Challenge® Report which feature Law Firm and CPBO Challenge signatory data from the 2020 calendar year. Will the trends identified in 2020 continue? Join us to learn more.
In this episode, PBI interviews access to justice leaders, Tony West, Karen Lash, and Maha Jweied who all played an integral part in leading the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) first office for Access to Justice, which was formally established in 2016. Hear Tony, Karen, and Maha share more about the exciting recent announcements by the President and Attorney General on relaunching some of the work of the former Office for Access to Justice and what this means for the Office for Access to Justice and the White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR).
"We have to challenge the status quo and model the way." In this episode, PBI interviews Jo-Ann Wallace, President and CEO of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA), to learn more about NLADA’s continued efforts to assist civil legal aid, public defenders and client and community advocates through the pandemic. Hear how NLADA is addressing unemployment benefits, remote court systems, racial equity, the eviction crisis, and more. This is the seventh episode in a special podcast from Pro Bono Institute illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to Covid-19.
In this episode, PBI interviews Ron Flagg, President of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), to learn more about the LSC eviction study that launched in September 2020. With many out of work and unable to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic, the nation finds itself in a heightened eviction crisis. Hear more about the LSC eviction study and what steps LSC is taking to prepare for and address this emergency. This is the sixth episode in a special podcast from Pro Bono Institute illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to Covid-19.
"Don't let good be the enemy of the ok." PBI interviews Becky Troth, Executive Director of the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. As the largest provider of pro bono legal services in DC, the DC Bar Pro Bono Center continues to offer pro bono help amidst the global pandemic. Hear more about how the DC Bar Pro Bono Center is serving the District while keeping the spirit of teamwork, collaboration and volunteerism alive. This is the fifth episode in a special podcast from Pro Bono Institute illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to Covid-19.
"This is about justice." PBI interviews Judge Jonathan Lippman, of counsel at Latham & Watkins in New York City and a former Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Judge Lippman is also the chair of New York's COVID-19 Pro Bono Network, a task force created by the New York State Bar Association, in partnership with the state court system. Hear more about the the work of the task force and inspirational words from Judge Lippman about collaboration, leadership, and the future of the legal system. This is the fourth episode in a special podcast from Pro Bono Institute illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to Covid-19.
MassMutual’s General Counsel Michael O’Connor and Corporate Law Lead Counsel and Pro Bono Committee Founder Dorothy Varon join the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles’ Executive Director Silvia Argueta and Baker McKenzie’s Pro Bono Partner and Executive Director of the Pro Bono Practice Angela Vigil to describe how their organizations are effectively communicating with their pro bono clients despite the challenges posed by closed meeting places and social distancing during the Covid-19 crisis. Mike and Dorothy also discuss the unique aspects of a large corporation in a small legal market providing pro bono services. This is the third episode in a special podcast from Pro Bono Institute illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to Covid-19.
Featuring Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s Chair – Brad Karp, as well as Robert Atkins and Michael Gertzman, Co-chairs of the firm’s Litigation Department, this is the second in a special series of podcasts from PBI illuminating the legal aid and pro bono community’s response to COVID-19. In this episode, we hear more about the growing need for legal services as a result of the pandemic and the steps the Paul Weiss firm is taking on its own and in concert with others to address those needs, including creation of the Covid-19 Response Center.
This special episode reveals the depth and breadth of legal assistance needed to address the effects of the pandemic, and how to overcome the obstacles the legal community faces in finding and serving clients with the greatest need for help. PBI speaks to leaders Jim Sandman, Chair of the ABA COVID-19 Task Force, Ron Flagg, President of the Legal Services Corporation, and Jackie Haberfeld, Pro Bono Counsel for Kirkland & Ellis LLP. This series of special PBI podcast episodes provide additional insights from experts at the forefront of the legal industry’s response to the growing need for pro bono assistance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are you looking to expand your global pro bono practice? PBI talks to Wendy Atrokhov and Harry Redford of Latham & Watkins about global pro bono and the recently updated Global Pro Bono Survey (lw.com/gpbs), produced by Latham & Watkins with the support of PBI. The survey is part of an ongoing effort to promote and stimulate the growth of pro bono representation globally.
In this special episode, we sat down with our fantastic summer interns, The George Washington University Law School's Leah Calabro, the University of Michigan's Drew Sovel, and the University of Michigan Law School's Kyle Pham to talk about hip hop, their experiences at PBI working to promote pro bono and access to justice, ghostwriting, and much more.
PBI talks to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft's Osvaldo Garcia about incorporating pro bono into his life as a busy law firm associate, his experience creating and directing the Cadwalader Black and Latino Association Immigration Clinic, how lawyers can be superheroes, and more.
PBI talks to Betsy Hutson from McGuireWoods about incorporating pro bono into her life as a busy law firm litigator, her experience representing survivors of human trafficking, and more.
Foley Hoag's Rebecca Cazabon talks to us about the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Boston, advice for summer associates, and more. Bonus music from Rebecca's father, Salvador Cazabon, and his trio, Trio Los Treboles, and their rendition of "Guantanamera" by José Martí and Julián Orbón.
Husch Blackwell's Margaret Richards talks to us about how pro bono "fuels her soul," her career, the firm's pro bono program, having a client cry tears of joy, and more.
We offer a preview of our upcoming Conference (March 27-29), exploring what's new this year, opportunities for networking, cutting-edge issues that will be featured, and more.
We continue our conversation with Pepper Hamilton's Joe Sullivan, discussing how to foster a culture of pro bono at a law firm, utilizing pro bono as a training tool, one of his first pro bono cases in Philadelphia, and more.
Pepper Hamilton's Joe Sullivan talks to us about his career, "mandatory" pro bono, the access to justice culture in Philadelphia, and more.
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone's Wendy Richards talks with us about her Detroit roots, how she motivates lawyers to engage in pro bono work, her recent immigration matters, and more.
Cozen O'Connor's Melinda deLisle talks with us about her career journey, her work on behalf of children in foster care, a roller-coaster pro bono case, and more.
Womble Bond Dickinson’s Mark Desgrosseilliers talks with us about the firm's recent combination, his pro bono work protecting children in the foster care system, access to justice in Delaware, and more.
King & Spalding's Josh Toll returns to talk with us about his ongoing work with the Clemency Project, improving housing conditions, "Standing With Our Neighbors," representing people with disabilities, and more.
With the midterm elections around the corner, Nancy Anderson and Pooja Chaudhuri from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law join us to talk about how pro bono lawyers can advance and defend the right to vote.
PBI welcomes back Katten Muchin Rosenman's Jonathan Baum to talk about the firm's pro bono clinic at the Jose de Diego Community Academy, what hot button issues the firm has been focusing on, one of his first pro bono matters, and more.
Get to know our summer interns! In a special episode, PBI talks to Arlyn Upshaw, Matti Vagnoni, and Nick Martire about their experiences at PBI working to promote pro bono and access to justice, what they've learned this summer, their future plans, and more.
PBI talks to Hunton Andrew Kurth's Kim MacLeod about how to effectively run a law firm pro bono committee, why bread·and·butter pro bono cases are the most meaningful to her, gender equity issues in the legal profession, and more.
PBI talks to Lathrop Gage's Kate Nolen about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Kansas City, her work advocating on behalf of children, and more. This will be our last new episode for a while. Use the down time to visit our archives and catch up on any episodes you may have missed.
PBI talks to McCarter & English's Michelle Movahed about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in New Jersey, her work on behalf of refugee children, and more.
PBI talks to Armstrong Teasdale's Scott Hunt about his career, the firm's pro bono program, inspiring the next generation, food deserts, and more.
PBI talks to Alston & Bird's Mary Benton about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Atlanta, her work on behalf of the Truancy Intervention Project, and more.
PBI talks to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson's Karen Grisez about her first pro bono case, the firm's pro bono program, developing expertise with asylum and other immigration matters, and more.
Where will you be on February 21 to 23? The Law Firm Pro Bono Project offers a preview of the 2018 PBI Annual Conference. We explore what's new this year, opportunities for networking, session highlights, podcast guest star sightings to look forward to, a surprise VIP, and more.
PBI welcomes back podcast all-star and Houston resident Ellyn Josef of Vinson & Elkins to talk about pro bono efforts and lessons learned after Hurricane Harvey and how lawyers can be of help before, during, and after disasters and emergencies.
In this Very Special Holiday episode, we answer listener questions, discuss the Pro Bono Happy Hour's origin story, offer a few gift ideas that also give back, and more.
A discussion on the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program with four experts who highlight the history of the DACA program (in part one), how the rescission is impacting DACA recipients, and how pro bono lawyers can help going forward (in part two). Bradley Phillips of Munger, Tolles & Olson moderates the discussion with Jesse Gabriel of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Judy London of Public Counsel; and Christina Yang of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles.
A discussion on the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program with four experts who highlight the history of the DACA program (in part one), how the rescission is impacting DACA recipients, and how pro bono lawyers can help going forward (in part two). Bradley Phillips of Munger, Tolles & Olson moderates the discussion with Jesse Gabriel of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Judy London of Public Counsel; and Christina Yang of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles.
PBI talks to Ericka Garcia of The Florida Bar Foundation about her career, her passion for advocating on behalf of children with developmental disabilities, access to justice in Florida, evolving technological solutions for reaching rural and urban residents, the Foundation's new initiatives to prepare ahead of natural disasters and crises, and more.
PBI talks to Jacqui MacLennan & Lou O'Neill of White & Case about leading a global pro bono practice, areas of strategic focus and impact, meaningful pro bono matters, and more.
PBI talks to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Andrew LeGrand about incorporating pro bono into his life as a busy litigator, his experience developing an informal pro bono appellate program at the firm with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the link between pro bono and professional development, and more.
PBI talks with Her Justice's Amy Barasch about her career, the organization's "pro bono first" model, working with clients affected by intimate partner violence, poverty, and divorce, their externship program, and more.
PBI talks with Ballard Spahr's Mary Gay Scanlon about the impact of current events on law firm pro bono, pro bono efforts to promote access to nutritious food, the importance of firm leadership, the access to justice culture in Philadelphia, and more.
PBI talks with Eliza Vorenberg of Roger Williams University School of Law about cultivating a dedication to pro bono among law students, the Pro Bono Collaborative, the access to justice culture in Rhode Island, and more.
PBI talks to BJ Jensen from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison about his Canadian background, serving as the firm’s full-time Pro Bono Associate, airport advocacy, responding to access to justice emergencies, the Name Change Project, and more.
PBI talks to Kat McGee of Duane Morris about her career and leading the firm's pro bono program, making our days "count," inspiring pro bono efforts on behalf of eligible medical patients, small business owners, survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking, veterans, and more.
PBI continues our conversation with Winston & Strawn's Greg McConnell, discussing why pro bono is "more than winning," how to create a firm–wide "culture" of pro bono, The Innocence Record, and more.
Ripped from the headlines, PBI talks to Chris Marquardt from Alston & Bird, David March of the Minnesota Corporate Pro Bono Council, and Liz Markuci from Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) about the recent cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the pro bono community's response.
PBI talks to Winston & Strawn's Greg McConnell about the firm's mission–driven pro bono program, his career, the evolution of law firm pro bono leadership, and more.
Get to know our summer interns! In a special episode, PBI talks to Harvard Law School's Madeline Jenks, Georgetown University Law Center's Erin Killeen, and the University of Michigan's Kelsey Muniz and Sahil Shah about their experiences at PBI working to promote pro bono and access to justice, what they've learned this summer, their future plans, and more.
PBI talks to Valentine Brown of Duane Morris about her career and leading the firm's pro bono program, inspiring pro bono efforts on behalf of immigrants, veterans, "juvenile lifers," and more.
PBI talks to McDermott Will & Emery's Elizabeth Lewis about leading the firm's pro bono program, advocating for LGBTQ and Sikh rights, and more.
PBI talks to Reed Smith's Becca Naylor about her passion for human rights, managing firm pro bono efforts in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, assisting refugees in Greece and Jordan, and more.
PBI talks to Wiley Rein's Ted Howard about serving as the firm's first full-time Pro Bono Partner, his pro bono work on behalf of inmates and prison reform efforts, the firm's pro bono program, and more.
PBI talks to Stinson Leonard Street's Katie Cronin about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Kansas City, and more.
PBI talks to the Pro Bono Partnership's Courtney Darts about pro bono initiatives to support nonprofit organizations, transactional pro bono opportunities that strengthen communities, advice for aspiring public interest lawyers, and more.
PBI talks to Crowell & Moring's Susie Hoffman about her career, the firm's pro bono program and foundation, the "loaned lawyer" program, and more.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project discusses highlights from its recently published 2016 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Report, the current pro bono landscape, concrete and doable tips for improvement and growth, and more.
PBI talks to Perkins Coie's Leah Medway about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the access to justice culture in Seattle, the documentary "The Chance for a New Life -- The Sara Kruzan Story," and more.
PBI talks to the Legal Services Corporation’s Ron Flagg about his career, his transition to LSC from private practice, his experience leading a law firm pro bono program while he was at Sidley Austin, LSC’s current challenges and opportunities, and more.
PBI talks to Davis Wright Tremaine's Julie Orr about the firm's pro bono program, pro bono valentines and heart of justice award, medical-legal partnerships, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and more.
PBI talks to Bill Belitsky of Paul Hastings about why pro bono isn't just for litigators, his career, the firm's pro bono program, and more.
We open the archives to share our discussion with Munger, Tolles & Olson's Don Verrilli from 2015, when he was serving as the Solicitor General of the United States. You'll hear about his goal of spending 10 percent of his time each year representing pro bono clients and how he learned to be a "good lawyer" by doing pro bono work. Pro bono wasn't a "detriment" -- to the contrary, his pro bono experience enhanced his career.
Our pro bono mega-mailbag continues. In part two, the Law Firm Pro Bono Project answers questions from listeners about the 2017 PBI Conference (0:34), what's keeping us busy these days (11:59),and our upcoming annual Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® (12:46).
At long last, another pro bono mailbag episode. In part one, we answer questions from listeners about pro bono in pop culture (1:04), reading recommendations (11:08), and our "favorite" and most-requested publications (14:15).
PBI talks to Seyfarth Shaw's Kimberly McClain about the firm's pro bono program, applying project management principles to organizational pro bono clients, cultivating a social media presence, the firm's "guideposts of Compassion, Action, and Impact," and more.
PBI talks to Norah Rogers of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough about the firm's pro bono program, impact litigation, efforts to help the homeless and veterans, assisting unique clients such as the Burrito Riders, and more.
PBI talks to Fenwick & West's Hilarie Atkisson about her career, the intersection of pro bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR), the Justice Bus, the access to justice culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, and more.
PBI talks to Cozen O'Connor's Hayes Hunt about his career, the firm's pro bono program, meaningful pro bono matters, the pro bono culture in Philadelphia, and more.
Check out our guest appearance on The Librarian Is In, The New York Public Library's podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.
PBI talks to Buckley Sandler's Stephanie Schlatter about her career, the firm's emerging pro bono program, March Madness, and more.
PBI talks to Robins Kaplan's Patrick Arenz about his career, chairing the firm's Pro Bono Committee; a new trial advocacy initiative to support survivors of domestic abuse while promoting lawyer professional development and mentorship, and more.
PBI talks to Elizabeta (Liz) Markuci of Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) about pro bono initiatives to support immigrants, the value of storytelling, the importance of self-care, her pro bono role models, and more.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project offers a preview of the 2017 PBI Annual Conference. We explore what's new this year, opportunities for networking, cutting-edge issues that will be featured, and more.
PBI talks to Anne Helms of DLA Piper about her career, the access to justice culture in Chicago, the Woodlawn Legal Clinic, the firm's Krantz Fellowship Program, and more.
PBI talks to Jerri Shick of O'Melveny & Myers about the firm's pro bono program, her leadership of Bet Tzedek's Holocaust Survivors' Justice Network, providing pro bono assistance in Haiti to survivors of a catastrophic earthquake, and more.
Ripped from the headlines, PBI welcomes back Ellyn Josef of Vinson & Elkins to talk about how a recent presidential executive order mobilized pro bono lawyers and inspired airport campouts and engagement.
PBI talks to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft's Annie Mohan about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the legal community's response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, affinity networks and pro bono, and more.
PBI talks to Ellyn Josef of Vinson & Elkins about her career, the pro bono culture in Houston, "virtual pro bono clinics," assisting Holocaust survivors, and more.
PBI continues our conversation with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom's Don Salzman about the firm's pro bono program, its global Impact Project, and more.
PBI talks to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom's Don Salzman about his career, indigent criminal defense work, the Norfolk Four, the Clemency Project 2014, and more.
PBI talks to Columbia Law School's Laren Spirer about pro bono opportunities for law students, spring break caravans, "mandatory" pro bono, and more.
PBI talks to the president of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Wendy Young, about providing pro bono representation to unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children.
PBI talks to Akerman's Whitney Untiedt about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the pro bono culture in Florida, access to justice for "juvenile lifers," poverty simulation exercises, and more.
PBI talks to Michael Lucas from the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) about being a leader in the public interest community, providing the "best legal representation money can't buy," and trends in access to justice, including new, place-based initiatives designed to take pro bono services directly into the community.
PBI talks to Moore & Van Allen's Sarah Byrne and Stephanie Gryder about the firm's pro bono program, its Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project, the intersection of law firm pro bono and diversity/inclusion efforts, and more.
PBI talks to Dawn Caldart of Quarles & Brady about her career, the firm's pro bono program, the pro bono culture in Milwaukee, the relationship of pro bono to lawyer professional development, and more.
PBI talks to Lindquist & Vennum's Cynthia Anderson and Jon Bye about the firm's history and pro bono program, community economic development, "Breaking Poverty Barrier's to Equal Justice," and more.
PBI continues our conversation with Baker & McKenzie's Angela Vigil, discussing teaming with corporate clients on pro bono projects, the evolving law firm and pro bono landscape, and more.
PBI talks to Baker & McKenzie's Angela Vigil about the firm's pro bono program, her career, a wide range of pro bono efforts to help kids, and more.
PBI talks to Ken Manaster, professor emeritus at Santa Clara Law, senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and co-author of the new book, "Pro Bono Practice and Legal Ethics."
PBI talks to Lowenstein Sandler's Jeseñia Brown about the firm's pro bono program, her background and career, "Pro Bono in the Park," and more.
PBI talks to Mayer Brown's Marcia Tavares Maack about the firm's pro bono program, keys to pro bono success, innovative pro bono projects, her career, and more.
PBI talks to one of the leading death penalty and indigent criminal defense lawyers in the United States, George Kendall of Squire Patton Boggs.
PBI talks to Josh Toll of King & Spalding about his career, the firm’s pro bono program, his pro bono role models, and more.
Join us for the debut episode of the PBI Podcast Network’s new program, CLO & Pro Bono Series, which explores the world of in-house pro bono at corporate legal departments, featuring Craig Silliman of Verizon Communications.
PBI talks to Stinson Leonard Street’s Theresa Hughes about her career, the firm’s pro bono program, its pioneering Deinard Legal Clinic, and more.
PBI talks to Nancy Anderson and Arusha Gordon from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law about the national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition and how pro bono lawyers can advance and defend the right to vote.
PBI talks to Ben Weinberg of Dentons about his favorite moments as a lawyer, the firm’s entrepreneurial approach to developing its pro bono docket, his pro bono role models, and more.
One in four women and one in seven men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime. PBI talks to Spencer Cantrell, Legal Access Coordinator at JCADA, to learn how pro bono lawyers can be of help.
Get to know our summer interns! In a special episode, PBI talks to Ali Boyd, CJ Rydberg, and Jake Thorne about their experiences at PBI working to promote pro bono and access to justice, what they’ve learned this summer, their future plans, and more.
In a special episode, Meg Spencer Dixon of Spencer Consulting explains why time management is critical, especially for busy lawyers and legal professionals, offers practical tips and techniques, and more. Learn how you can take ownership of your workload to maximize your time for pro bono and promoting access to justice.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project breaks down the latest round of law firm associate salary increases and their implications for pro bono. We provide historical context and lessons learned from previous salary escalations and their impact on pro bono and offer tips for how firms can preserve and protect their commitment to pro bono, including how the Project can be of help.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project discusses highlights from its recently published 2015 Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Report, including why we are optimistic about law firm pro bono, areas for improvement and growth, new elements that we’ve added to the Report this year, and more.
PBI talks to Gary Connelley of Crowley Fleck about being a public interest lawyer and his transition, 20 years ago, to a law firm to build a pro bono program, the access to justice challenges and opportunities in Western states that are large in geography but small in population, and more.
In a special episode, Aileen Bleach of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the firm’s inspirational new pro bono video.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project offers some quick takes on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s comments signaling support for "mandatory" pro bono and explores the legal community’s reactions.
PBI talks to Erin Koeppel of K&L Gates about pro bono and professional development, a recent victory on behalf of a death row client in Texas, the firm’s innovative Cyber Civil Legal Rights Project, and more.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project hosts its inaugural pro bono mailbag. The Project discusses PBI Annual Conference highlights (4:00) and improving partner participation in pro bono (11:45).
PBI talks to Kate Fritz, Fenwick & West’s Managing Partner, about law firm leadership, the importance of integrating pro bono into a firm’s culture, tips for working effectively with firm management, how she was "forever changed" by her own pro bono work, and more.
In a special episode dedicated to Esther Lardent, PBI shares a few of her speeches and talks, including the 2014 "State of Pro Bono" (0:30), a discussion from 2012 of pro bono developments in New York (15:50), a 2011 assessment that pro bono is alive and well (30:00), and PBI’s recent tribute to Esther (34:45).
PBI talks to Paul Marino of Day Pitney about how he balances his time between a full-time commercial practice and chairing his firm’s pro bono committee, using friendly competition to increase pro bono participation and engagement, examples of recent, meaningful pro bono matters, and more.
PBI speaks to Joe Genereux of Dorsey & Whitney about the evolution of the profession and law firm pro bono, the pro bono culture in Minneapolis and the phenomenon of "Minnesota Nice," getting business and transactional lawyers involved in pro bono, and more.
PBI talks to Terri Hendley of Troutman Sanders about the collaborative pro bono culture in Atlanta, working with corporate clients on pro bono projects, what’s on the pro bono horizon at the firm this year, and more.
As we celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the Law Firm Project talks about the history of the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge®, its development and significance, and reasons why your firm should join the Challenge.
PBI talks to Kathy Ochroch of Blank Rome about the firm’s decision to implement a “mandatory” pro bono policy, tips for partnering with in-house legal departments, the firm’s involvement with the Clemency Project, and more.
PBI talks to Pam Wandzel of Fredrikson & Byron. Wandzel explains why she attends PBI’s Annual Conference and offers a preview of a session at this year’s Conference.
PBI talks to Pam Wandzel of Fredrikson & Byron. Wandzel talks about managing high profile cases, motivating attorneys to get involved in pro bono, running a pro bono program from the non-attorney perspective, and the firm’s creative approach to producing its pro bono annual report.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project offers a preview of the 2016 PBI Annual Conference. The Project discusses what’s new this year, opportunities for networking, cutting-edge issues that will be featured, and more.
PBI talks to Jonathan Baum of Katten Muchin Rosenman. Baum talks about his experiences at the PBI Annual Conference, how his firm started a pro bono clinic in a Chicago school, and how the firm selects pro bono matters.
The Law Firm Pro Bono Project discusses “Where Does the Time Go? Practice Tips for Pro Bono Timekeeping and Matter Management.” The Project talks about how you can use this resource to enhance your pro bono program and gives a behind-the-scenes looks at how this publication was put together.
PBI talks to Scottie Brown of Hunton & Williams. Brown talks about the firm's neighborhood offices, which it uses to reach communities with high pro bono needs, its pro bono fellowship program, and the firm's 100 percent participation rate.
PBI talks to Kirkland & Ellis Firmwide Director of Pro Bono Legal Services Julie LaEace. LaEace discusses the pro bono culture in Chicago, where she is based, getting the firm's formal pro bono program off the ground, and a recent victory for low-income tenants in Los Angeles.
PBI interviews Sutherland Asbill & Brennan Partner John Fleming. Fleming talks about the importance of succession planning and the lessons he learned from his transition, Sutherland's robust professional development program, and one of the firm's most recent pro bono victories.
PBI interviews Kaye Scholer Pro Bono Counsel Alison King. King explains the structure of the firm's pro bono program, best practices, and how the firm celebrates pro bono.
PBI interviews DLA Piper Head of Pro Bono and Corporate Responsibility Nic Patrick. Patrick talks about pro bono in the UK, the intersection of pro bono and CSR, and the firm's plan to increase the quantity and quality of collaborative pro bono projects.
PBI interviews Sidley Austin Pro Bono Counsel Becky Troth. Troth talks about Sidley's signature projects, balancing various pro bono projects, the firm's pro bono training opportunities, and much more.
PBI interviews Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Partner George Cauthen. Cauthen talks about the structure of the firm's pro bono program, pro bono partnerships, and his firm's approach to encouraging lawyers to do pro bono.
PBI interviews Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo Pro Bono Partner Susan Finegan. Finegan talks about Mintz Levin's pro bono program and various pro bono issues, including pro bono as a professional development tool, use of PBI's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® as a way to promote and enhance pro bono work, and the importance and challenges of good pro bono management.
PBI interviews Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Pro Bono Shareholder Lisa Borden. Borden talks about Baker Donelson's pro bono program, gives some advice to pass on to newcomers to pro bono programs, and gives a sneak peek at upcoming projects for the firm.
PBI interviews Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Pro Bono Partner Lauren Schmidt. Schmidt explains her role at the firm, the evolution of the firm’s pro bono program, and its short and long-term goals.