Pro Bono: Learn How To Make A Difference

Pro bono is of critical importance as individuals and businesses across the nation face unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic and economic downturn.

In the midst of the pandemic and economic downturn, individuals and small businesses across the country are struggling. Lawyers practicing at small law firms can help by contributing their time and skills through their pro bono work.  

Practising Law Institute (PLI) is known for providing CLE and other professional development nationally, but the 80+ year-old organization is also heavily invested in pro bono. Kara O’Brien, Vice President of Programs, and Janet Siegel, Director of Pro Bono Services, spoke about PLI’s mission and offerings. 

Can you tell us more about PLI’s commitment to pro bono?

Kara O’Brien: PLI has long been committed to providing attorneys with the training they need to represent individuals in a pro bono capacity. It is really at the heart of our mission as an organization. We have a three-pronged approach to providing access to our programs for attorneys who are interested in serving underrepresented communities. With widely available scholarships, free Pro Bono Memberships for legal aid and nonprofits dedicated to providing pro bono legal services, and significantly discounted pro bono programs, our training is accessible and affordable. 

Why is this so important to your organization? 

KO: PLI has always supported the legal profession and, more broadly, the rule of law. We believe that increasing access to justice ultimately strengthens the rule of law for everyone and we are proud to play a part in that endeavor.

What does PLI’s pro bono department focus on? 

Janet Siegel: Our pro ono team works to raise awareness of the great need for pro bono representation, especially now during this pandemic, and offers training to support attorneys so that they can better represent pro bono clients. We offer programs on a wide number of substantive topics including immigration, domestic violence, criminal justice, housing, nonprofit organizations, consumer bankruptcy and veterans’ issues.  

How are these programs developed, and what does PLI do to ensure that its offerings are fresh and relevant to law firms and practitioners?

JS: We constantly follow legal developments and have a great team that can quickly produce and adapt relevant content for our audiences. We’re also very lucky to have highly experienced faculty from both law firms and legal services organizations who review our programs to ensure their relevance and timeliness. 

With that in mind, how have you adjusted your program offerings in response to current events? How have those programs been received? 

JS: During the past year, we offered a series of remote and on-demand programs on the impact of COVID-19 on immigration, nonprofit organizations, housing, and employment, as well as best practices and ethical issues in providing remote legal services, all of which drew very large audiences. In response to the protest movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we quickly organized our civil rights, diversity and related programs so that they could be accessed easily at pli.edu/accessjustice.  

How can lawyers at smaller firms become more involved with pro bono? 

JS: Attorneys interested in taking on either limited scope or full pro bono representation might  reach out to their local bar, court, or legal services referral programs in an area of interest to them. Attorneys who are interested but who might need additional training can check PLI’s pro bono page at pli.edu/probono. We offer programs for all experience levels, led by highly knowledgeable faculty who are deeply committed to pro bono issues. Our programs will also give you information about the many opportunities for pro bono, and possible organizations to contact.

Find something that matters to you and jump in. Lawyers have told us that their most rewarding work comes from their pro bono efforts.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about pro bono at PLI? 

If you’re interested in learning more about pro bono in action, our podcast Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files tells the “real-world stories” of attorneys taking on various types of pro bono representation.