Pursuing Justice Podcast Explores Pro Bono In Unprecedented Times

Over the past year, lawyers have seen firsthand the impact of the pandemic and economic downturn on their pro bono clients. Professionals have come together to share expertise and resources – and Pursuing Justice, a podcast series from Practising Law Institute (PLI), has been telling their stories.

Over the past year, lawyers have seen firsthand the impact of the pandemic and economic downturn on their pro bono clients. For many, the increased need has strengthened their determination to do more. From large firms to smaller regional ones, and from robust nonprofit organizations to smaller community foundations, professionals have come together to share expertise and resources – and Pursuing Justice, a podcast series from Practising Law Institute (PLI), has been telling their stories.

Hosted by PLI Faculty Fellow Alicia Aiken, Principal at the Danu Center for Strategic Advocacy and the Director of the Danu Center’s Confidentiality Institute, Pursuing Justice features in-depth discussions with lawyers in private practice, legal services lawyers, and others on topics of interest to the legal community.

A Biglaw Firm Goes All In

As the pandemic unfolded last spring, Aiken spoke with Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad Karp about his firm’s response. Anticipating the impact of the shutdowns on “the most vulnerable in our society,” including workers in hospitality, retail, and food service, as well as the challenges of figuring out the PPP and other relief programs, Karp emailed all of the attorneys at Paul, Weiss, asking who wanted to work on a pro bono project to help individuals and small businesses. Within two hours, he said, over 400 attorneys – around 40 percent of the firm – had signed up, offering to do whatever it took to help gather and communicate essential information.

Listen to the episode, “Pro Bono in a Pandemic: A Law Firm Goes All In

Building Community by Supporting Small Business

As the pandemic progressed, Aiken met with transactional lawyers and nonprofit representatives based in Detroit to learn about pro bono initiatives aimed at helping the community. With small businesses disproportionately suffering losses from the shutdown, Steve Roach, a principal at Miller Canfield, looked for ways to lend his team’s transactional expertise to local businesses. From helping the area’s first women-owned bike shop with microloans and real estate, to advising businesses on employment and corporate governance during the pandemic, Roach and his colleagues take on a variety of matters to strengthen Detroit by supporting small business.

Aiken also spoke with Shamyle Maya Dobbs, CEO of Michigan Community Resources, about how the organization has been helping to connect around 400 nonprofit and community-based organizations with legal advice and resources.

Listen to the episode, “Helping Small Businesses Through Transactional Pro Bono

Pro Bono Begins at Home: A Lawyer Helps Her Community

More recently, Aiken has also turned the tables to be interviewed herself, discussing her long career as a legal services attorney and, more personally, her efforts to boost her own pro bono practice during the pandemic. In Part Two of a conversation, Aiken talks about how she found opportunities to help individuals in her own community, advising on tricky employment issues and more.

Listen to the episode, “Real Talk About Pro Bono


Practising Law Institute is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. PLI is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York and was founded in 1933 by Harold P. Seligson. The organization provides the highest quality, accredited, continuing legal and professional education programs in a variety of formats which are delivered by more than 4,000 volunteer faculty including prominent lawyers, judges, investment bankers, accountants, corporate counsel, and U.S. and international government regulators. PLI publishes a comprehensive library of Treatises, Course Handbooks, Answer Books and Journals also available through the PLI PLUS online platform. The essence of PLI’s mission is its commitment to the pro bono community. View PLI’s upcoming live webcasts here.