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“ Our firm-wide efforts have been recognized and applauded, and we consider pro bono work to be an integral part of our business and firm culture.”

-- Stephen Neal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

“Pro bono work not only provides desperately needed legal services to the disadvantaged in the communities in which we live and work, it also offers rewarding opportunities for professional and personal growth.”

-- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

At the end of the day, a law firm's most valuable resource is its expertise.

With this recognition, many firms have adopted strategies to invest these assets into low income and minority communities through pro bono legal services. In support of the significant impact a robust pro bono program can have in traditionally underserved communities, the Greenlining Institute has developed strategic partnerships with law firms and corporate legal departments across California to foster stronger pro bono commitments. Greenlining currently collaborates with corporations, legal service organizations, community-based organizations, law schools, and firms of all sizes to increase the positive impact of pro bono.

For example, on October 29, 2007, Greenlining co-hosted the groundbreaking Non-Profit Philanthropy Summit in Costa Mesa that focused on building capacity of emerging non-profit organizations serving low income and minority communities in California . At the NNP summit, pro bono directors, partners and senior associates from some of California 's largest law firms discussed the critical importance of pro bono and how law firms, regardless of size, through pro bono can impact communities and provide substantive legal experiences for their associates. In 2008, Greenlining will co-host a similar summit in Northern California .

Greenlining believes that increased investments in pro bono can create positive changes in firm culture, provides advancement opportunities for associates, as well as promotes sustainable growth in low income and minority communities. The goal of Greenlining's pro bono project is to not only transform traditionally underserved communities, but create “win-win” relationships between communities and law firms to ensure long-term investments.

Click here for an analysis of the “business case” for pro bono investments.

For further information about the Greenlining Institute's pro bono project contact Senior Legal Counsel, Thalia N.C. Gonzalez .

Resources

Pro Bono Net

Pro Bono Match - Santa Clara County Bar Association

Pro Bono Institute at the Georgetown University Law Center

Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge - The Pro Bono Institute

Legal Services for Entrepreneurs

Pro Bono Programs (by state)

Pro Bono Programs (California)

University of California, Boalt Hall Legal Clinics

Mills Legal Clinics of Stanford University Law School

California Western School of Law Clinical Programs

UC Davis School of Law King Hall Clinicals

Chapman University School of Law Clinics

UCLA School of Law Legal Clinics

Golden Gate University On-Site Legal Clinics

University of California Hastings College of Law Individual Representation Programs

Loyola Law School In-House Legal Clinics

Santa Clara Centers & Clinics

University of San Francisco Centers and Programs

Southwestern Law School Children's Rights Clinic