BUILDING LAW FIRM AND IN HOUSE
PRO BONO PROGRAMS
IN A COST EFFECTIVE WAY
Stacey Slater, Founder and President of Pro Bono Strategies LLC consulting business in NYC and New Jersey, enjoyed a rewarding 14-year experience as the Pro Bono Partner for Nixon Peabody LLP, an Am Law 100 law firm with 13 offices across the U.S., where she developed the firm’s pro bono policies and infrastructure, maintained relationships with a large network of legal service providers, and organized many successful pro bono projects and clinics, increasing the firm's pro bono participation rate from 48% to 91%.
For law firms and in house legal departments that are not in the position to hire a full time pro bono professional, Pro Bono Strategies can use its experience and network to help develop their pro bono programs in a cost-effective way. We also help law firms and legal departments to leverage their pro bono programs to support their other business objectives.
14
years experience running pro bono program
80
firm pro bono awards in 9 years
91%
pro bono participation
DEMONSTRATED RESULTS
Under Stacey's leadership:
-
Attorney pro bono participation almost doubled.
-
Number of lawyers who did over 20 hours per year more than tripled.
-
Firm’s ranking on the American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard rose from 141 in 2005 to 47 in 2018.
-
Firm won many pro bono awards and garnered much media attention on pro bono successes.
BUSINESS REASONS FOR A STRONG
PRO BONO PROGRAM
1. Pro bono provides excellent training and hands-on experience for law firm associates and in house lawyers.
2. Pro bono work can provide great publicity for a law firm or company, through press, rankings and awards, enhancing its reputation in its communities.
3. Corporate clients care about pro bono and often ask about it at pitches and in RFPs. Law firms and in house departments can partner on a pro bono project, strengthening the client relationship.
4. Pro bono improves attorney satisfaction and retention.
5. Recruits often ask about a firm or corporation’s commitment to pro bono, as it tells them something about it's culture.
6. Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct “strongly encourages” attorneys to provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services annually. In NJ, attorneys who certify that they have performed at least 25 hours of voluntary qualifying pro bono service in NJ are exempt from being appointed to take a Madden v. Delran pro bono case for the following year. In NY, 50 hours of pro bono service is required for admission to the New York Bar and lawyers must report their pro bono hours in their biennial registration.
7. Lawyers have unique skills and can make a real difference in the lives of others and help create equal access to justice.