Is Your Firm Up For a Challenge?

Since 1993, the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge^®, an initiative of the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Project, has served as a guidepost to assist major law firms in increasing their commitment to pro bono legal services.  The Challenge principles are designed to offer institutional support and maximize the efficacy of law firm pro bono programs.   Challenge Signatories make a substantial commitment to pro bono service, a commitment that is making a real difference in their communities and around the world.  The Challenge definition of pro bono has become an industry standard, utilized not only by major law firms but by the legal media in reporting the pro bono contributions of large firms.

One pioneering aspect of the Challenge is the inclusion of an accountability mechanism and an outcome measurement tool through its annual reporting requirement.  Each year, Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® Signatories must provide a confidential report to the Law Firm Project on their progress in meeting the Challenge.  The individual law firm data is kept confidential, but the report provides the basis for critically important aggregate statistics about trends in law firm pro bono.   Reporting season for calendar year 2011 is now open.  The deadline for reporting is March 16th.  Please contact Law Firm Pro Bono Project Assistant Christine Sutherland for a Reporting Form.

Has your firm created a supportive environment that promotes pro bono service?    Interested in joining your peer firms and becoming a Challenge Signatory?   New firms, with 50 or more lawyers, are welcome to join the Challenge at any time of the year.   Please contact Christine Sutherland for assistance in becoming a leader in law firm pro bono.