In-House Pro Bono in the News: Continuing the Conversation

In May, Corporate Pro Bono was featuredCPBO in the news-01 on Legal Executive Institute, a Thomson Reuters website that offers insight into the profession of law and the legal marketplace through blog commentary and legal news analysis. In the piece Benchmarking In-House Pro Bono: CPBO Challenge Hits 10-Year Milestone, Eve Runyon, President and CEO of PBI, recounts the progress of the CPBO Challenge® initiative,

“During the past 10 years the initiative has become the industry standard, with nearly 150 signatories from organizations that provide pro bono service in more than 44 countries. CPBO Challenge® signatories range in terms of size, industry and location, but they all share a common commitment — to improve access to justice.”

Since July of 2015, Legal Executive Institute has published four additional blogs by Runyon outlining various facets of in-house pro bono and its impact:

The Best of the Profession: Pro Bono at the PBI Annual Conference outlines the subject matter addressed at the PBI Annual Conference held March 23-25. Hundreds gathered in Washington, D.C. to learn, share, challenge, and discuss such pressing topics as the global mass mPro Bono Needigration crisis, justice deserts, and representing children and adolescents.

In-House Pro Bono in Practice highlights various in-house pro bono legal services, and how CPBO can act as a guide to those looking to get involved. The article features the pro bono efforts of Best Buy Co., Inc.** and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation** and references CPBO’s in-house pro bono in practice profiles for more examples of how to get involved.

Overcoming Challenges to In-House Pro Bono: Time Limitations addresses one of the biggest barriers legal departments face when setting up a formal pro bono program – time. In response to this quandary, Runyon offers the following advice:

  • spread the responsibility,
  • establish partnerships with legal services organizations, law firms, and other legal departments,
  • practice limited assistance representation, andThe Rise of in-house
  • utilize the expertise and time of others.

The Rise of In-House Pro Bono explains how legal pro bono came to the world of in-house practice.  Runyon points out that while the progress made over the past few decades is inspiring, “the need for pro bono services remains great.”

The PBEye thanks Thomson Reuters for continuing the conversation on in-house pro bono, and encourages you to do the same. Have questions about how your legal department can join the fight for equal access to justice, or how you can expand the impact of a pre-existing program?  Don’t hesitate to contact CPBO with any and all of your questions. We’re here to help.

** denotes a CPBO Challenge® signatory

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