Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute
by Eve Runyon
January 5, 2016
“Often when someone unfamiliar with the topic hears about in-house pro bono and Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) — the global partnership project of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) and the Pro Bono Institute (PBI) — the first question they ask is: What kind of pro bono legal services do in-house counsel provide? Or, if they are new in-house counsel, they may ask: How can I help?
“The options run the gamut in terms of clients, area of law, type of case, and level of time commitment. There are many finite, scheduled opportunities, such telephone hotlines and clinics, as well as a slew of longer-term projects, including representing individuals in court, engaging in policy advocacy, serving as ongoing outside counsel for nonprofits or small businesses, and conducting legal research projects. Two examples that exemplify the range of pro bono work being performed by in-house counsel are the Online LGBT Tax Resource, created by BNY Mellon with White & Case and the National LGBT Bar Association; and the work of Best Buy attorneys at the Volunteer Lawyers Network’s Housing Court Project and Conciliation Court Clinic.”