PBI’s 2018 Annual Conference is just a couple of months away! This year’s substantive sessions address emerging geopolitical realities, persistent challenges faced by pro bono programs, and novel and cutting-edge issues. With an unparalleled mix of law firm, in-house, and public interest leaders – and numerous opportunities for formal and informal networking – the PBI Annual Conference also offers a compelling introduction to emerging areas of public interest law and potential projects.

Typically, Marcus Ferguson can be found at his desk in Allstate Corp.’s Northbrook, Illinois, headquarters helping his company navigate its way through insurance-related bills and regulations. But as of late, he’s spent a fair amount of time in a very different kind of environment—at a local courthouse helping victims of domestic violence.

Five years ago Eric Kobrick, deputy general counsel at American International Group, Inc. (AIG), played an integral role in starting a formal pro bono program for the several hundred employees in AIG’s Global Legal Compliance and Regulatory function to provide legal services to non-profit organizations and persons of limited means.

John P. Frantz is senior vice president and general counsel of media and telematics at Verizon. In 2009, then-general counsel Randy Milch decided he wanted to create a pro bono program for the company, and he asked Frantz to create one. “With two months of work and preparation,” Frantz said, “we put the program together and launched it.”

Garry Rice, deputy general counsel at Duke Energy, heads the environmental, health and safety legal group. For the past three years he has also chaired the law department’s pro bono team, which has created some unusual incentives to encourage lawyers to participate in the program.

PBI is constantly cited by law departments and law firms alike as an indispensable resource for all things pro bono. Whether an organization is planning its first program or tweaking an aging one, this is often the first place they call.

Adriana Dulic, who is a lawyer at Epoch Payment Solutions grew up in a country that no longer exists. She came to the U.S. on a student visa, and finally achieved citizenship a few years ago. Dulic, who has long felt lucky for the help she received, has always been determined to return the favor. For her, pro bono was an obvious way to do that.

The Legal Department at Sanofi U.S. has provided valuable pro bono services in recent years. Over an eight-year period, the department, based in Bridgewater, has assisted more than 30 New Jersey organizations in more than 75 matters, according to Sanofi.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) asked Congress today for $527.8 million for Fiscal Year 2018 because of the overwhelming need for civil legal services in the United States.

In response to The White House OMB’s proposal to cut LSC funding for FY18 leaders in the business and legal community have come together to encourage Congress to fully fund civil legal services.