Most lawyers on TV spend nearly all of their time in courtrooms. In real life, however, lawyers do a host of transactional advocacy, and other non-litigation work. They engage in legislative advocacy, contract drafting, and lease negotiations. They also provide strategic advice on non-profit governance, copyright law, trademark infringement issues, and tax law. There are numerous pro bono opportunities that do not involve litigation, and our first 2022 Summer Forum panel will highlight some of that important and impactful work.

Our Summer Forum Non-Litigation Pro Bono panel will be moderated by our board member Susie Hoffman. Susie is the Public Service Partner at Crowell & Moring, and a past President of the D.C. Bar. Susie has great familiarity with non-litigation pro bono opportunities and decades of experience in guiding partners and associates to connect with all kinds of meaningful pro bono work.

Our panelists will be:

Nancy Anderson, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Nancy is the director of Legal Mobilization and Pro Bono for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where she is responsible for the overall design, structure, strategy, and implementation of large-scale impact civil rights projects. Current projects include the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network, Election Protection, and the Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program. Her work also involves connecting with law firms and corporate legal departments to place the Lawyers’ Committee’s civil rights pro bono matters, including transactional matters, “mega” projects, and public policy. Nancy earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she completed a joint degree with a Masters of Arts in Sociology from the University of Virginia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A native of Oklahoma, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

Jim Joseph,  Arnold & Porter
Jim is the co-chair of the tax practice at Arnold & Porter. Much of his pro bono work involves advising legal nonprofits and charitable organizations on issues such as charitable giving and business ventures. Jim also advises tax-exempt clients on governance, executive compensation, employment tax, and other general tax matters. He assists tax-exempt organizations in structuring, funding, and implementing lobbying, advocacy, and political activities. Jim is a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center.

Darryl Maxwell, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
Darryl, a Director at the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, manages the Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic,  at which volunteer lawyers help small-business owners and, in turn, facilitate local economic development. Clinic volunteers offer brief advice and need not commit to ongoing representation. Darryl’s work is focused on providing pro bono legal support, education, and counsel to community-based nonprofits and disadvantaged small businesses. Darryl is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The George Washington University Law School.

Sara Outterson, Center for Reprodutive Rights

Sara is Chief Federal Legislative Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Sara leads the Center’s congressional strategy and oversees all federal legislative work, including efforts to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act and the first proactive votes in Congress on standalone abortion access legislation in decades. Sara also serves as the Center’s lead lobbyist, ensuring compliance with federal lobbying compliance laws. Through her work, Sara seeks to influence the law by engaging with policymakers, reporting on rights, and advocating for laws and policies to improve reproductive rights and health across the globe. Sara received her law degree from William and Mary School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University, where she graduated magna cum laude

Learn more about the many different kinds of non-litigation public-interest legal careers and pro bono opportunities at our 2022 Summer Forum.

The Non-Litigation Pro Bono panel takes place virtually on Thursday, June 9, from 12:00-1:15 pm ET. Buy tickets and follow the conversation on social media using #SumFo22 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.