WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF LAWYERS

Starting a new full representation pro bono case comes with many moving parts. Providing high quality legal support means understanding the staff, time, and resources that need to be dedicated to each matter. While limited scope or “bite sized” pro bono projects are popular, the need for and impact of full representation pro bono work is greater—whether it’s making a real difference in a client’s life or helping an overextended organization. The question is: how do we break it down into manageable, sustainable steps? Join us for a practical discussion on approaches to and opportunities in full representation pro bono cases. This session will tackle a wide range of best practices, including: Marketing pro bono opportunities both internally and externally Engaging non-lawyers in managing and supporting pro bono matters Planning for turnover and ensuring smooth succession Partnering with corporate clients in uplifting access to justice in the community And more! Whether you're new to pro bono or looking to refresh your approach to full representation, this session offers tools and insights to help you navigate the process with confidence.

Our annual Fall Kickoff is the first event of our new board year. Join us for food, drink, and the chance to build a stronger public-interest community. At this casual happy hour, you can learn about how to get involved in our work, meet our new board members,  and mingle with other members of the pro bono and public-interest community. This event is open to legal and non-legal staff in the public interest and pro bono space as well as law students and those interested in learning more about Washington Council of Lawyers! Don't miss this chance to see old friends and make new public-interest connections, including our new board members!  You also can join one of our standing committees, learn about our trainings and programs, and sign up for upcoming events. Our Fall Kickoff is free, thanks to our hosts Goodwin Procter. We hope you will attend, and invite friends to join you!  Spread the word!  #FallKickoff25

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in incorporating pro bono or public-interest work into their legal careers, providing an introduction to various types of public-interest practice. Dive deeper into how to support the LGBTQ+ community through pro bono and career opportunities. We will discuss the current state of this practice area and the efforts to challenge attacks on the community on a systemic and individual basis. Discover how you can get involved now and throughout your legal career. This panel is free for members (join), PIJC subscriber school students, faculty, and staff, DC Consortium members, and those who have registered for the in-person Summer Forum sessions. Non-members can join for just $10. We hope you enjoy the discussion and join the conversation using #SumFo25!

Our Summer Pro Bono & Public Interest Forum is an annual tradition that brings together lawyers, summer associates, summer interns, and others interested in making pro bono or public-interest work a part of their legal careers and provides an introduction to several different types of public-interest practice. Dive deeper into non-litigation pro bono in this virtual panel! There are many opportunities for pro bono representation in transactional matters. From setting up businesses to providing tax advice, knowing the right forms and how to fill them out can make all the difference. Trained lawyers can draft wills for veterans, navigate uncontested divorce proceedings, research novel issues, and much more. If you want to support your community but hope to stay out of the courtroom, this is the panel for you! This panel is free for members (join), folks from PIJC subscriber schools,  DC Consortium, and those that registered for the in-person Summer Forum sessions! Non-members can join for just $10. We hope you enjoy the discussion and join the conversation using #SumFo25!

Trying to find a way to fit pro bono service into your schedule? Join us for a rewarding day of service, where your skills can make a significant difference in the lives of those seeking legal guidance and support! Volunteer on Saturday, July 26th to gain experience in serving the D.C. community in a variety of matters! At the clinic, you'll provide brief advice (and referrals) to people who otherwise wouldn't have access to legal help. We meet at DC Bar Office, 901 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Street parking is available. Please arrive at 9:00 am, a brief orientation takes place at 9:15 am, and volunteers are asked to stay until the last client is seen, usually at least 3:00 pm. There's no time commitment beyond the clinic itself. As a volunteer attorney, you'll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. You don't need to be an expert in these areas of law: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to help. You do need to be a member of the D.C. Bar, or a federal government attorney barred in another state to participate. The deadline to volunteer is Friday, July 11 by 5:00 pm ET. Once you register to attend, our Program Director and volunteer coordinator, Chris Marin, will be in touch with additional details. We are currently looking for volunteers in private practice, including solo practitioners and those at firms. If you are currently in a government position and would like to volunteer please contact Lara Eilhardt at Lara.Eilhardt@usdoj.gov. If you are currently a law student and would like to volunteer please contact Rachel Lawrence at lawrencera@cua.edu. Thank you!

This event is hosted by DC Superior Court and Washington Council of Lawyers and co-sponsored by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and Children's Law Center. Join us for a DC Superior Court Open House where Jenadee Nanini, Managing Attorney at the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, and Jen Masi, Pro Bono Counsel at Children's Law Center, will introduce you to the Domestic Relations Branch – one of the Court’s highest-volume branches where pro bono representation is greatly needed in child custody cases. You’ll observe court proceedings, meet with Superior Court Judges, and learn how you can help expand access to justice in our community. Pro bono counsel may represent custodial parents, non-custodial parents, or third-party caregivers in child custody matters. They also serve as guardians ad litem (GALs), representing the “best interests” of the children involved. Whether representing a party or serving as a GAL in a custody case, you’ll be helping to secure stability for a family with limited means, as well as enhancing your professional skills. Please note this event involves a moderate amount of standing and walking. If attendees have accommodation needs or questions, please contact Jodi Feldman at Jodi.Feldman@DCCSystem.gov. There is limited space for this event. Pre-registration is required. If you do not receive a separate confirmation email, you are not registered for this event. We will not have space to accommodate anyone who did not pre-register and did not receive a registration confirmation. If you are on the waitlist and have been moved off it, you will receive a separate confirmation email. If you do not receive a separate confirmation email, we will not be able to accommodate you at the Open House.

This event is hosted by D.C. Superior Court and Washington Council of Lawyers and co-sponsored by Volunteer Legal Advocates and Volare. Join us for a DC Superior Court Open House where Alissa Osberg from Volunteer Legal Advocates and Angla Tingler from Volare will introduce you to the Domestic Violence Division – one of the Court’s highest-volume branches where pro bono representation is greatly needed. You’ll observe court proceedings, meet with judges, and learn how you can help expand access to justice in our community. The Open House will focus on pro bono opportunities to represent petitioners seeking Civil Protection Orders (CPOs). A person can file for a CPO against someone who has committed or threatened to commit an intrafamily offense, sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sex or labor trafficking against them. By providing pro bono representation in CPO cases, you’ll help someone seeking protection from domestic and/or sexual violence, as well as enhance your professional skills. Please note this event involves a moderate amount of standing and walking. If attendees have accommodation needs or questions, please contact Jodi Feldman at Jodi.Feldman@DCCSystem.gov.

Trying to find a way to fit pro bono service into your schedule? Join us for a rewarding day of service, where your skills can make a significant difference in the lives of those seeking legal guidance and support! Volunteer on Saturday, May 18th to gain experience in serving the D.C. community in a variety of matters! At the clinic, you'll provide brief advice (and referrals) to people who otherwise wouldn't have access to legal help. We meet at DC Bar Office, 901 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Street parking is available. Please arrive at 9:00 am, a brief orientation takes place at 9:15 am, and volunteers are asked to stay until the last client is seen, usually at least 3:00 pm. There's no time commitment beyond the clinic itself. As a volunteer attorney, you'll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. You don't need to be an expert in these areas of law: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to help. You do need to be a member of the D.C. Bar, or a federal government attorney barred in another state to participate. The deadline to volunteer is Friday, May 9 by 5:00 pm ET. Once you register to attend, our Program Director and volunteer coordinator, Chris Marin, will be in touch with additional details. We are currently looking for volunteers in private practice, including solo practitioners and those at firms. If you are currently in a government position and would like to volunteer please contact Lara Eilhardt at Lara.Eilhardt@usdoj.gov. If you are currently a law student and would like to volunteer please contact Rachel Lawrence at lawrencera@cua.edu. Thank you!

This event is hosted by DC Superior Court and Washington Council of Lawyers and co-sponsored by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. Join us for a DC Superior Court Open House where Jenadee Nanini, Managing Attorney at the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, will introduce you to the Domestic Relations Branch – one of the Court’s highest-volume branches where pro bono representation is greatly needed in child custody cases. You’ll observe court proceedings, meet with Superior Court Judges, and learn how you can help expand access to justice in our community. Pro bono counsel may represent custodial parents, non-custodial parents, or third-party caregivers in child custody matters. They also serve as guardians ad litem (GALs), representing the “best interests” of the children involved. Whether representing a party or serving as a GAL in a custody case, you’ll be helping to secure stability for a family with limited means, as well as enhancing your professional skills. Please note this event involves a moderate amount of standing and walking. If attendees have accommodation needs or questions, please contact Jodi Feldman at Jodi.Feldman@DCCSystem.gov.

Discover the role of impact litigation in advancing access to justice and expanding the scope of pro bono legal services. Join us in exploring how impact litigation compares to other forms of pro bono work, as well as the key factors that legal services organizations and law firms consider before pursuing these types of cases. At a time when law firms and legal practices face increasing public scrutiny, this candid discussion aims to deepen understanding across different sectors of the pro bono and public interest community. Panelists will also highlight practical opportunities for collaboration and offer strategies for integrating impact litigation into pro bono portfolios—along with potential solutions to common challenges. Bring your lunch and your questions! Thanks to the generosity of Fried Frank cookies/brownies and drinks will be provided. We welcome pro bono coordinators from law firms, corporations, legal services providers, nonprofits, and government agencies from DC and across the country.

Post-graduate fellowships are a unique way to realize your ideal public interest job. Fellowships allow new lawyers to gain hands-on experience, develop project management skills, and pursue their passions for promoting justice. But the application process is complicated and the programs are competitive. We're here to help you make sense of the process. Our expert panel will walk you through all the steps of the application procedures for the various programs and give you concrete tips for maximizing your chances of landing the fellowship of your dreams. Then, we will discuss PSJD and other online resources for finding fellowships. Finally, there will be plenty of time for individualized questions. This discussion will be moderated by Jennie Netburn, Fellowships Counselor, Georgetown University Law Center in conversation with: Lauren Hartley, Director of Fellowships, Equal Justice Works Laura Sinrod, Special Counsel, Pro Bono, Fried Frank Antonio DelGrande, MALDEF Fellow, Fried Frank Sam Halpert, Director of Public Services, NALP This event is for law students at every stage of their career as well as judicial clerks and LLM students. For 3L students we will discuss the current fellowship application cycle. For 1L and 2L students, we will discuss the best ways to position yourself to receive a post graduate fellowship. We will also discuss law clerks and LLM students' eligibility for fellowship positions.  Join the conversation on social media #Fellowships101.

For many, making a big career shift is on the horizon, and now is the time to pivot! You may be changing positions, you've chosen to go in a different direction, or you are at the beginning of your career and need to rethink your career goals. Whatever your situation, the idea of transitioning to a completely different job or an unfamiliar sector can be daunting. How do you even begin? And what are the practical steps to leaving your position? This career-advice panel will discuss all this and more. We've gathered a panel of experienced career professionals to explore your options and how to think about your skills and experiences to translate them to a different sector. Then, we'll focus on how to revise your resume, rework your network, strategize your career goals, research new options, and retool your narrative. Finally, we'll discuss the practical considerations to think about and plan for as a part of the transition including: how to find help at your organization, what your ethical obligations are, how to transfer your responsibilities, what should your "out of office say", what you can and can't take with you, and much more. Our panelists include: Alessandro Terenzoni - former government lawyer Paul Lee - law firm representative Camille Thompson - law school career development professional Mary Giovagnoli - government employee, former legal services lawyer, and policy professional This program is a Zoom webinar, so only presenters will be visible to attendees. You can ask questions through the Q&A function and may ask those questions anonymously. We will leave time at the end for questions if you wish to come on camera or off mute to interact with the panelists. This discussion will not be recorded, nor may attendees record this session. We know this is an unprecedented shift in employment! We are here to help with the practical transition and ensure your mental health and well-being remain intact during the process.

This event is hosted by D.C. Superior Court and Washington Council of Lawyers and co-sponsored by DC Volunteer Lawyers Project. Join us for a D.C. Superior Court Open House where Aída Vindell, Co-Legal Director with DC Volunteer Lawyers Project,  will introduce you to the Domestic Violence Division – one of the Court’s highest-volume branches where pro bono representation is greatly needed. You’ll observe court proceedings, meet with judges, and learn how you can help expand access to justice in our community. The Open House will focus on pro bono opportunities to represent petitioners seeking Civil Protection Orders (CPOs). A person can file for a CPO against someone who has committed or threatened to commit an intrafamily offense, sexual assault, sexual abuse, or sex or labor trafficking against them. By providing pro bono representation in CPO cases, you’ll help someone seeking protection from domestic and/or sexual violence, as well as enhance your professional skills. Please note this event involves a moderate amount of standing and walking. If attendees have accommodation needs or questions, please contact Jodi Feldman at Jodi.Feldman@DCCSystem.gov.

Trying to find a way to fit pro bono service into your schedule? Join us for a rewarding day of service, where your skills can make a significant difference in the lives of those seeking legal guidance and support! Volunteer on Saturday, February 22nd to gain experience in serving the D.C. community in a variety of matters! At the clinic, you’ll provide brief advice (and referrals) to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to legal help. We meet at Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School (2427 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020). Street parking is available. Please arrive at 9:00 am, a brief orientation takes place at 9:15 am, and volunteers are asked to stay until the last client is seen, usually at least 3:00 pm. There’s no time commitment beyond the clinic itself. As a volunteer attorney, you’ll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. You don’t need to be an expert in these areas of law: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to help. You do need to be a member of the D.C. Bar, or a federal government attorney barred in another state to participate. We are currently looking for volunteers in private practice, including solo practitioners and those at firms. If you are currently in a government position and would like to volunteer please contact Lara Eilhardt at Lara.Eilhardt@usdoj.gov. If you are currently a law student and would like to volunteer please contact Rachel Lawrence at lawrencera@cua.edu. Thank you!

SOLD OUT! WAITLIST AVAILABLE Join us for three educational days of Trial Advocacy from Wednesday, May 7 to Friday, May 9. We are using a new hybrid format! The first and third days will be virtual, the second day will be fully in person. View the 2025 Litigation Skills Series Trial Advocacy Schedule. If you have any questions about the schedule, please email Chris Marin at cmarin@wclawyers.org. We will focus on the four fundamental trial skills: Opening Statements, Direct Examinations, Cross-Examinations, and Closing Arguments.  Each topic will begin with a lecture by an expert trainer and a demonstration by skilled litigators showing how to put the lesson into practice. Then, we will move to small group breakout rooms where each attendee will get up and practice the skill of the day. Breakout room facilitators will offer individualized, constructive feedback to each participant. Attendees should plan to spend some time between each session to prepare for the on-your-feet breakout sessions. We are excited to try the new hybrid format. We are building on past feedback to make sure you can get the most from the training while ensuring you can still manage your busy schedule. Our fact pattern features a Landlord and Tenant case, but you need not know anything about substantive law in this area to benefit from the training. For Washington Council of Lawyers members, this comprehensive Trial Advocacy training costs just $165. For non-members, the cost is $265. (Join Washington Council of Lawyers to take advantage of the discounted member rates.) Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of the D.C. Bar Foundation. To apply for a scholarship, please complete this online scholarship form. CLE credits are pending for this training for CA, NY, NJ. This session always sells out. Save your seat today! Registration closes Friday, April 25 at 5:00 pm ET.