DEADLINE EXTENDED for Nominations for the 2025 Justice Impact Awards!
12 October 2025 Blog, Featured
Annually, Washington Council of Lawyers is thrilled to celebrate us! – the hundreds of public-interest and pro bono professionals who dedicate time, expertise, finances, and compassion to helping their neighbors. Our Justice Impact Awards is a time for us to come together, recharge our collective batteries, celebrate our accomplishments, commiserate on our challenges, and be inspired. Read on to find out how to nominate a pro bono champion.
Event Recap: Full Representation in Pro Bono — Building Sustainable Support for Clients and Counsel
07 October 2025 Blog, Featured
Our recent discussion on Best Practices in Pro Bono: Keeping the Commitment: Structures to Make Full Representation Work for Everyone brought together leaders from across the legal services, corporate, and law firm communities to explore how to make sustained, high-quality representation both achievable and rewarding for volunteers. Panelists included representatives from law firms, corporate legal nonprofit, and legal services organizations, each offering insights into what it takes to provide full representation—from the first client meeting to case resolution.
Resources During the Government Shutdown
01 October 2025 Blog, Featured
With so many federal government employees struggling during the shutdown, we’ve collected links to and summaries of resources available to federal employees who are furloughed. From free food to free CLE programs, many groups are trying to support those affected by the shutdown.
Opportunities to Volunteer
16 September 2025 Blog, DC Pro Bono Week, Featured
Check out this list of pro bono opportunities that need your support! These are a great way to get out into the community and support your neighbors!
2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Schedule of Events
12 September 2025 Blog, DC Pro Bono Week
Check out the full list of events coming up during DC Pro Bono Week!
Welcome Our New Board Members for the 2025-2026 Board Year!
01 September 2025 Blog, Featured
We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate advocates to our Board of Directors! Read on to learn more.
Know Your Rights Resources & Events
These resources are designed to assist various audiences including: general public, educators, employers, etc. The list of resources is provided in multiple languages.
2025 Summer Forum Preview: Criminal Law & Death Penalty
The criminal legal system remains at the forefront of national discourse, especially concerning the pervasive issues of abusive policing, mass incarceration, and the death penalty. These systemic problems not only undermine individual liberties but also perpetuate cycles of injustice and inequality within our communities. Addressing these challenges requires a deep examination of current practices and the implementation of transformative reforms to protect fundamental human rights and ensure equitable justice for all. Learn more about these important topics at our 2025 Summer Forum Panel on Criminal Law & Death Penalty Panel on Thursday, July 10. Register here to join us!
2025 Summer Forum Preview: Poverty Law Panel
The legal hurdles faced by individuals living in poverty are vast. They often face uphill battles with issues impacting the most fundamental human needs: family stability, safe housing, food security, fair employment, and freedom from fear and violence. Representation is vital in these areas, and the need is overwhelming. These areas of law often have the highest rate of pro se litigants; when pro bono or public-interest lawyers get involved, these cases also produce some of the most life-changing outcomes for the parties involved. Pro bono lawyers who take on these cases literally can be life-savers.