Recap Preparing to Launch Careers with Purpose: New Associates as Drivers of Pro Bono Engagement 09.29.26
05 October 2026 Blog, Featured
Quick Summary:
Organizations connect with firms’ orientation programs to provide trainings, share client stories, and uplift pro bono superstars as a way to spark interest in pro bono.
As new associates join the firm their pro bono interests are collected and are often matched with existing pro bono matters in the firm to reinforce existing teams.
Firms find trainings, impact stories, and clinic opportunities a fantastic tool to spark interest in pro bono.
Staying grounded in the needs of the community is the responsibility of everyone involved. Firms shared that pro bono counsel attend conferences, evolve their programs in line with the needs of the community, and maintain relationships in the community. The goal of these connections is to be able to advise the next generation on pro bono needs in the community.
While the new associates starting is a great incentive to reconnect with pro bono, it may be time to look throughout the year, as the fall is full!
There are so many opportunities to plug into pro bono in the community. Tune into DC Pro Bono Week, stay connected to the DC Courts, and keep an eye out for both on-demand and live trainings from legal service organizations and community partners!
DC Social Justice Transformation Network Action Team Spotlight: Creating Community that Shares and Grows Together
28 September 2026 Blog, Featured
Throughout my life, I have cultivated a love and passion for making resources more accessible to all. In a world that moves so quickly, it can be hard to keep up and I saw what it looked like first hand when folks experienced that struggle. Through my education I learned about the systems that determine the fate of many, economic, legal, political, and more. After graduating from law school, I felt called to support as many people in the public interest legal community as possible.
DC Pro Bono Week Spotlight: The Law Students Addressing the Criminalization of Survivors of Abuse
18 September 2026 Blog, DC Pro Bono Week, Featured
We The Action recognizes volunteers who expand access to justice and deliver free legal services where they are critically needed. This month, we are proud to honor law students Kelci Dansie and Barbara Monteiro de Souza, whose partnership with Helping Ourselves to Transform has helped advance a survivor-centered bill in Maryland that could change how the legal system responds to domestic violence cases before the court.
Nominate a Pro Bono Champion for our Justice Impact Awards!
15 September 2026 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.
Each year, we also honor exceptional individuals who go above and beyond and deserve special recognition. Help us recognize the outstanding advocates who make extraordinary contributions to the pro bono and public-interest community while bringing our larger community together. Our legal services recipient is a dynamic legal services lawyer who represents low-income clients or thinks creatively to solve complex legal problems. Our government recipient is a dedicated government lawyer who also volunteers time to organize pro bono efforts or represent low-income clients. Our law firm recipient is a law firm lawyer who has made significant contributions to pro bono service. Our corporate pro bono recipient is a legal department lawyer who is committed to increasing pro bono representation by corporate counsel. All our award recipients work hard to improve access to justice. The focus of their work should be closing the access to justice gap for District residents.
Deadline: All nominations must be received by 5:00 pm ET on Friday, October 9, 2026.
2026 DC Pro Bono Week Schedule of Events
09 September 2026 Blog, Featured
DC Pro Bono Week Schedule of Events
2026 DC Pro Bono Week: Volunteer Opportunities
09 September 2026 Blog, DC Pro Bono Week
Ready to volunteer? This is a list of just the volunteer opportunities this year so you can get right to rolling up your sleeves and helping the community!
2026 DC Pro Bono Week: Affiliated Events
09 September 2026 Blog, DC Pro Bono Week, Featured, Uncategorized
Check out events from our community partners that center pro bono! This page features pro bono opportunities that offer you even more opportunities to learn about and engage with pro bono!
NVLSP and Williams & Connolly Discharge Upgrade Success Story
04 September 2026 Blog, Featured
At age 17, a veteran enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Rifleman. During a deployment to Afghanistan, he engaged in firefights and conducted daily foot patrols in areas mined with improvised explosive devices. For his service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he earned the prestigious Combat Action Ribbon.
Welcome Our New Board Members!
01 September 2026 Blog, Featured
We are delighted to welcome our newest board members and grateful for the expertise, perspective, and commitment they bring to our organization. We look forward to working together and are excited about all we can accomplish in the year ahead. Click to find out more!