Summer Forum Preview: Justice for Immigrants
Summer Forum Preview: Criminal Justice and Mental Health
Law students “Walk a Month” to better understand poverty
Summer Forum Preview: Pro Bono Is for Non-Litigators, Too
Dinner & Discussion with Peter Edelman (2018)
Free to Ride: Transportation as a Civil-Rights Issue
Bread for the City Breaks Ground in Southeast DC
Exciting news from Bread for the City -- the organization has begun construction on a 30,000 square-foot facility on Good Hope Road, more than tripling their footprint in Southeast! The new Southeast Center will provide a variety of new and enhanced services, including primary health care, vision, and dental services; a wellness center; and even a vegetable garden on the roof. The new facility will also feature an expanded jobs center, which will provide job seekers with a new classroom, computer lab, and training space, in addition to offering counseling, mentorship, and long-term support. Bread for the City hopes to open the new and improved Southeast Center in 2020. In the meantime, they plan to continue providing Southeast residents with legal, employment, and social services. Read more about this exciting development in Anacostia here!
Meet Our Intern: Christelle Tshibengabo (Spring 2018)
Welcome 2018: In Verse
As we start 2018, our Executive Director, Nancy Lopez and her poetic daughter, Jessica, look back on the past year and ahead to new challenges: As 2017 comes to a close, we reflect on all the things that arose: The programs, people, and legal developments, Some of them were small, and others immense. Trump officially took office; women marched on the mall Lawyers left the federal government - some, but not all. Some went to Dulles to fight the travel ban Pro Bono in Action tapped the earnest, as part of our plan. Our Government Pro Bono Roundtable was sold out: it was packed! Our panelists spoke of those who felt the system was stacked; Believing that without a lawyer by their side They could never prevail; that we could not abide. So we trained lawyers in depositions, objections, and public speaking Teaching those classes were Clap, Horton, Harden and Pinckney. Some Litigation Skills Trainings were casual, others more intense, But they all taught lawyers how to effectively represent clients. Perspectives on Poverty Law was a bit hit, as always Because students learned from judges about court happenings on most days Judges Raffinan, Becker, and Dayson replied eloquently, To questions which were posed by the jovial Chinh Le. The Supreme Court: A View from the Press Gallery was fantastic The convened panel of journalists was slightly bombastic Barnes and Mauro, Liptak and Howe, De Vogue and Savage, you can read them right now! Our Summer Pro Bono & Public-Interest Forum, we’ll never forget: With Ruth Bader Ginsburg, our most popular guest yet! Over 350 people listened in awe, And attended panels on Civil Rights, Immigration, Criminal, Transactional, and Poverty law. Legal Services Corporation provides civil legal aid across the nation Congress threatened to cut their funding - a major abomination! But lawyers rallied from law schools, Big Law, corporations, and more and so this vital funding became fully restored. Emily, Melinda, Katie, Rebecca and Erich, Plus Sarah, together they are our latest board picks. We gladly welcomed these fine new members in, but we had to say a sad goodbye to our beloved Jim Rubin. This year’s DC Pro Bono Week was utterly astounding Constantly it seems to grow—events are compounding. We strove to encourage volunteer service without much fuss Using Pro Bono to Advocate for Social Justice. Our Awards Ceremony closed out the year We honored some outstanding advocates, and shed a few tears Patty Fugere, Mayer Brown, and Jaya Saxena performed incredibly, Also great: Deborah Birnbaum, and Tracy Goodman from CLC! As 2017 comes to a close, we reflect on all the things that arose, But the most important thing through each laugh and tear, Is the hope that comes with each turning year: Time never stops It keeps going and going Meanwhile, our community Keeps growing and growing So let’s make this year the best we’ve seen Welcome, new year, welcome 2018!
2017 Awards Ceremony: Photo Album
2017 Presidents Award for Public Service Award: Patty Mullahy Fugere
2017 Law Firm Award: Mayer Brown
2017 Above & Beyond Award: Jaya Saxena
2017 Government Pro Bono Award: Deborah Birnbaum
2017 Legal Services Award: Tracy Goodman
Our 2017 Award Recipients
DC Pro Bono Week 2017: Photos
Pro Bono Week Profiles: The Complete Set (2017)
$10 Million for East of the River Students to Attend College
Our New Board Members (2017)
Dogs of Public Interest Law: Liam
2017 DC Pro Bono Week: Full Schedule of Events
The Dogs of Public Interest Law: Frankie
Supreme Court: View from the Press Gallery [Full Video]
Dine Around for Justice (August 2017)
Dine Around for Justice is a fun and easy way to promote greater access to justice in the District of Columbia. On each Thursday in August, we will partner with a restaurant who will donate a portion of the day's proceeds to Washington Council of Lawyers. Dine Around for Justice will raise awareness and support for our mission of increasing access to free legal help for those in need. There are three opportunities this August to Dine Around for Justice. August 3: We invite you to make a reservation to dine at Farmers & Distillers (600 Massachusetts Avenue NW) on Thursday, August 3. Farmers & Distillers was named Best New Restaurant in 2017 by the Washington City Paper. Gather your friends and make plans to enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner at Farmers & Distillers on August 3. You will enjoy an outstanding meal and support a worthy cause. August 17: Enjoy a meal anytime between 11 am and 1 pm at The Greene Turtle (601 F Street NW) on August 17. You must print and bring this Greene Turtle Flyer with you in order to participate. Enjoy burgers, crab cakes, salads, beer, and justice! August 31: Bid on a seat at the lunch table with Legal Services Corporation President Jim Sandman at RPM Italian (650 K Street NW). Five lucky winners will enjoy an antipasto, entree, and dessert as well as fantastic company and conversation. Jim Sandman is one of the best access-to-justice leaders issues in the country. Get the bidding started here! The online auction ends on August 24. Join us for one, two, or all three opportunities to Dine Around for Justice!