Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Mentoring Program! If you have 0-3 years of legal experience and seek meaningful connections with the DC pro bono and public interest community, read on.
People living in poverty struggle daily to meet basic needs for themselves and their families. Critical relief: housing, nutrition, health care, fair employment, and protection from violence, often turn not on rights but on access to justice. Often access to justice remain out of reach for many trying to navigate complex rules and requirements. While legal representation can transform an individual’s ability to access what they need to survive and thrive, low-income litigants are the least likely to have an attorney to help them through the legal process. Pro bono attorneys who fill this gap literally save lives. Learn more about the wide-ranging legal issues individuals living in poverty face and what pro bono opportunities are available in D.C. and across the country to help address these needs at our 2024 Summer Forum Panel on Poverty Law on Thursday, June 27 from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm ET. Register here to join the virtual conversation.
On June 3, we welcomed a panel of fellowship directors and student fellows from the Skadden Foundation, Justice Catalyst, and Equal Justice Works to discuss the process of obtaining a fellowship for current law students. For law students pursuing public interest law, fellowships are one of the most effective postgraduate pathways into a career. Our two fellow panelists spoke about their unique exposure to extensive legal experience as well as the combined learning from seasoned professionals and a cohort of attorney fellows. Fellows benefit from the institutional memory of their host organizations, gain access to a public interest alumni community, engage in meaningful work, and receive support as they begin their careers.
When we say pro bono, many think of assisting litigants through navigating the many ins and out of the court system, but that's not the only place our legal system asks non-lawyers to have an understanding of the law. 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! Learn more about the impactful opportunities to get involved at our first substantive panel discussion on Wednesday, June 26 from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm ET. Register here to join the virtual conversation.
Meet Our Summer 2024 Intern: Delphine Gareau Delphine is a rising junior at Boston College from Concord, Massachusetts. She is a pre-law student majoring in International Studies with minors in Environmental Studies and Religion and American Public Life. This summer, she is participating in The Fund for American Studies Academic Internship Program, taking economics and public policy courses while interning with WCL. At Boston College, Delphine currently serves as the Student Senate Academic Affairs Committee Chair, a Peer Advisor for the International Studies Department, and the Junior Captain of the Club Equestrian Team. With aspirations for a career in law, she will assist the Washington Council of Lawyers with legal research, events, social media, and writing projects. Welcome to the team, Delphine!
On May 23, we welcomed folks from across the legal profession and in the tech world to discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pro bono service and access to justice. When thinking of AI, many minds go to the newest and hottest technologies like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. These are called generative AI, which refers to technologies that can create original content such as text, images, video, and audio. But did you know that AI has been around for a while and lawyers, especially, have been relying on it heavily? When you’re doing a quick Google search or reading through the list of cases suggested in Westlaw, you’re using AI. That older and commonly used version of AI is called predictive AI. Predictive AI looks backwards at an existing data set and predicts outcomes based on that data.
Environmental law issues impact residents in D.C. and across the country in a variety of unforeseen ways. People in poverty and communities of color are more likely to live in environmentally unhealthy places. Climate change motivates immigration all over the globe. Join us for a summer forum panel discussion about the many ways environmental justice implicates human rights and racial justice. We are excited to hear how legislative advocacy, individual representation, class action and other tools can bring us closer to achieving environmental justice. Learn more about these important topics at our 2024 Summer Forum Panel on Environmental Justice Panel on Wednesday, June 26 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET.
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 2024 Summer Forum Panel on Criminal Law & Death Penalty Panel on Wednesday, June 26 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET.
Applications for the 2024-2025 board year are now open! Serving on our board is both professionally and personally rewarding and a great way to become more involved with our organization and the DC public-interest community. Here is a peek at what's involved:
The leadership of the D.C. Bar focuses on priorities and sets the tone for the largest unified bar association in the country. Since Washington Council of Lawyers is devoted to promoting pro bono service and public-interest law, we think it is essential that D.C. Bar leaders understand firsthand the importance of, and have a demonstrated commitment to, increasing access to justice in our community. Washington Council of Lawyers endorses the following 2024 candidates, listed alphabetically, and not in order of preference.
Thank you so much to everyone that came to the 2023 Justice Impact Awards Ceremony! We enjoyed a beautiful evening with everyone and are glad to share these memories! A special thanks to our award winners and all they do for our community
On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, panelists discussed the ongoing consequences of the "School to Prison Pipeline." We broke down the narrative, highlighted the ongoing and significant effects on students of color, particularly those with disabilities, and laid out action steps for students, educators, and legal professionals to promote systemic change and end disparate discipline practices.
Patrick McGlone exemplifies the values of excellence, commitment to justice, and dedicated community service. He is a worker, a joiner, and a true trailblazer in the legal world. For his leadership and inspiration to the legal profession and the DC community, we are proud to recognize Pat with the 2023 Justice Impact Awards Corporate Counsel Award.
Ted Howard is the quietest legend you will ever meet. To speak with him, you would not know of the thousands of hours he’s personally dedicated to pro bono service or the hundreds of lawyers he’s mentored and supported as Wily Rein’s Pro Bono Partner. What you will hear and feel is his passion for closing the access to justice gap and his commitment to serving his neighbors. He is a leader in our community, and we are proud to loudly announce Ted as the distinguished recipient of our 2023 Justice Impact Award for Law Firm Lawyers.
Chris Jennison, a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Transportation, goes above and beyond in his commitment to pro bono service and his dedication to encouraging others to make pro bono service part of their career. For his strong and steady commitment to doing pro bono work and the many ways he has encouraged other government lawyers to do pro bono work, Chris is the recipient of the 2023 Justice Impact Award for Government Lawyers.
Wes Heppler is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind champion. He advocates strenuously for his clients, is a true colleague and friend to his co-workers, and is a dedicated advocate for just systems to help the homeless. It is with immense pride and admiration that we announce him as the recipient of the 2023 Justice Impact Award for Legal Services Lawyers.
In the world of public service, some people shine brightly. They stand out for their exceptional talents and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on their community. Nancy Drane is one such individual. Although few beneficiaries of her work know her name, countless DC residents have benefited from her zealous advocacy and commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for all. We are thrilled to recognize Nancy Drane as our 2023 Presidents Award recipient for her outstanding contributions to the DC legal services community.
That’s a wrap on DC Pro Bono Week 2023! We hope the events, trainings, and more throughout October inspired your to commitment to pro bono service. If you're looking for creative ways to make pro bono service a part of your career, check out these stories:
Since 2015, Legal Aid’s Reentry Justice Project has been helping clients who face barriers in accessing housing, employment, and other opportunities due to a criminal record. Individuals who have interacted with police and the criminal legal system — disproportionately people of color and people who live in areas of concentrated poverty — find themselves facing a multitude of collateral civil consequences that act in real and concrete ways to perpetuate generational cycles of poverty. The Project seeks to eliminate those barriers through direct representation and systemic advocacy.
DC Affordable Law Firm – DCALF, as we are more commonly known – delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation, empowering community members with unmet legal needs while also launching the careers of public interest lawyers committed to accessible justice.
Shirin Zamani has been a staff attorney with Hogan Lovells for more than 8 years and was promoted to Staff Attorney Manager in 2022. She has been a longtime advocate of non-partner track attorneys receiving billable credit for pro bono work. As one of the firm’s Pro Bono Champions, she shares weekly opportunities with her colleagues to get them plugged into pro bono matters that interest them, from disability rights to domestic violence and everything in between.
The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) is thrilled to celebrate the achievement of the DC-based, Latham & Watkins pro bono team comprised of associate Michael Clemente and partners Adam Greenfield and Eugene Elrod. The Latham team secured a systemic victory for veterans in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on behalf of Vietnam War combat veteran Robert Doyon. The Federal Circuit adopted a broad rule that will significantly help veterans seeking medical retirements related to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Federal Circuit held that every Board for Correction of Military Records decision must apply liberal consideration to applications, like Mr. Doyon’s, that seek a medical retirement for PTSD.
An associate at ArentFox Schiff LLP, Megan Daily’s practice concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, entity formation and structuring, commercial contract drafting, and general corporate law. Her everyday clients tend to be large, sophisticated entities with the ability to afford expert legal counsel. The transactional experience advising these sizeable clients allows her to provide valuable pro bono support to DC’s newest, smallest nonprofits and small businesses who otherwise could not afford to pay hundreds of dollars an hour for legal help.
“My law school clinical and internship experiences taught me that simply having a lawyer advocating for their interests can make a life-changing difference in outcomes for clients,” Alfredo Vasquez says. Find out more about how his work with DC Refers is his way of working to improve the legal system and the lives of our moderate-income neighbors.
What began as an emergency response to the immediate needs of busloads of migrants being dropped at Union Station last summer has grown into a coordinated response by Georgetown Law’s Immigration Law Student Association (ILSA), volunteer attorneys from private firms and non-profit organizations, as well as other Georgetown law, graduate, undergraduate students, and alumni.
The Landlord and Tenant Branch of D.C. Superior Court adjudicates complaints for the possession of real property, commonly referred to as eviction cases. A landlord may file a complaint for possession against a tenant. Approximately 95% of the tenants sued for eviction in the Landlord and Tenant Branch are not represented by counsel. Only about 5% of landlords are unrepresented.
Nonprofits serve a critical role in our communities. They provide programming that lifts up underserved and vulnerable populations and empower individuals to take action to help their communities. In doing so, nonprofits regularly navigate tricky legal issues, and pro bono assistance can be essential. Patrick Fuller, Counsel at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, understands the challenges that nonprofits face. Over the course of his career, Patrick has dedicated his pro bono practice to strengthening the capacity and compliance of nonprofits primarily working in DC, advising on a range of structuring transactions and corporate governance matters.
Over 85% of parties in child custody, divorce, and child support cases in D.C. Superior Court lack representation. The Family Court Self-Help Center, on site at the Moultrie Courthouse, is a free resource for unrepresented litigants who must navigate a complex legal system designed for lawyers. The Self-Help Center provides customers with information about family law, helps prepare pleadings, instructs litigants how to file and serve documents, clarifies court processes, and offers referrals to community resources.
The Superior Court’s Housing Conditions Calendar within the Civil Division allows tenants to sue their landlords to obtain needed repairs and ensure that their landlords comply with the D.C. Housing Code.
The Superior Court’s Domestic Violence Division adjudicates civil and criminal domestic violence matters, including Civil Protection Order (CPO) cases. A person can file a petition 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.
