2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Law Student Pro Bono Service: Pathways & Projects

We are continuing our kickoff celebration with a special event just for law students! Join us for Pro Bono for Law Students to learn more about programs that welcome law student involvement, the kinds of work law students complete through pro bono service, as well as how to balance pro bono experience with your academic commitments. We will discuss where you can learn more about pro bono projects at your school. We will also dive into pro bono programs with opportunities for law students so you can get a better sense of what work you'll do with the program as well as what you'll be able to observe and learn. Our panel is moderated by Jen Tschirch, Director of Office of Public Interest and Community Service at Georgetown University Law Center, in conversation with: Adrianne Clarke, Howard University School of Law Michael Chyobotov, Workers Rights Program Emily McCabe, Court Observation Program Eric Peffley, Legal Monitor Program This event is open to law students and law school professionals. We welcome folks at every stage of their law school career! Join the conversation on social media #DCProBono25!

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Community Lawyering for Environmental Justice: Environmental Pro Bono Opportunities in the DC Region

Join the Environmental Law Institute and ELI’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse for a special edition of our Community Lawyering for Environmental Justice series in celebration of DC Pro Bono Week. This installment will focus on how lawyers in the DC region can get involved with local environmental pro bono activities. Panelists will discuss the wide array of opportunities to engage with law school clinics and nonprofit organizations on environmental pro bono projects. Speakers will also share their personal experiences with pro bono work and answer audience questions. This event is best suited for lawyers working in any sector. We also encourage law students and members of the community to join. Note: There will be no CLE available for this program.

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Public Benefits: Programs & How Pro Bono Ensures Client Access

Host by Legal Counsel for the Elderly This panel will explore key public benefit programs including Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, and the EPD Waiver. Panelists will discuss the challenges clients face in accessing these benefits and the critical role pro bono attorneys can play in helping individuals navigate complex systems. Whether it’s advocating during administrative hearings, assisting with applications, or supporting appeals, pro bono attorneys are essential in ensuring vulnerable populations receive the support they need. Our panelists are: •     Robyn R. Griffin, Senior Attorney, Legal Counsel for the Elderly •     Janice K. Johnson Hunter, Esq., Pro Bono Support Attorney, DC Bar Pro Bono Center •     Jennifer Mezey, Healthy Together Deputy Director, Children’s Law Center •     Allison Miles-Lee, Managing Attorney, Bread for the City This event is best suited for lawyers working in private practice, legal services, the government, or as in-house or corporate counsel. We also encourage law students, non-lawyer professionals, and members of the community to join. Join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono25!

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: The Veterans Consortium: Legal Advice and Referral Clinics

Hosted by the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program In celebration of Pro Bono Week, The Veterans Consortium (TVC) is partnering with local volunteers and DC area law students to hold two, one-day pop-up legal clinics to serve the needs of veterans. These clinics will be held via a virtual platform. Clinics: Advice & Referral Clinic for Veterans - Virtual Tuesday, October 21 10:00 am – 4:30 pm ET To volunteer, reach out to Hayley at hayley.wolf@vetsprobono.org. And join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono25!

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: NVLSP Discharge Upgrade File Review Training

The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) will present a one hour training on discharge upgrades and NVLSP’s limited scope discharge upgrade file review project. This limited scope pro bono opportunity enables volunteers to review and screen the files of veterans who have applied to NVLSP for pro bono assistance with a discharge upgrade. NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors discharge upgrade program assists veterans in applying to upgrade their characterization of service, for example from "Other Than Honorable" to a more favorable characterization such as "Honorable" or "General (Under Honorable Conditions)." A discharge upgrade may help veterans receive Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and health care, improve employment opportunities, and restore reputation and self esteem. Many veterans served through this project have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries, or other mental health conditions that are related to military service. Many veterans served through this program are survivors of Military Sexual Trauma. NVLSP screens every applicant to its discharge upgrade program before referring the matter to a pro bono partner for full representation. The file review project tasks volunteers with conducting a preliminary screen by reviewing and analyzing the files of clients who have applied for a discharge upgrade, so that NVLSP screening attorneys are able to review the files more efficiently. This project is primarily administrative in nature. Pro bono volunteers will create a Word table or Excel spreadsheet cataloging the client files and return the file review work product to NVLSP within one month of accepting the matter. The project is remote and can be completed from any location. Pro bono volunteers will agree to abide by the NVLSP confidentiality agreement. The estimated time commitment is ten to fifteen hours per project, and volunteers may work in teams. NVLSP’s DC Pro Bono Week presentation is open to all. However, only attorneys are eligible to accept file review matters, and government attorneys may not accept NVLSP discharge upgrade file review matters. NVLSP discharge upgrade file review pro bono opportunities are limited.

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Expungement Clinic

Join Us for an In-Person Limited Scope Expungement Clinic Please join us for an in-person limited scope expungement clinic to help DC residents with sealing eligible criminal records on October 23 from 9 am -12 pm at DLA Piper. A criminal record can create significant barriers to employment, education, housing, and overall well-being. Record sealing offers individuals a critical opportunity for a fresh start by reducing the long-term consequences of past convictions. At the clinic, volunteers will partner with clients referred by Christian Legal Aid of DC (CLADC) to gather background information to be included in their motions. We will provide training on the morning of the clinic, and CLADC staff will be available throughout the day to provide guidance and support. We welcome participation from attorneys, paralegals, and law students. All non-lawyer volunteers will be paired with a licensed attorney. Please note: We are at capacity for law student volunteers and have begun a waitlist for licensed attorneys. If you did not receive a separate confirmation email, you are not registered for this Expungement Clinic. Join the conversation on social media #DCProBono25

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Meeting Our Clients Where They Are: Serving Families Through Medical-Legal Partnerships

Hosted by Children's Law Center (CLC) at Children's Health Center - Shaw.  Connect with our client community and learn more about how your pro bono efforts support our neighbors. You'll hear directly from CLC staff about the powerful ways legal services are changing lives across D.C.—and why pro bono work is essential in bridging the justice gap. Discover how CLC’s innovative medical-legal partnership is breaking down non-medical barriers to health, and explore the unique advantages of co-locating legal services alongside healthcare and other support professionals. Learn how lawyers like you can play a critical role in this work—and how you can get involved. Space is limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this inspiring conversation! Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono25.

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: It Takes a Village: Highlighting the Value of Pro Bono Representation in Family Law

Hosted by Children’s Law Center, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, Mother’s Outreach Network, and Rising for Justice. Please join us for a lively panel discussion on the need for pro bono representation in cases impacting families.  This panel will discuss challenges individuals face in securing representation and dispel myths about who our clients are.  Panelists will share their experiences representing parents, third-party caregivers, and the best interests of children. In addition to child custody matters, we’ll discuss family preservation and safety planning, immigrant family preparedness matters, and representing respondents in civil protection matters.  We’ll be joined by D.C. Superior Court Judge Sanchez who will share her view from the bench.  Come learn why access to justice in family law means everyone has a lawyer.  Attendees will receive information about how they can get involved, ranging from limited scope to extended representation.  Registrants will receive a Zoom link in advance of the event. Our discussion will be moderated by Jen Masi (Children’s Law Center) and participants will hear from the below panelists: Jacob Lemon-Strauss  (Rising for Justice) Jenadee Nanini (D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center) The Honorable Veronica Sanchez (D.C. Superior Court) Melody Webb (Mother’s Outreach Network) Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono25.

2025 DC Pro Bono Week: Pro Bono Goes Local: A Kickoff Celebration

Co-sponsored by DC Consortium of Legal Services Providers Join us for a special fireside chat with D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge Milton C. Lee, Jr. as we kick off our D.C. Pro Bono Week 2025 celebration! D.C. Bar President Sadina Montani will moderate the engaging conversation. You won’t want to miss this chance to hear directly from the Chief Judges about the most pressing pro bono needs across the D.C. Courts and how we all can play a part in filling the gaps in access to justice for D.C. residents. We hope you’ll leave the event feeling (more) energized to get involved in local pro bono! Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. for refreshments and engaging activities to share your pro bono spirit with others before we start the fireside chat. Pro Bono Goes Local is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Invite your colleagues and friends! This event is best suited for lawyers working in any type of practice setting, as well as retired lawyers, law students, and non-lawyer professionals.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Recap

DC Pro Bono Week 2024 is a wrap, but the inspiration to make a difference in our community and the celebration of pro bono service continues. We know the need for pro bono lawyers doesn’t stop and as lawyers, we have a duty and obligation to help bridge the access to justice gap. Whether it’s by taking on a pro bono case, volunteering for an advice and referral clinic, contributing to systemic advocacy, or financially supporting a legal services organization, we can all do something for the public good.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Partnership to Freedom: Supporting Maryland Lifers in Access to Justice through Parole

The Prison Policy Initiative projects that Maryland incarcerates 475 persons per every 100,000 people in the state. Maryland’s exceptionally high rate of incarceration stands out on an international scale, outpacing several NATO-member nations. See id.  As the State’s Attorney General recently acknowledged, Maryland’s prisons are among the worst in the nation for their racially disparate incarceration of Black people. The disparities are particularly extreme among the more than 2,000 people serving life-with-parole sentences: about 77% of Maryland lifers are Black, in a state that is about 31% Black. For those who were children at the time they were first incarcerated, the numbers are even more stark – 84%.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Tim Cordova: A Commitment to Helping the Disabled

Tim Cordova, an associate in the Health Care Group at Alston & Bird, has built a reputation for his meticulous work in health care legislative and regulatory compliance matters. But beyond his daily practice, Tim's has established a commitment to pro bono work, particularly in helping disabled individuals secure much-needed Social Security disability benefits and health care coverage. Tim has become an advocate for those who need it most, working tirelessly to assist clients through difficult appeals processes and ensuring they receive the support they deserve.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Strengthening Support for Immigrant Survivors: The Power of Medical-Legal Partnerships

In Washington, D.C., the collaboration between La Clinica Del Pueblo and the Tahirih Justice Center is significantly impacting the lives by—Latiné* immigrant survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). This medical-legal partnership represents a crucial lifeline for communities often excluded from traditional healthcare and legal support, particularly for those within the Latiné immigrant population. By combining the expertise of La Clinica Del Pueblo in providing culturally appropriate health services with the legal advocacy strength of the Tahirih Justice Center, this initiative provides an integrated and holistic approach to the complex challenges faced by these individuals.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Empowering Progress: Volunteer Lawyers Changing Lives with DCVLP

Nonprofits play a critical role in serving low-income, historically underserved communities. In Washington, DC, the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project fills these gaps by recruiting, training, and supervising pro bono attorneys who in turn represent clients in family law, child advocacy, and immigration matters. DCVLP and its volunteers focus on serving survivors of domestic violence, survivors of gender-based violence, and vulnerable children. Volunteer attorneys donated 48,000 pro bono hours in 2023 alone. Two of these volunteers are Anne (Annie) Bonfiglio and Sarah Tunney.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024 Affiliated Trainings

In addition to the main DC Pro Bono Week events, a series of affiliated trainings will take place before, during, and after Pro Bono Week. The full list is below: October 9 Introduction to Pro Bono Advocacy for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children 2:00-3:15 pm CT Register October 23 Family Separation Learn about the Ms. L v. ICE settlement agreement and the legal processes it provides for separated families. 12:00 - 1:00 pm  ET Register November 7 Understanding Family Law vs. Probate Law  1:00-2:00 pm ET Virtual Register  If you are hosting a training between now and the end of November, we would love to feature it on our Affiliated Trainings page! Please email Chris Marin at cmarin@wclawyers.org for more information.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: DLA Piper’s Knowledge Management Team Supporting DC Access to Justice Commission

Pro Bono Week profiles frequently highlight traditional client work done by lawyers, but law firms and their professional staff can also be a resource for advancing access to justice in systemic ways. For over a decade, DLA Piper has provided a range of support to the D.C. Access to Justice Commission to further its efforts to examine and address the access to justice crisis in the District.

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Barb Burr, Passionate Family Law Advocate

Barb Burr always wanted to help people. A certified CPA, she decided to pivot into a legal career because she missed the opportunity to engage with “people in a deep and meaningful way.” After graduating from Harvard Law School, Barb started her legal career as a civil rights lawyer, eventually falling in love with family law. Her background in civil rights and her commitment to low bono and pro bono  work reflect her original mission: “I find it really rewarding when I can help people,” Barb shares, “including people of modest means through DC Refers.”

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Pro Bono Partnership that Increase Capacity for Advocacy

As sponsors of one of Tzedek DC’s prior Equal Justice Works Fellows, PayPal and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP expressed interest in pro bono opportunities at Tzedek DC. Together, the organizations decided that having PayPal and Orrick employees conduct intakes would be the most helpful to Tzedek DC and provide an easy and rewarding opportunity to volunteers. When volunteers conduct intakes, Tzedek DC staff attorneys can devote more time to their other cases, increasing the capacity of Tzedek DC to assist DC residents.

Celebrating In-House Pro Bono Impact

Join us for an inspiring and insightful webinar dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of in-house pro bono work.  This engaging session will highlight the vital contributions in-house legal teams make to their communities through a diverse array of pro bono initiatives, including bite-size and long-term opportunities.  The program will showcase how corporate legal departments can support and encourage employees to do pro bono, and inspire new volunteers to participate.  Whether you're new to pro bono work or a seasoned advocate, you will learn from our panelists’ pro bono experiences and practical advice. Panelists: Bill Hayden, Chief Compliance Counsel (Microsoft Federal) & Asst. General Counsel, Microsoft Avery Pollard, Counsel, Verizon Business Group Alyssa Saunders, Director, Corporate Pro Bono, Pro Bono Institute Kathi S. Westcott, Deputy General Counsel and Senior Director, Legal Affairs, The Pew Charitable Trusts Join the conversation on Social Media using #DCProBono24

A Celebration of the Vulnerable Youth Guardianship Protection Amendment Act

Join us for an insightful panel discussion to celebrate the Vulnerable Youth Guardianship Protection Amendment Act and its impact. This event will feature a panel of dedicated legal professionals, including pro bono attorneys who have firsthand experience working on VYG cases, as well as additional experts in the field.  The discussion will explore the significance of the Act, the legal challenges surrounding vulnerable youth guardianship, and the ongoing efforts to protect the rights of at-risk youth. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from those at the forefront of legal advocacy and pro bono work, and to engage in a meaningful conversation about the future of guardianship protection. Join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24!

DC Pro Bono Week Profiles: Shaun Boedicker and Gammon Fain

DCALF and Steptoe LLP are thrilled to profile a recent, tremendous pro bono collaboration. One of DCALF’s long-standing clients had been awaiting an asylum interview for nearly 7 years when we had the opportunity to collaborate with the Steptoe team. Shaun Boedicker and Gammon Fain, with the support of Pro Bono Partner, Paul Lee. The team quickly rallied to file a mandamus brief in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia demanding that USCIS hear our client’s long-pending asylum case. Our client is a gay man who suffered persecution in his home country in west Africa where being gay is illegal. With Steptoe’s filing, within weeks, the 7-year wait was over - USCIS quickly scheduled him for an asylum interview and was granted asylum. Our client’s fears and anxieties are now lifted and he is able to plan for his future and continue his small business.

Volunteer! AILA Citizenship Day Clinic

AILA’s 19th Annual Citizenship Day event will take place on (or around) September 21, 2024. Citizenship Day is a single-day, nationwide event at which AILA chapters across the country partner with grassroots organizations to provide free or low-cost assistance to eligible lawful permanent residents who wish to apply for U.S. citizenship. We encourage you to be a part of this effort by signing up to volunteer. There is a need for both attorney and non-attorney volunteer at all events. If you are interested, register below. Please contact ailadccitizenship@gmail.com with any additional questions Clinics this year: Saturday, October 19, 2024 hosted by the DC Pro Bono Center and Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School 1100 Harvard Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 10:00AM -3:00PM

Volunteer! DC Pro Bono Center Advice & Referral Clinic

DC Pro Bono Week is about celebrating pro bono and learning about the many opportunities available to do pro bono service! A fantastic opportunity that has been a pillar of pro bono in our community is the DC Bar Pro Bono Center's Advice & Referral Clinic! All experience is welcome! You don’t need to be an expert in any area of law. D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center staff and expert mentors will be on hand to answer any questions and help you provide brief advice and referrals to individuals who would otherwise be left to navigate the complex legal system alone. As a volunteer lawyer, you’ll answer questions about consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, bankruptcy, and other topics. Steet parking is available. A brief orientation takes place at 9:00 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. The clinic is held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the DC Bar (901 4th St NW). You must register to volunteer by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 9! Important: If you are currently in a federal 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!

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Schedule of Events

DC Pro Bono Week 2024 takes place from October 20–26 and offers lots of opportunities to do pro bono work, learn new pro bono skills, meet other pro bono lawyers, and expand your pro bono horizons. The Full Schedule of Events is below. There are also many Affiliated Trainings taking place before, during, and after Pro Bono Week.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Meeting Our Clients Where They Are: Serving Families East of the Anacostia River

Hosted by Children’s Law Center at the Children’s Health Center – Anacostia This event will provide participants with an opportunity to meet and engage in our client community. CLC staff will discuss their legal services work east of the Anacostia River and the importance of pro bono in serving D.C. neighbors. Participants will hear about CLC’s medical-legal partnership, how lawyers can address non-medical barriers to health, the benefits of co-locating legal services with non-lawyer professionals, and how you can get involved. Space is limited. This event is appropriate for folks from law firm and legal service organizations, as well as government attorneys, law students, and non-legal support staff. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24.  

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Walk for Justice 5K

Washington Council of Lawyers invites you to support the inaugural DC Walk for Justice 5K on October 24, 2024! Join fellow justice-loving individuals for an afternoon of community, education, and fun! Walkers will follow a route showcasing views of Nationals Park and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. And it doesn't stop there! After the Walk, participants will celebrate with a finish line party with food, drinks, and music at Centerfield Plaza inside Nationals Park Stadium. The DC Walk for Justice 5K aims to raise $250,000 for the District’s pressing civil legal needs. All proceeds from the DC Walk for Justice 5K benefit the DC Bar Foundation, which works to make civil legal aid more accessible for all District residents through grantmaking, network coordination, community engagement, and more. The DC Bar Foundation is committed to transforming the District’s civil legal aid network so that all residents have a fair and equal legal experience. The Foundation has three goals for the Walk: to increase community awareness of the significant civil legal aid needs in the District of Columbia, to expand the network of lawyers, judges, and community members committed to supporting legal aid, and to raise at least $250,000 for the Foundation's transformative work. The Walk is patterned after the London Legal Walk, which raises more than $1 million annually for civil legal aid needs in London. Other communities in the UK, Australia, and the United States host annual legal walks. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: DC Superior Court Open House: Landlord and Tenant Branch

This event is cosponsored by the Superior Court Committee on Pro Bono & Affordable Counsel and the Housing Right to Counsel Project. Join us during Pro Bono Week for a special D.C. Superior Court Open House in the Landlord and Tenant Branch, cosponsored by the city - wide Housing Right to Counsel Project – a coalition of legal services providers and law firms that guarantee representation to certain tenants who are at particular risk of not only being evicted from their home, but possibly losing a critical housing subsidy, as well. Representatives from legal services organizations and the Housing Right to Counsel Project will introduce you to the Landlord and Tenant Branch – one of the Court’s high-volume branches where pro bono representation is greatly needed to help tenants assert their rights and defenses in eviction cases. You’ll observe court proceedings, meet with judges, and learn how you can help tenants maintain safe and affordable housing and expand access to justice in our community. The Landlord and Tenant Branch – within the Court’s Civil Division – has limited jurisdiction and only adjudicates eviction cases filed by landlords against tenants. Fewer than 15% of tenants facing eviction proceedings have legal representation, while 95% of landlords are represented. Are you ready to learn more? We look forward to welcoming you! 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. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Mobilizing After The Election

An election always brings change. If the incumbent wins, they may feel they have the freedom to push policy agendas in a second term. If the challenger wins, they may feel they’ve been handed a mandate to pursue their differing policies. In a presidential election, the stakes are higher and the policies reach further. Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, there will be issues on which the public-interest and pro bono community will need to mobilize quickly. In this discussion, our panelists will discuss the most pressing issues of this election and how we as advocates and legal professionals can use our skills and resources to respond to potential results of the election. Our panelists include: Emily Martin, Chief Program Officer, National Women's Law Center Laurie Ball Cooper, Vice President, U.S. Legal Programs, International Refugee Assistance Project The discussion will be moderated by Andy Budzinski, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Elliott Milstein Civil Advocacy Clinic at the American University Washington of Law and Washington Council of Lawyers board member. We invite lawyers, law students, legal professionals, community partners, social service organizations, and anyone whose work will be affected by the results of the election. Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24.

DC Pro Bono Week 2024: Hot Topics Panel: Election Protection

Join us during DC Pro Bono Week for a timely panel discussion on election protection and how you can make a difference in the upcoming election. Our panel of experts will explore the legal challenges surrounding election integrity and the vital role pro bono volunteers play in safeguarding voters' rights. Learn how to get involved in this critical work and provide legal assistance to protect the democratic process. Don't miss this chance to contribute to fair and accessible elections! Our panelists include: Sylvia Albert, Democracy and Representation Policy Counsel, Common Cause Angie Pitha, Project Lead, Election Official Legal Defense Network Nick Gothard, Senior National Coordinator, Lawyer's Committee The panel will be moderated by Ashley Erickson, Senior Director of Network Advancement, American Constitution Society Spread the word and join the conversation on social media using #DCProBono24.

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