Yesterday, the D.C. Circuit Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services held the first-ever virtual "40 at 50” Pro Bono Event. The event recognized DC law firms for outstanding leadership in pro bono service. It honored firms that had at least 40% of their lawyers contribute at least 50 pro bono hours in years 2019 and/or 2020.

This year, the event was hosted by Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the judicial liaison to the Committee, and Legal Aid’s Executive Director Eric Angel, who is the Chair of the Committee. The event also included remarks by Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Chief Judge Srinivasan emphasized that the need for pro bono participation by area law firms is even greater than ever as the District faces the acute challenges stemming from the pandemic. Chief Judge Howell offered special recognition to the ten firms in which more than 60% of their lawyers performed 50 or more hours of pro bono work in 2019 and/or 2020: Arnold & Porter; Hughes Hubbard & Reed; Jenner & Block; Miller & Chevalier; O’Melveny & Myers; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Paul Hastings; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Ropes & Gray; and Seyfarth Shaw.

The 39 firms honored this morning (Legal Aid Board firms in bold) are:

 

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If your law firm is interested in learning more about pro bono opportunities with Legal Aid, please contact Jodi Feldman or Sylvia Soltis. We have ample opportunities for lawyers at your firm to help make justice real for the most vulnerable in our community.