Pro Bono Resources
Connecting retail corporate counsel with law firm–led pro bono programs that support access to justice and legal collaboration.
Pro Bono Resources connects retail corporate counsel with law firm–led pro bono programs that support access to justice and social equity initiatives. These resources highlight opportunities for retail legal teams to collaborate with law firm partners on community-focused legal services.
Lawyers have a long-standing professional responsibility to serve the public interest by providing legal services to individuals and communities who lack access to representation. Retail corporate legal departments increasingly seek meaningful ways to participate in pro bono work, but available programs and partnership models can vary.
Pro Bono Resources help retail corporate counsel identify opportunities to engage in pro bono initiatives by highlighting programs administered by Retail Litigation Center law firm members. These programs welcome participation from in-house legal teams and support collaboration between retail counsel and law firm attorneys with established pro bono infrastructure.
The resources also identify programs administered by other organizations that may be useful to retail legal departments seeking to establish pro bono initiatives, expand existing efforts, or strengthen diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. Highlighted opportunities may include criminal defense or appellate litigation, housing and tenant rights, legal counseling for minority-owned businesses, and other community-focused legal services.
The Retail Litigation Center continues to expand the pro bono resources available to retail corporate counsel. If you are aware of additional programs that would be valuable to retail legal teams, please contact Anna Williamson at anna.williamson@rila.org to recommend a program for inclusion.
Member Pro Bono Programs
Alston & Bird’s pro bono program actively works with social justice organizations and other groups in important areas like housing, like housing, criminal justice reform, and related education efforts. Alston routinely partners with clients, including RLC Retail Member The Home Depot, on such projects. Alston & Bird is currently welcoming corporate counsel to its partnership with the Project Justice Institute on the Unanimous Jury Project following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 decision finding that non-unanimous juries violate the Sixth Amendment.
Please contact Cheryl Naja, Director of Pro Bono and Community Service, for more information.
Cozen’s pro bono work spans the nation on matters related to immigration, child custody, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, civil rights, veteran’s rights, housing, the arts, education, religious freedom, and more. Cozen works with a referral network of bar associations, public interest law firms, nonprofits, and government agencies; and oversees budgeting and institutional research. The RLC’s contacts with Cozen have prepared this document to highlight particular partnerships that may be of interest to retail corporate counsel.
Please contact Melinda Levine deLisle, the Director of Pro Bono Engagement, for more information.
Gibson Dunn’s pro bono commitment encompasses constitutional rights, LGBTQ issues, human trafficking, housing, domestic violence, immigration, and more. More information on Gibson Dunn’s programs related to racial justice is linked here.
Please contact Katie Marquart, the firm’s Pro Bono Counsel & Director, for more information.
Hunton’s pro bono projects often involve cutting edge legal issues resulting in the creation of new policies and laws, and changes to individual lives. Whether it’s maintaining two neighborhood offices solely dedicated to pro bono work, maintaining two full-time pro bono fellowships for lawyers interested in seeking positions in public service, or providing free legal services to legal aid clients or immigrants seeking asylum from persecution, the firm has proven its dedication to pro bono service and its standing as one of the best firms doing pro bono work.
Please contact Pro Bono Manager Scottie Brown for more information on how RLC Retail Member corporate counsel can participate in Hunton’s programs.
Jackson Lewis’ pro bono activities include securing civil rights and access to housing; representing children, parents and vulnerable adults in custody disputes; ensuring appropriate outreach efforts for veterans; and filing disability claims for disabled homeless veterans. Jackson Lewis attorneys partner with clients on pro-bono projects and initiatives to advance racial and economic equality. Their work partnering with clients has included (among other things) jointly engaging in pro-bono projects, providing legal advice to pro-bono clients, and providing legal updates.
The Jackson Lewis Pro Bono Initiative is led by four national coordinators who work collaboratively to identify opportunities, track matters, and ensure appropriate training and supervision. Please contact them for more information.
Robyn Aversa | Stephanie Lewis | John Sander | Douglas Smith
Loeb & Loeb’s pro bono clients include refugees, veterans, child abuse victims, and more. Loeb & Loeb’s efforts are supported by a network of resources including collaborations with Loeb’s clients and partners. The firm’s ties with legal services and nonprofit community organizations are extensive and also provide attorney training opportunities. Loeb & Loeb’s ongoing racial justice initiatives are highlighted here.
Please reach out to the attorney in your area for more information:
Laura McNally (Chicago) | Jerry Levine (NY) | Diara Holmes (DC) | David Nelson (Los Angeles) | Meredith Madnick (Manager, Diversity & Pro Bono)
McGuireWoods’ pro bono initiative aims to close the justice gap by offering resources, local office initiatives, and clinics in areas such as immigration, housing, nonprofit assistance and more. Several litigation initiatives have made significant progress in the courts on behalf of pro bono clients. McGuireWoods’ corporate partnerships have helped establish important local programs such as clinics for low-income individuals or businesses seeking assistance.
Please contact Scott Oostdyk, Partner Liaison for Pro Bono, for more information.
Pro Bono Institute
The Pro Bono Institute supports law firms and corporate legal departments in advancing meaningful and sustained pro bono engagement. Many law firms participating in Retail Litigation Center pro bono initiatives collaborate with the Pro Bono Institute to support access-to-justice efforts across a wide range of legal issues and jurisdictions.
For retail corporate counsel seeking to establish or expand pro bono partnerships, the Pro Bono Institute’s Corporate Pro Bono Project offers resources, challenges, and clinics developed in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel to support in-house legal teams and local chapters.
Diversity Lab
Diversity Lab is a research-driven organization focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. The organization partners with law firms, corporate legal departments, and industry groups to develop and measure inclusive employment and leadership practices.
Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule Initiative for Legal Departments is particularly relevant for retail legal teams seeking to promote diversity in leadership roles and outside counsel selection. Additional resources are available to support inclusive hiring, advancement, and retention within legal departments.
For more information about these resources or partnerships, please contact Leila Hock, Director of Legal Department Partnerships.
Please contact Leila Hock, Director of Legal Department Partnerships, for more information.
