What is Pro Bono Week?
During national Pro Bono Week, OCP is highlighting the work of some outstanding attorneys and students engaged in pro bono legal work. This year’s theme, Advocacy at Work, speaks to the many different avenues advocacy can take, from amicus briefs and strategic litigation to community lawyering and individual client representation.
Please visit our web page to learn more about HLS’ pro bono opportunities.
This Year’s Events
Social Entrepreneurs Student Panel
October 25, 2021
Watch a conversation with three students who started their own organizations to address pressing needs in their communities. Professor Christopher Bavitz facilitated a conversation with Mustafaen Kamal (LLM ’22) founder of the DIL Internship Project, Dominique Roberts (LLM ’22) co-founder of Code Your Chances, and Amir Ashour (JD ’24) founder of IraQueer. Why did they start these organizations? What have been their successes? What obstacles have they faced? What are their plans for the future?
Watch here!
Legal Advocacy Toolkit: Amicus Briefs
October 27, 2021
The Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs is hosting a multi-part series during Academic Year 21-22 featuring cross-clinic conversations with clinical faculty and instructors who will bring a critical eye to how they employ various advocacy tools. The series kicked off with a session on amicus briefs moderated by Alex Chen of the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic and including panelists: Sabi Ardalan from the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic, Peter Brann from the Government Lawyer: Attorney General Clinic, and Alejandra Caraballo from the Cyberlaw Clinic. These clinicians shared their thoughts on strategy, adaptations they have made over time, and advice they have going forward.
Click here for a gallery of amicus brief resources shared by the panelists.
Watch the panel here!
Virtual Pro Bono Recruitment Fair & Open House
October 27, 2021
This event, sponsored by the Boston Bar Association and Suffolk University Law School, provides Boston-area attorneys and law students with a range of pro bono opportunities. The fair is held as part of the National Pro Bono Celebration sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service.
Attendees are encouraged to drop in and e-meet representatives from local legal services organizations and to learn more about the pro bono opportunities in our community. This event is offered to attorneys of all levels, as well as law students.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Pro Bono Honor Roll
Each year, individuals and organizations from Massachusetts contribute thousands of hours of pro bono service to clients and causes across the Commonwealth, the country, and the world. The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) and its Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services applaud those efforts and celebrate them annually through the SJC Pro Bono Honor Roll Program.
The SJC Pro Bono Honor Roll Program includes an Honor Roll and a High Honor Roll for individual attorneys, as well as Honor Rolls for legal organizations and for law students. Honorees are recognized each fall in ceremonies at the John Adams Courthouse and on the SJC’s website, and they receive certifications acknowledging their commitment to pro bono service.
The Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards Ceremony honors Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms, and legal organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Award recipients will be celebrated in a virtual ceremony at 4 p.m. on October 26, 2021.
Student Voices
Review: Pro Bono Week 2020
Explore last year’s newsletter on Pro Bono Week 2020: A Call to Action to learn more about pro bono at HLS, student practice organizations, and student reflections and achievements.