Sunday, June 10, 2007

Big Law Firms Waive Fees for Women's Legal Needs

From Womensnews
Women's organizations, women's issues and individual women with complex legal problems but few resources receive substantial assistance without a fee from the nation's premiere law firms, according to a Women's eNews survey of the top five firms on American Lawyer's 2006 report card. (Editor's note: Law firms, as private partnerships, are not required to disclose this information publicly. This report is drawn from descriptions provided by the firms' representatives.)

In 2006, thousands of hours of donated services by those five firms were devoted to fighting domestic abuse, supporting reproductive rights, challenging sexual assault, establishing microcredit that aids women's self-sufficiency and other women's projects. ...

The American Lawyer's 2006 pro bono rankings of hours donated per attorney were: No. 1 Covington & Burling with 137.5 annual pro bono hours per lawyer; followed by Debevoise & Plimpton (131.6 hours per lawyer); Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (119.6 hours per lawyer); Arnold & Porter (111.2 hours per lawyer); and Hogan & Hartson (89.7 hours per lawyer). Women's eNews will follow up this year's pro bono rankings with a similar Pro Bono Feminae survey.

Firms not only compete for pro bono scores, but use pro bono as a way to attract top recruits, seeking out projects that require sophistication and expertise.

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