Advocacy & Justice Clinic
About the Clinic
Since 1993, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s Advocacy & Justice Clinic has helped improve the lives of more than 8,000 D.C. residents. To help address the unmet legal needs of people experiencing poverty, the Advocacy & Justice Clinic coordinates pro bono representation for eligible clients with civil legal problems. By recruiting, training, and supporting pro bono lawyers, we provide much-needed legal representation in housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer disputes.
How it works: The Advocacy & Justice Clinic matches pro bono clients with volunteer attorneys for full representation. Volunteer attorneys will receive conflicts information for their potential client, followed by a detailed case file including an intake, related documents, tips for getting started, and mentor assignment information. After reviewing the case file and tips for remote representation, volunteers contact their client directly to set up an initial meeting and consult their mentor as needed.
The Pro Bono Center offers a comprehensive support network and resources to ensure our volunteers provide high quality legal representation. For each case, we recruit an expert mentor who is available to guide volunteers on all substantive and procedural matters, as well as client management issues that arise during representation. Pro Bono Center staff is also available to support and consult in the event a mentor is unavailable. In addition, Probono.net/dc, a free online resource available to all pro bono attorneys, includes comprehensive libraries of model pleadings and training manuals, videos and other materials. The Pro Bono Center also offers malpractice insurance to its volunteers.
Current Advocacy & Justice Clinic Partners:
The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center gratefully acknowledges our 2023 Advocacy & Justice Clinic
partners. Their representation will ensure that hundreds of families living in poverty do not lose their homes or custody of their children, or go without food or medical care, simply because they lack meaningful access to legal counsel.
Platinum
Sidley Austin LLP
Federal Government Pro Bono Program
Gold
King & Spalding
Wiley Rein LLP
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
DLA Piper
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Silver
Crowell & Moring LLP
Epstein Becker Green, P.C.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Jenner & Block LLP
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Eversheds Sutherland
Winston Strawn LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Miller & Chevalier
Foley & Lardner
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Get Involved
Law Firms
Firms interested in joining: To help meet the anticipated, unprecedented need, please consider partnering with the clinic and committing to represent between 5 and 12 clients. Because we appreciate your time, energy, and expertise, we will widely recognize our partners’ participation in Washington Lawyer, the Pro Bono Center’s annual report, and on the D.C. Bar website.
Making a firm-wide commitment to serving our neighbors allows our team and your firm to serve clients consistently and quickly. For partnering firms, we welcome the opportunity to engage your team through virtual recruitment, orientation, or training events and would be happy to schedule an event tailored to your firm. Firms interested in joining the Advocacy & Justice Clinic may contact Adrian Gottshall.
Federal Government Attorneys
The Advocacy & Justice Clinic is proud to work closely with the Federal Government Pro Bono Program. To volunteer for the Advocacy & Justice Clinic, please contact Chair Laura Klein at the Department of Justice. You may also learn more about engaging in pro bono work as a government employee here.
Individual Volunteers
The Advocacy & Justice Clinic currently partners with individual attorney volunteers who are able and willing to represent a pro bono client until the completion of their matter.
Interested in participating? Please complete our volunteer questionnaire and then email your resume to the Advocacy & Justice Clinic. Once the Pro Bono Center reviews your materials and confirms you meet eligibility criteria, we will contact you to schedule a brief virtual interview. After your successful interview, we will share information regarding potential clients seeking pro bono counsel.
