WASHINGTON, DC, May 10, 2023: Morgan Lewis is proud to co-sponsor three public service fellows for two years at nonprofit organizations throughout the United States in partnership with firm clients GE, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada. The three fellows, soon to be law school graduates, will dedicate two years of service to developing sustainable solutions for the nonprofit organizations, which are focused on meeting the legal needs of underserved communities and reflect the ambitions of Morgan Lewis’s leading pro bono program. The fellowship program is spearheaded by Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law.
“It is a tremendous honor to partner with several clients that share our passion for public service and to support the outstanding work of Equal Justice Works,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “This commitment underscores Morgan Lewis’s dedication to giving back, whether it is through our extensive pro bono work, the scholarships provided by the Morgan Lewis Foundation, or providing opportunities for others in our profession to provide key support for nonprofits that do so much important work.”
The three fellows, Courtney Bernard, Loreal Hawk, and Rachel Smith, will soon begin their full-time work. Courtney’s fellowship with the Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance Perinatal Legal Assistance & Well-being Project, which advocates for patients, is co-sponsored by Merck. Loreal’s fellowship with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a civil rights organization, is co-sponsored by GE. Rachel’s fellowship with the National Center for Youth Law, which advocates for youth rights, is co-sponsored by Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Morgan Lewis has since 2009 collaborated with its clients to co-sponsor more than a dozen Equal Justice Works fellows, who have worked on a variety of issues, including veterans’ rights, immigration and asylum, and access to education. Fellows benefit from leadership development training while receiving loan repayment assistance and a competitive salary. Nearly all Equal Justice Works fellows sponsored by Morgan Lewis ultimately have pursued careers in public service.
Morgan Lewis’s primary pro bono focus is on helping economically disadvantaged individuals and families, as well as nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that serve vulnerable populations. In the last fiscal year, the firm’s nearly 2,000 lawyers around the globe each contributed 20 hours or more to pro bono service, earning the firm a 100% participation rate in its annual Pro Bono Challenge for the fifth consecutive year.