NEW YORK, November 7, 2018: Morgan Lewis lawyers around the world reaffirmed their commitment to serving the public good by contributing more than 117,500 hours to pro bono representations in the fiscal year that ended September 30. Nearly every lawyer—99.9%—met the firm’s Pro Bono Challenge to dedicate at least 20 hours to pro bono service during the fiscal year, and every lawyer performed at least some pro bono work, with an average of 67.5 hours per lawyer.
“Over the years, Morgan Lewis has consistently devoted significant resources to serving the most vulnerable and least represented members of our communities,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “For some, our assistance literally means a second chance at life for themselves or their families. And our work with nonprofits, providing legal services in areas such as incorporation and employment, keeps those organizations moving forward in ways that are sound and sustainable, allowing them to continue to serve their constituents.
In addition to giving counsel to not-for-profit and nongovernmental organizations that provide critical services to the poor and disabled, Morgan Lewis devotes substantial pro bono resources to serving children and families. Often in partnership with our clients, we regularly represent individuals fleeing persecution, veterans seeking disability benefits, and people at risk of being evicted from their homes. This important work occurs every day across the firm and culminates with Morgan Lewis’s Community Impact Week, an annual pro bono and community service initiative that unites our firm around a single issue, which in 2018 was our efforts to serve children and their families. During the week, lawyers and staff professionals in each of our global offices participate in approximately 150 events, ranging from professional training to volunteer projects assisting the nonprofits that tirelessly support this particularly vulnerable population.