Over the last decade, in-house pro bono has been a growing trend among corporations,
including Fortune 100 companies, and for good reason. Pro bono legal work has proven to be, not
only an essential form of public service, but an investment
in the future of innovation and professional development. By committing a
fraction of their time and resources, corporate
employees have inspired youth in technology-oriented fields, helped young women
acquire the skills they need to become professionals, and aided veterans in
transitioning to the civilian workforce.
This past year, The Walt Disney Company set the bar for the
entertainment industry. The Association
for Corporate Counsel recognized Disney with the 2014 Pro Bono award for
assisting low-income clients, children in need of families, and the development
of teen courts. Disney Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary Alan
Braverman said, “We are determined to do our part to ensure people have the
opportunity to pursue their rights, and that our system of justice is truly
available to all.” The company utilized Public Counsel, the United States’
largest pro-bono law firm, to coach
Disney lawyers on the adoption process. The collective group helped guide several
adoptions
through the L.A. county court system. Disney
Legal’s mission is to help “more than 30,000 children, youth, families and
community organizations every year.”
Disney, and other corporations, have proven that the terms “corporate
profit” and “public service” can be interchangeable. Corporate counsels have the
resources, but are they devoting them? Many companies are allocating resources,
and corporate giving
has increased 64% in the last few years. This is encouraging. Of course, the
ultimate payout from pro bono legal work is much harder to pinpoint. Corporations
that do not already do so should be encouraged to follow Disney’s lead.
Riley Coltrin (Staff
Editor, Denver SELJ)
