Stacey Kushlefsky is Pro Bono Counsel at Willkie, where she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s award-winning pro bono program nationwide. Stacey develops pro bono projects in partnership with the firm’s clients, and cultivates and manages relationships with external pro bono legal services organizations to bring in a wide variety of matters to match the interests of attorneys across the firm. On a day-to-day basis, she supervises active pro bono matters, oversees staffing of pro bono matters, coordinates relevant training sessions for attorneys across the firm, and oversees related marketing efforts and pro bono events in addition to her direct representation of pro bono clients in immigration, family law and other matters.
With increased firmwide participation in pro bono efforts and numerous pro bono victories across various legal practice areas, Stacey’s work has contributed to industry recognition and accolades for the firm’s pro bono program. Recently, Willkie was honored with the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion: North America 2020 Pro Bono Program of the Year Award, and inclusion on the National Law Journal’s 2021 Pro Bono Hot List, which recognizes “law firms that have led the way on access to justice.”
In addition to her pro bono responsibilities, Stacey also serves as director of attorney training, where she manages the firm’s entire CLE program across the U.S. from programming to compliance.
Stacey has been widely recognized for her leadership in pro bono service. She was named a 2022-2023 Pro Bono Champion by Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. In 2022, the New York State Bar Association named her among the Empire State Counsel® honorees for her pro bono contributions. In 2021, Stacey received the Champion of Justice Award by the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. In 2019, she received a Safe Haven Award by Immigration Equality for “excellence in pro bono representation” and in 2015, she was named to Legal Services NYC’s Honor Roll.
A frequent speaker at pro bono events and programs, Stacey presents annually on the PLI panel, "Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation."
Credentials
Education
New York University School of Law, J.D., 1991 University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1988