What We Do
Through the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee, we offer attorneys many opportunities to provide pro bono legal advice and support to underserved individuals, communities and organization.
In 2022, Willkie attorneys worked on more than 560 pro bono matters with over 190 new pro bono matters opened in 2022 alone.
As part of Willkie’s continued effort to devote significant pro bono resources to address systemic issues affecting marginalized communities, Willkie has partnered with the following:
- Alliance for Asian American Justice, a nationwide coalition formed to provide legal support and advocacy to victims of anti-Asian hate crimes and harassment.
- Willkie is a member of Appleseed Network’s Pro Bono Advisory Council. Appleseed is a network of justice centers in the United States and Mexico working to reduce poverty and fight discrimination.
- Willkie is an ambassador for the Institute of International Education – Scholar Rescue Fund Alliance, a global network that supports the rescue of an unprecedented number of threatened and displaced scholars around the world.
- Lawyers for Racial Justice, a long-term initiative through the Lawyers for Good Government, addressing issues such as voting rights, immigration and police reform.
- Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights, a nationwide coalition of law firms offering pro bono legal services to individuals seeking reproductive care in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. Willkie is also a member of the Southern California Legal Alliance for Reproductive Justice.
- The Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, a private law firm collaboration with the goal of dedicating pro bono resources to address systemic racism.
- Willkie is a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Challenge, committing to annually contributing a minimum amount of pro bono time equal to 3 percent of the firm’s total billable hours or 60 hours per attorney to pro bono work.
- Willkie is also a signatory to the Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas, committing to an average of 20 hours of pro bono work annually per attorney.
- As a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute Law Firm Challenge and the Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas, Willkie consistently exceeds their benchmarks.
- Willkie has dozens of attorneys, admitted to the New York bar, who provide 50 or more hours of pro bono service annually, who are recognized each year by the New York State Bar Association as Empire State Counsel® honorees.
- Willkie is consistently recognized by the D.C. Circuit at its annual 40 at 50: Judicial Pro Bono Recognition Event, which recognizes firms where at least 40% of a firm’s D.C. lawyers perform at least 50 hours of qualifying pro bono legal service in a given year.
- Willkie attorneys, admitted to the D.C. bar, who provide 50 or more hours of pro bono service annually, are recognized each year by the D.C. Court of Appeals on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.