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Pro Bono Contact |
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| Pro Bono Contact Name | Miriam Buhl |
| Pro Bono Contact Title | Pro Bono Counsel |
| Pro Bono Contact Phone | (212) 310-8056 |
| Pro Bono Contact Email | [email protected] |
| Is the pro bono information indicated here firm-wide or specific to one office? | Firm-wide |
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| % Firm Billable Hours last year | |
| Average Hours per Attorney last year | 79.8 |
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Pro Bono Participation |
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| Percent of associates participating last year | |
| Percent of partners participating last year | |
| Percent of other lawyers participating last year | |
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Average hours |
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| Average hours per associate last year | 83.1 |
| Average hours per partner last year | 70.2 |
| Average hours per other lawyer last year | 60.3 |
| What percentage of attorneys performed more than 20 hours? | 78.1 |
| What was the number of actual pro bono hours contributed by the organization in the prior calendar year? | 67,655.7 |
| Does the organization maintain a written pro bono policy that sets forth the organization's commitment to pro bono? | Yes |
| How does the organization define what constitutes pro bono legal work? |
Pro Bono Institute definition: The term pro bono refers to activities of the firm undertaken normally without expectation of fee and not in the course of ordinary commercial practice and consisting of (a) the delivery of legal services to persons of limited means or to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; (b) the provision of legal assistance to individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights; and (c) the provision of legal assistance to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental or educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization's economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate. |
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Organization pro bono hours goals |
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| Does the organization set annual goals regarding the minimum number of pro bono hours to be contributed by the organization? | Yes |
| If yes, what is that annual goal? | |
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Attorney pro bono goals |
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| Does the organization set individual attorney goals regarding the minimum number of pro bono hours to be contributed? | Yes |
| If yes, what is that annual goal? | 50 |
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Advancement/compensation |
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| Is an attorney's commitment to pro bono activity considered a favorable factor in advancement and compensation decisions? | Yes |
| If yes, to what extent? | Weil is committed to the principle that attorneys should devote significant time rendering pro bono legal services. In addition to being a part of a lawyer’s professional responsibility, we believe that pro bono work can be an enriching personal and professional experience. Our lawyers handle pro bono matters with the same level of professional responsibility and resources that the firm gives to its regular clients. Accordingly, the firm’s policy is to treat pro bono matters like billable matters in all respects. For example, the time an attorney bills to pro bono is not distinguished for evaluation purposes from the total hours he or she bills annually, and we specifically address each associate’s pro bono work in his or her annual performance evaluation. Further, we conduct periodic evaluations to assess each lawyer’s performance in light of the firm’s pro bono goals and his or her satisfaction with the pro bono opportunities he or she has pursued. |
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Pro bono support services |
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| Are full-time support services (word processing, online research Lexis/Westlaw, out of pocket costs) available for pro bono representation? | Yes |
| If so, are there any limitations? | |
| Are associates provided written evaluations of their work on pro bono matters? | Yes |
| Does the organization employ one or more of the following structures to manage its pro bono program and to provide training and guidance to participating attorneys? (Check all that apply): |
Full-time attorney in a dedicated pro bono coordination/oversight role Pro Bono Committee Non-attorney administrator Other: Pro Bono Secretary |
| How is pro bono work assigned/distributed? |
Attorneys volunteer for matters as they are circulated by the pro bono department. Attorneys may also bring matters to the firm. |
| If an attorney is permitted to bring a pro bono case for possible consideration by the firm, who makes decisions about whether the firm will handle the matter? (check all that apply) |
Pro Bono Coordinator Pro Bono Committee |
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Enabling pro bono or public interest work |
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| Does the organization provide any of the following to enable its attorneys to participate in pro bono activities or work in a public interest setting? (Check all that apply): | Externships |
| If so please describe | |
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Summer associate pro bono opportunities |
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| Are pro bono opportunities available for summer associates? | Yes |
| Additional comments (Please use this space to provide any additional information about your organization's pro bono program including any special recognition or awards the organization has received for its pro bono work.) |
In recognition of the Firm's outstanding Pro Bono work, we have received recognition including: The American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, The Pickering Award, Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland Benefactor of the Year, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program Gold Award and Lawyer of the Year Award, Disabled Veterans (special recognition), Eleventh Judicial Circuit and Dade County Bar Association’s Put Something Back (multiple awards), Houston Bar Associations Leon Jaworski Award, Humane Society of the US Pro Bono Service Award, Law Technology News Award for Most Innovative Use of Technology for a Pro Bono Project, Lawyers Alliance for New York Cornerstone Award and Award for Pro Bono Leadership, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Advocate for Justice Award, Legal Aid Society (NY) (multiple awards), Legal Services-NYC (multiple awards), March of Dimes (special recognition), National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award, Sanctuary for Families (special recognition), Texas Appleseed Pro Bono Service Award, Texas Bar Foundation Lola Wright Foundation Award. |
| What are some of the areas in which your organization has performed pro bono work in the past year? |
Please visit www.weil.com/probono |
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Fellowship sponsorship |
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| Does your organization sponsor split public interest summer and/or post-graduate fellowships? | No |
| Public Interest Fellowship Comments | |