A mainspring of Lane Powell's culture is the ethical and moral imperative to provide free legal services to make our communities healthier, safer and more just, and to assist clients who are unable to afford the legal help that they desperately need.
It is the good fight. And Lane Powell is continuing to make investments in these efforts, dedicating new resources to creating an even more robust, diverse and effective pro bono practice.
Pro bono work sustains the sense of purpose that attracted us to law in the first place. Therefore, we actively encourage our attorneys in providing legal assistance to those who need it most. Associates and paralegals receive billable credit of up to 100 hours each year for their pro bono work. This is a significant commitment from the Firm that allows our attorneys and paralegals the opportunity for deep engagement so they can have a real impact, while at the same time giving them unique opportunities to gain professional satisfaction and valuable experience, including time in the courtroom.
Our pro bono program is supportive and flexible. Attorneys can find a place to make a difference through an existing partnership with a community organization, or pursue their own passions through a project that they help to design.
Our pro bono program offers myriad opportunities, including the chance to help immigrants fleeing persecution to gain asylum, provide business law services to nonprofit organizations so they can make a difference in our communities, represent children’s advocates and victims of domestic violence in court, contribute to landmark civil rights litigation, gain federal court experience by taking cases from the federal pro bono panel, participate in groundbreaking litigation on behalf of animals and the environment, petition for clemency on behalf of prisoners facing life sentences for nonviolent crimes, and help vulnerable populations to avoid homelessness.
Lane Powell also assists legal and civic organizations in many other ways. We make direct contributions to important civic and legal organizations such as the Campaign for Equal Justice, GlobalWA, Wayfind, the American Civil Liberties Union, Legal Voice, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and St. Andrews Legal Clinic. Our attorneys and staff also donate their time and expertise by volunteering for and serving on the boards of numerous local and international organizations, such as the Nape Foundation, World Bicycle Relief, St. Andrews Legal Clinic, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Municipal League of Seattle/King County, Legal Voice, Wayfind, and the Campaign for Equal Justice.