The Washington Council of Lawyers is pleased to sponsor

Best Practices in Pro Bono:

Building Effective Pro Bono Relationships 

Law firms, legal services organizations, and corporations in dialogue to improve the business of doing pro bono.

Join us for our first Best Practices in Pro Bono: Building Effective Pro Bono Relationships conversation on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at Fried, Frank Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, 801 - 17th Street NW.  We will gather at 8:30 am for a continental breakfast, and the facilitated conversation will take place from 9:00 - 10:00 am.  

This first conversation in the series is entitled "Getting Started" and will feature facilitators Karen Grisez, Public Service Counsel at Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, and Jodi Feldman, Director of Intake and Pro Bono Programs at The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.  Our focus will be on the first steps in initiating new pro bono matters. Topics will include:

• Finding the right pro bono opportunity;
• Recruitment of volunteers;
• Screening clients;
• Marketing of available cases;
• Pre-placement due diligence;
• Placement of cases;
• Case files;
• Use of technology in case placement;
• Engagement procedures.

There is no cost to attend.  Please feel free to invite others to join the conversation!

Questions?  Contact Paul Lee at Paul.Lee@dechert.com or Nancy Lopez at NALopez@wclawyers.org. 

Save the dates for future Best Practices in Pro Bono Conversations!

KEEPING IT GOING  -  Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Training opportunities & skill building; Setting attorney/client expectations; Motivating good work;  Understanding our clients; Maintaining appropriate staffing; Firm/provider relationships for funding; Recognition and awards.

SETTING BOUNDARIES  -  Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Firm supervision; Provider mentoring; Cocounseling arrangements; Court expectations; Defining the scope of relationships; Withdrawal of representation; Termination procedures; Establishing a foundation for repeat pro bono.
 
COLLABORATING FOR IMPACT - Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Alternative models of pro bono; Nontraditional collaboration; Impact litigation; Large-scale advocacy; Policy work; Partnerships to attract  more pro bono; Court-based initiatives; Evaluating successes and challenges; Setting future goals.

All conversations take place from 8:30 - 10:00 am at Fried Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.