Mission

The mission of the Large Firm Pro Bono Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association is to encourage and facilitate the provision of pro bono services to our community. To support these activities, the Committee holds regular meetings and other communications among stakeholders. Stakeholders include primarily:

1. Law Firm Pro Bono Coordinators: responsible for recruiting lawyers and others to take on pro bono assignments and ensuring the completion of those assignments by coordinating with law firm management, legal services and other nonprofit organizations, pro bono clients and others;

2. Legal Services Organizations: identify and screen potential pro bono clients and work with the Pro Bono Coordinators to recruit, train and mentor pro bono attorneys;

3. Law School Clinic Advisors: engage law students in the provision of pro bono services;

4. Pro Bono Coordinators from Corporate Legal Departments: responsible for recruiting and organizing lawyers and others to take on pro bono assignments and working with law firms and legal services organizations to identify and execute appropriate opportunities;

5. Other Nonprofits and Government agencies: generally recipients of pro bono assistance on their own behalf, sometimes requesting or requiring pro bono assistance from law firms for qualified individual clients.

The purpose of the monthly meeting is to coordinate efforts by sharing information about current pro bono opportunities, resolving obstacles to the provision of pro bono services to clients, and announcing and planning events, including awards, clinics, and informational outreach. Speakers on these topics who do not generally attend may be invited. The relationships developed facilitate communications outside the meetings about related matters. Meeting attendees are also available to respond to questions about pro bono from Stakeholders who are not available to attend meetings, or others who are interested in becoming involved in pro bono work.

Co-Chairs

Kathy E. Ochroch

Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square
130 North 18th Street
Philadelphia, 19103-6998
(215) 569-5711

Melinda Levine deLisle

Cozen O'Connor
One Liberty Place
1650 Market Street, Suite 2800
Philadelphia, 19103
(215) 665-2000