The Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer when someone is charged criminally, yet says nothing for civil matters. This leaves countless people, many of whom are already financially stretched, to fend for themselves as they face painful situations like an abusive partner or a looming eviction or possible deportation. It wasn’t that long ago […]
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“I can’t do any pro bono work; I’m not a family law practitioner.” “I wish I could do some pro bono work, but I can’t plan around client meetings or court hearings.” “I don’t know anything about pro bono work; I’m an in-house lawyer.” Sound familiar? Like other in-house lawyers, those thoughts used to run […]
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A good friend recently told me that every decision we make in life can be boiled down to one of two choices: service to the greater good or benefit to self.
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At Perkins Coie, our work ranges from high-profile impact litigation to bring about systemic change to limited-scope assistance to individuals in legal clinics. In 2017, our attorneys provided over 56,000 hours of pro bono legal work across the firm, with over 16,000 hours devoted in the Seattle area. To start, our firm’s institutional commitment includes […]
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Here’s how online magazine Corporate Counsel described the partnership: “When Jennifer Brown isn’t working on compliance issues like food and product safety or on environmental health issues for Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc., she’s been known to spend hours at a time scouring court documents from cases involving those held behind bars in the Pacific Northwest.” But […]
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Fifty years ago, low-income Washington residents were on their own if they needed legal help for a civil matter. That all changed with the Economic Opportunity Act, federal funding to help poor people in the U.S. that ultimately led to the development of the first Office of Economic Opportunity legal services in Washington. Today, civil […]
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Are you planning to retire, but afraid to give up your “active” license? Or perhaps you are thinking about changing careers and leaving the legal profession, but still want to volunteer? Or maybe you are a parent or primary caregiver that does not need an “active” license but still wishes to volunteer from time to […]
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Through VAS, lawyers donate over 600 hours and $140,000 in pro bono legal services annually to people and families in Central Washington. Through Chelan-Douglas Counties Volunteer Attorney Services (VAS), legal professionals donate more than 600 hours and $140,000 in pro bono legal services every year to people and families in Chelan and Douglas counties.
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Celebrate Pro Bono is next week – here’s what you should know about this national celebration.
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Law students often see themselves working at a public interest or legal-services setting. But after graduation, few new lawyers end up following that path. One study found just 4% of newer lawyers working in a public interest or legal services. Why might this be? Certainly, it is not for lack of demand or the need […]
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