Information on Pro Bono Opportunities
Advancement Project provides numerous opportunities and options for members of the private bar to provide valuable pro bono legal assistance while gaining a wealth of practical legal experience.
- LITIGATION: Advancement Project typically files a number of public interest lawsuits during a given year, to advance the interests of justice generally and our community partners in particular. In recent years, our Voter Protection Program attorneys have filed lawsuits in Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and Colorado, challenging various state laws that placed unreasonable burdens on private entities who conduct voter registration drives; unlawfully removed eligible voters from the rolls; or unlawfully prevented eligible voters from getting onto the rolls. Similarly, our Strategic Initiatives program attorneys have filed litigation to vigorously oppose the Housing Authority of New Orleans’ attempts to demolish viable public housing complexes without providing suitable relocation housing to displaced residents. In each of these cases, Advancement Project has relied on the assistance of quality pro bono firms such as Jenner & Block LLP, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Pepper Hamilton LLP, and many others.
- LEGAL RESEARCH: Throughout the year, Advancement Project typically has a need for pro bono legal assistance in researching discrete legal issues—either for purposes of ongoing advocacy with our community partners, preliminary research into potential litigation matters, and/or providing guidance on ethics matters. We also typically ask pro bono attorneys to review our election law “Nutshells” and other written materials to ensure compliance with local laws. These projects tend to require anywhere from 20-80 hours of research time and are ideal for attorneys who are not able to commit the amount of time necessary to assist with an active litigation matter. For example, in 2005, attorneys at Hogan & Hartson LLP provided valuable pro bono legal assistance in researching the extent of the Governor of Virginia’s clemency power to enter a broad order restoring the voting rights of persons previously convicted of felonies.
- GENERAL NONPROFIT/EMPLOYER ADVICE: As a medium-sized nonprofit entity with employees in various states and a federal contractor, Advancement Project has ongoing needs for general corporate/nonprofit organization advice and counseling. Over the years, law firms such as Hogan & Hartson LLP have provided sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity training to Advancement Project’s employees and managers, reviewed personnel manuals and other organizational forms, and provided COBRA, copyright, and other valuable compliance advice and assistance. Recently, Latham & Watkins provided sound pro bono legal guidance to Advancement Project regarding its obligations under IRS Code Section 501 (c) (3) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act with respect to its limited legislative advocacy endeavors.
If you have an interest in providing pro bono services to Advancement Project, please contact Bradley E. Heard, Senior Attorney, at (202) 728-9557, Ext. 310 or bheard@advancementproject.org.
