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Venable has long recognized the importance of providing first-rate legal representation to those who are unable to afford an attorney. This commitment is important to our community, the firm and our profession. Accordingly, Venable strongly supports the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, which calls upon law firms to devote no less than 3% of their billable hours to pro bono work.
Since its founding over 100 years ago, Venable attorneys have been leaders in providing legal services to the community's disadvantaged. Working with national, state and local bar organizations, as well as with non-profit providers of legal services, we have been in the forefront of efforts to serve those in need of legal representation. At the same time, Venable has recognized the value to our attorneys in obtaining valuable experience on pro bono matters in relating to individual clients. Division managers and practice group heads are fully committed to the firm's policy of strongly encouraging associates to take on pro bono work consistent with their ongoing responsibilities to other firm clients. Thus, Venable considers pro bono work to be a normal, not an exceptional, aspect of an associate's experience.
Venable provides and encourages training in a wide variety of litigation and non-litigation pro bono areas. Similarly, assistance from more experienced attorneys is always available. Less experienced lawyers are encouraged to form teams to take on projects. The diversity of our activities range from children's rights to death penalty appeals, from veterans' and prisoners' rights to political asylum litigation. Our attorneys routinely staff clinics for several non-profit, non-governmental organizations. Several of our attorneys and paralegals are actively representing writers and artists in need of pro bono assistance. We have also initiated the establishment of an organization to assist in preserving the intellectual property rights of residents of developing countries. Venable acts as outside counsel to the William Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, as well as to the Frederick Douglass Gardens, Inc.
Some of the organizations from whom we obtain pro bono referrals are:
- Archdiocesan Legal Network of Catholic Charities
- Bread for the City
- Coalition of Asylum & Immigration Rights
- D.C. Bar
- Equal Justice Institute--ABA Death Penalty Representation Project
- D.C. Employment Justice Center
- Fairfax Bar Foundation, Justice for Children
- Lawyers Coalition for the Homeless
- Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
- Legal Aid Bureau
- Legal Aid of D.C.
- Maryland Disability Law Center
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
- Operation Crackdown, Pro Bono Institute
- Pro Bono Resources Center of Maryland, Inc.
- Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
- Veterans Consortium, Volunteer Lawyers Project
- Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
- Whitman-Walker Clinic Legal Services
- Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE)
Venable has been recognized for its commitment to pro bono by the following organizations:
2007
- Southern Center for Human Rights, Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award
2006
- Maryland Legal Aid Bureau's Equal Justice Council, Pacesetter Award
- Higher Achievement Program, Green Apple Award
2005
- Maryland Legal Aid Bureau's Equal Justice Council, Pacesetter Award
2004
- Wendt Center for Loss & Healing, Durrie Award
- Whitman-Walker Clinic Legal Services, Going the Extra Mile Award
2003
- Fairfax Bar Association, Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year
- Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO) Good Samaritan Award
- Maryland Legal Aid Bureau's Equal Justice Council, Trailblazer Award
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