Pro Bono

5th Circuit judge challenges BigLaw firms’ ‘institutional bias’ in opinion

A federal appeals judge is calling out the country’s largest law firms for what he describes as “institutional bias.”

Mar 18, 2025 11:50 AM CDT

Danny Ortega has advocated for farmworkers and immigrants in Arizona for decades

For five decades, Daniel R. Ortega Jr. has remained steadfast in his advocacy for and empowerment of farm workers and the larger immigrant community in Arizona. In January, he was awarded the inaugural Impacto Award by the ABA Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities.

Mar 17, 2025 9:00 AM CDT

Free virtual boot camp seeks to recruit and educate civil rights advocates

Interested in learning more about civil rights law? The ABA is offering a free two-day virtual summit for all lawyers and law students interested in advocating for justice and equality.

Feb 27, 2025 10:13 AM CST

Silicon Valley lawyer Roger Royse pivoted to health tech after cancer diagnosis

Roger Royse, a startup and venture capital lawyer in Silicon Valley, keeps an eye on technology. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, “I went to the biotech companies I know. I went to the VCs that invest in that space and people in my business network that might know people who have some information on biotech,” Royse says. “What I found was there are a ton of companies out there working on really effective, cool, innovative stuff.”

Feb 20, 2025 9:22 AM CST

Protect domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets, ABA House says

At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix on Monday, the ABA House of Delegates considered how to best meet the needs of pet owners in family law and civil protection order proceedings.

Feb 3, 2025 6:42 PM CST

Behind the scenes as the ABA reacts to DOJ’s order to stop providing legal support to immigrants

Jan. 22 started as a regular day for the ABA Immigration Justice Project’s attorneys. But shortly after noon, an order from the U.S. Department of Justice changed everything.

Jan 30, 2025 2:18 PM CST

As Los Angeles deals with wildfires, law schools offer support

As the wildfires around Los Angeles cause significant chaos for residents, Southern California law schools are mobilizing—with students and faculty offering assistance to those who’ve lost their homes.

Jan 22, 2025 10:59 AM CST

ABA supports victims of California wildfires

The ABA is mobilizing to help victims of the devastating wildfires in Southern California.

Jan 15, 2025 12:11 PM CST

Microsoft partners with ABA on new pilot project to help asylum-seekers

This year, the ABA Commission on Immigration partnered with Microsoft to launch a new virtual clinic to help pro se asylum-seekers complete their asylum applications.

Dec 24, 2024 10:21 AM CST

Meet 11 ABA members who inspired us in 2024

In this year’s Members Who Inspire series, the ABA Journal featured 11 outstanding ABA members who brighten the world around them.

Dec 20, 2024 2:12 PM CST

Associates at this BigLaw firm can choose one of 3 billable-hour budgets

Steptoe is adopting a new compensation system next year that allows associates to choose one of three different tracks based on hourly targets.

Dec 9, 2024 3:19 PM CST

Supporting Survivors: ABA and its members have shaped the Violence Against Women Act for 30 years

The Violence Against Women Act passed in September 1994. VAWA, as it’s commonly known, was the first federal law to focus on preventing and combating sexual assault and domestic violence. Maricarmen Garza credits VAWA for bringing her to the ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence.

Nov 26, 2024 2:27 PM CST

Want to help rural Alaskans with their tax needs? Volunteers sought for pro bono

The ABA is looking for volunteers to go to Alaska. The ABA Section of Taxation recently launched its Alaska Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project, a pro bono initiative that will take six attorneys to prepare tax returns in remote villages in the state.

Nov 25, 2024 1:56 PM CST

ABA President Bay urges ICE to notify counsel when transferring detainees

In a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ABA President William R. Bay called attention to a “concerning trend” involving transfers of detained people from the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego without the required notice to their attorneys.

Oct 28, 2024 9:56 AM CDT

The Power of Pro Bono: A fair hearing, respect and justice for all

Irene walked into the office of a young lawyer in a small town in Mississippi more than 40 years ago with an eviction notice and a two-page lease. Events that would follow turned the lawyer into a legal aid attorney and a believer in the power of pro bono legal work.

Oct 16, 2024 10:28 AM CDT