Pro Bono & Community Service

We believe in increasing access to justice through the provision of pro bono legal services.

Every day, Latham colleagues around the world stand up for fairness, equity, and the rule of law in important ways that impact communities and empower those most in need. As the justice gap continues to widen, we are committed to using our resources and experience firmwide to help increase access to justice for low-income, underserved communities. To advance this commitment, our lawyers and professional staff:

Take on matters in nearly every area of public interest law, including civil rights, asylum and immigration, children’s rights, social entrepreneurship, community development, anti-human trafficking, homelessness, veterans’ rights, and microfinance
Advise and partner with a range of nonprofits, charities, and NGOs, enabling these organizations to fulfill vital missions in nearly every corner of the globe
Volunteer and fundraise for a variety of causes that matter to the communities where we live and work

Our efforts span the globe, involving all of our offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Giving back is emblematic of who we are and reflects the values of our firm.

317,848

Hours of free legal services donated in 2023

4.6+M

Pro bono hours donated since 2000

96%

Latham lawyers firmwide participated in pro bono in 2023

US$2.7B

Value of pro bono services donated since 2000

1,200+

New pro bono matters opened in 2023

4,200+

Lawyers and staff participated in pro bono in 2023

2023 Pro Bono Annual Review

A glimpse into our pro bono efforts around the world. Lawyers and professional staff in all of our offices take on an array of pro bono matters in nearly every area of public interest law. We are proud to be among the largest providers of free legal services in the world.

This year, Latham colleagues provided more than 300,000 hours of free legal services to low-income individuals and families, underserved communities, nonprofit organizations, emerging entrepreneurs, and social enterprises.

Why I Do Pro Bono

Our lawyers from across the firm take on a wide variety of pro bono matters with a clear sense of purpose and motivation. In this video, hear about what drives their dedication.

Commercial Client Collaborations

We collaborate with in-house legal departments on a variety of pro bono matters, from legal clinics to cross-border research projects.

Affinity Group Collaborations

Our firmwide affinity groups have spearheaded significant pro bono engagements, including the first-ever online legal clinic to help trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse young people change their names in the United Kingdom.

Spring background with fresh green leaves.

Environmental Sustainability

We provide free legal services to an array of individuals and organizations around the world acting to protect the environment.

Droits D’urgence: Providing Free Legal Advice in Paris

For many years, lawyers in our Paris office have staffed a biweekly legal clinic with French humanitarian organization Droits d’urgence, helping individuals in need navigate complex government bureaucracies.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: A sign marking where Emmet Till’s body was recovered is displayed in the entryway of the Smithsonian Museum of American History on September 02, 2021 in Washington, DC. The marker that is damaged with bullet holes is one of three markers that have been replaced at the site where police recovered the body of 14 -year-old Emmett Till, who was tortured and murdered by two white men in 1955. The marker is a new addition to the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Museum of American History and will stay in the entryway for one month, before being moved to another location in the museum. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Commemorating Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley in National Parks

We work with the Mississippi Center for Justice and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center to advocate for national recognition and protection of historical sites connected to the lynching of Emmett Till in 1955 and to provide future generations a place to learn about this critical part of US civil rights history.

Global Pro Bono Survey

Co-produced with the Pro Bono Institute, this survey aims to make information about global pro bono legal services more accessible, and is part of an ongoing effort to promote and stimulate the growth of pro bono representation globally.