Every year around this time, my colleague Erin Meyer and I can be found going through and carefully selecting pro bono opportunities for Proskauer’s incoming first-year associates.  Each of them will be assigned a pro bono matter on their first day at Proskauer.

Why have we made this a priority?  Assigning these matters sends a powerful message that pro bono work is important and a vital part of life at Proskauer.  The new matters encourage our lawyers, from day one, to look beyond the office walls to recognize both the tremendous unmet need for legal services in this country and the incredible difference each of us can make in our communities.

Lawyers who perform pro bono at the beginning of their careers are more likely to do so years later, creating a lasting effect on our new lawyers and strengthening the culture of the firm.

For the same reasons, the firm has made pro bono work a big part of its summer associate experience.