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So I understand that when asked the question, "why XYZ?" you are usually not suppose to bring up pro bono, at all. But what about for Jenner? Jenner seems to pride itself on its pro bono focus, which is also something that makes them stand out from other law firms. If I get asked the question "Why Jenner?", would it be problematic for me to include as one of the reasons, their emphasis on pro bono work if I honestly mean it?

Totally legit. Just don't slip into discussing plans for your public interest career after a year of biglaw or anything. Firms that brag about their commitment to pro bono want students who find that attractive, and it's often very legit. Many firms have partners and/or senior lawyers who do nothing but pro bono & pro bono coordination.

During the interview, you might have somebody who isn't in to it personally (no big deal) but sometimes it'll be a big passion of theirs and they might have interesting stories about their own pro bono work.

Anonymous User wrote:So I understand that when asked the question, "why XYZ?" you are usually not suppose to bring up pro bono, at all. But what about for Jenner? Jenner seems to pride itself on its pro bono focus, which is also something that makes them stand out from other law firms. If I get asked the question "Why Jenner?", would it be problematic for me to include as one of the reasons, their emphasis on pro bono work if I honestly mean it?

I spoke with a Jenner SA at a reception this summer who said that it is fair game to bring up, mostly because the firm seems to market that aspect of the firm so much. My CSO also said that you could frame it as being drawn to a firm that shares your values of community service and involvement. I plan to definitely bring it up in my screener with Jenner.