How can a Corporate Associate get Litigation pro bono work? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I've heard that corporate associates (especially in NY) can do litigation pro bono projects if the office/partner are on board.

Have others seen this happen? What's the best way to ask for it? I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to switch to litigation somehow (I'm not), but I enjoyed writing briefs in law school and don't want to entirely lose that experience, if possible.

[lstdnt]

I’m a transactional associate in CA that mainly does litigation pro bono. Does your firm have a pro bono coordinator? If so, I’d reach out and express your interest. You can also ask your friends in litigation to let you know if they hear of any opportunities. In my experience, the firm doesn’t care what pro bono you do as long as it doesn’t interfere with your billable work. No partner has made a comment to me about my pro bono. I doubt they’re even aware.

[Sackboy]

You literally just ask. It's not a big deal. The vast vast majority of pro bono work is litigation and litigation-adjacent work anyway.

[jotarokujo]

curious why you would want to do litigation pro bono if you're happy in corporate?

i also think it's an exaggeration to say it doesn't matter. pro bono is encouraged or at least tolerated largely because it builds up skills. that rationale wouldn't apply here, making pro bono more frowned upon in this case

[Sackboy]

curious why you would want to do litigation pro bono if you're happy in corporate?

i also think it's an exaggeration to say it doesn't matter. pro bono is encouraged or at least tolerated largely because it builds up skills. that rationale wouldn't apply here, making pro bono more frowned upon in this case

I'm a corporate attorney that does a lot of lit pro bono work. It's fun and 100x better in my book than forming my 300th non-profit or drafting board resolutions. Pro bono is encouraged/tolerated because it makes the firm look good, not because it builds up skills. It really does not matter what pro bono OP does and it will not be frowned upon if OP wants to work on asylum cases instead of the above or other corporate pro bono work. Nobody is going to frown on it unless OP isn't making hours.

[Anonymous User]

Ill add my 2 cents here. corporate associate 4th year. i signed up for one pro bono lit matter when i was a junior and partners said no and made me step off project. said our practice is too busy (and it was and still is) and that i wouldnt be able to accommodate the long brief drafting periods or court appearances etc. with our on demand practice. but that was also a smaller ccorporate group and 1:1 partner to associate ratio

[Anonymous User]

Is it realistic for a junior corporate associate to help with a litigation pro bono subject area more along the lines of civil rights? For example, could I ask if [whoever is doing interesting pro bono work] needs help with basic research or cite checking? Or is my skill set basically useless there?