Pro Bono + Community Service
As a leader in the legal community, MG+M remains committed to public service efforts. This includes pro bono engagement in the communities where we live and work. In consultation with the Pro Bono Committee, the Executive Committee unanimously endorses the following update to the firm’s pro bono guidelines, effective immediately.
All MG+M partners, associates and paralegals are encouraged to participate in pro bono work, and their participation will be considered as part of the annual review process. While we recognize the ABA recommendation for 50 hours of pro bono work per year for lawyers, we understand that is sometimes not feasible with our workloads and other responsibilities.
Contact the Pro Bono Committee for assistance identifying pro bono opportunities in your area of practice or to be connected with a local legal services organization.
Pro Bono Protocol REMINDER
It is the firm’s goal to have 100% participation in pro bono work from all partners, associates and paralegals. Accordingly, we strongly recommend everyone strive to donate a minimum of five hours of pro bono work each year.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
Pro Bono Committee: Wednesday, March 26 at 5 p.m. ET
Pro Bono Cup Standings
First Place: Boston
Second Place: Wilmington
Third Place: O’Fallon
Congratulations, Boston—2024 Pro Bono Cup Winner
In 2024, the Boston office performed 882 hours of pro bono work, contributing to a firmwide increase of 39% over 2023. This marks the fourth consecutive year that MG+M has increased both the number of hours donated and the number of firm members participating in pro bono work.
Pro Bono Spotlight
Tom Stanton
Partner, Wilmington
Congratulations to Tom Stanton for being a top pro bono biller in January. Tom reflects on his commitment to pro bono work:
“I have been fortunate to have a variety of pro bono experiences since joining MG+M. Several months ago, the firm was invited by the Legal Firm Antiracism Alliance to provide volunteers for the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, specifically on a project being conducted by the Voting Rights Working Group. My primary role has been to coordinate the efforts of MG+M attorneys, paralegals and law clerks. It has been inspiring to witness the spirit and commitment of our volunteers. The project is more relevant than ever and there are many cases in the pipeline. If anyone would like to join one of the teams, please reach out to me!
Through involvement with the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, I was introduced to the mother of an incarcerated man needing pro bono representation. He has served six years of a 20-year sentence. I visited him several times in Delaware’s maximum security prison and learned his life story and all about the alleged incident that led to his incarceration. Yuhanna Whye and Ryan Patino have provided tremendous support with legal research. We are currently evaluating next steps to hopefully shorten his sentence.”
Contact Mary Tucker if you are interested in finding a pro bono clinic in your area.
Pro Bono Opportunity: Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
Our Pro Bono Committee is looking for lawyers, law clerks and paralegals to join the below pro bono project.
The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse is a website that serves as a searchable resource for information and documents relating to civil rights litigation. Founded in 2005 and housed at the University of Michigan Law School, the Clearinghouse makes its information and documents available at no cost to policymakers, researchers, advocates, teachers, students and the general public. With 15,000 monthly visitors, it is the leading internet source for over 11,000 cases posted to date, allowing the public unprecedented access to case documents, including court complaints and settlements.
The Clearinghouse continues to add new cases and needs volunteers. They selected MG+M as a partner law firm and recommended we form small teams to work together internally. The work involves summarizing cases and uploading key documents. They have found the team approach works best—one person does the summary and others edit the work before it goes live on the website. Team members can rotate so all have the opportunity to do the first draft. The Clearinghouse provides training (about two hours needed) and has found it takes volunteers about one to two hours per case.
If you are interested in joining or simply want to learn more, contact Partner Tom Stanton or DEIB Director Mary Tucker.
Pro Bono Protocol Reminders
MG+M’s Executive Committee and Pro Bono Committee remind lawyers of the following pro bono protocols. Contact Pro Bono Committee Chair Tracy Jolly or DEIB Director Mary Tucker with any questions.
• 50 hours of pro bono work will be counted toward annual billable expectations for all lawyers, including partners.
• Pro bono hours will be considered as part of associate year-end evaluations. While not required, it is highly encouraged that all associates perform pro bono work.
• All new pro bono matters must first be approved by the Pro Bono Committee. This requires an email be sent to the committee with a description of the proposed pro bono work. The pro bono coordinator will run a conflicts check, open the matter in Aderant and communicate approval along with the client/matter number for billing purposes.
• All lawyers must track their pro bono hours in Aderant under the respective client/matter number.
• Any attorney who is actively involved in a pending pro bono matter must email the Pro Bono Committee with a description of the matter and confirm that a client/matter number has been assigned so we can keep an accurate record of the hours and ensure credit.
• No associate may work on a pro bono matter without a partner assigned.
• No attorney will accept outside payments or compensation of any kind for time spent working on pro bono matters.