Describe your firm's philosophy on pro bono service.  Our commitment to community is a cornerstone of our firm's ethos. Our pro bono program is based on a set of principles, the very first one being that we will always provide excellent and compassionate service to our pro bono clients.

We believe every one of our attorneys has an obligation, both professionally and personally, to give back by helping those who are most vulnerable and in need. Our firm seeks to leverage the intelligence, creativity and expertise of our attorneys and staff in order to make the biggest difference in our world and our communities that we can.

What are the two biggest cases your firm worked on in 2019? Tell us more about those cases and how you reached the outcome.  In January 2020, we concluded a groundbreaking settlement between California and the [American Civil Liberties Union] that ensured people accused of crimes are afforded legal counsel as of right under the Sixth Amendment regardless of their financial status. The settlement resolved litigation in which we argued that the Fresno County public defenders office was underfunded, and was severely limited in its ability to provide competent and effective representation. California expanded the mission of the state public defender, adding $4 million to its 2020-21 budget and $3.5 million annually thereafter, as well as a $10 million grant to administer a program to fund local public defense systems.

Our commitment to the National Veterans Legal Services Program deepened in 2019 as we ensured that one veteran finally received the full of benefits to which he was entitled. After six years that included a federal court appeal, we ensured that his disability rating was adjusted and that he was awarded retroactive retirement pay and benefits. Our firm was named Pro Bono Partner of the Year by the NVLSP not just for litigating individual cases (of which we have handled over 100 in past years) but also for our work on policy and law reform.

What was the most satisfying aspect of that work?  The most satisfying aspect of pro bono work is knowing that we are helping people make their lives better, and that we are doing so by collaborating across departments and seniority levels.

In 2019, 99.7% of lawyers in our U.S. offices contributed 20 or more pro bono hours, with an average of 106 hours per lawyer.

What other pro bono matters is the firm working on?  Our work on behalf of veterans and their families was a centerpiece of 2019 for our firm. We have expanded our policy and advocacy work while continuing to support NVLSP and other organizations.

We also continue to expand our initiative to combat human trafficking by, among other things, organizing impact work and driving discussions across multiple industry sectors.

We have also established a practice focused specifically on supporting social enterprises all over the world.

Why does pro bono work matter to you as a lawyer?  Paul Hastings supports robust and innovative pro bono initiatives throughout the world. The ability to contribute meaningfully, where the impact of our work can be immediately felt, is an irreplaceable aspect of our development as attorneys and as citizens of our communities and the world. We have the opportunity through our pro bono work to help people and organizations as well as to advocate for issues and causes that are important to our lives.

Responses submitted by Brian Moran, senior counsel and global pro bono co-chair at Paul Hastings.