Pro Bono & Community Service
Pro bono and community service are integral to Kramer Levin’s practice and culture. We routinely rank high in the annual Am Law 200 pro bono survey. Our pro bono achievements have been recognized with major awards from the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Her Justice, Legal Services NYC, the National Law Journal, New York’s Legal Aid Society and others.
We encourage our lawyers to pursue the pro bono work most meaningful to them — and their passions have fostered broad involvement in such areas as political asylum, LGBT rights, domestic violence, housing and homelessness, criminal trials and appeals, service to nonprofit groups and microentrepreneurs, and more. We have vindicated the rights of homeless children with asthma; helped free innocent Uighur Muslims held at Guantánamo; and filed amicus briefs in landmark civil rights and civil liberties cases, including Obergefell v. Hodges, United States v. Windsor and Lawrence v. Texas. We were co-counsel in Hernandez v. Robles, which sought equal marriage rights for same-sex couples under the New York Constitution, and League of Women Voters v. Cobb, which struck down Florida’s burdensome voter registration law. Through our Attorney Service Program, firm lawyers staff a full-time position at South Brooklyn Legal Services representing low-income tenants. We also participate in the Legal Aid Society’s externship program, providing young associates the opportunity to participate in six-month rotations representing indigent defendants in New York State courts. Summer associates also actively participate in asylum, Social Security disability, family law and other pro bono matters.
The firm has a rich history of involvement in public and community service. Many of our attorneys have served as directors of leading nonprofit legal service providers, including the Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, Human Rights First, Brooklyn Legal Services, Volunteers of Legal Service and the New York Legal Assistance Group, as well as other community-based, cultural and religious nonprofits. Many of us are also involved in volunteer service to nonprofit organizations, youth mentoring and moot court programs, as well as other public service activities. In addition, Kramer Levin participates in a wide range of nonlegal community service activities that involve both lawyers and staff.
If You Need a Pro Bono Lawyer
Kramer Levin does not accept direct requests for pro bono representation. Our pro bono clients are typically referred to us through community agency partnerships. If you are in need of pro bono legal representation, we suggest that you consider the following organizations:
For more information, visit our Pro Bono practice page or contact Jamie Porco, Director of Professional Development and Pro Bono Programs, at 212.715.7529.