Pro Bono Committee Update

Greetings and happy autumn from the Pro Bono Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section!

Our team has been busy organizing for another successful bar year, and we invite you to participate.

The Pro Bono Committee works to identify projects and programs that provide members of the Dispute Resolution Section meaningful opportunities to use their skills and training to serve the public; support the creation of new pro bono DR opportunities and programs; and encourage section members to engage in pro bono service.

To this end:

• Our “List” Subcommittee maintains, curates, and publishes an interactive list of existing pro bono DR opportunities. Here’s the link to the list, which can also be found on the DR Communities page.
• Our Member Initiatives Subcommittee supports the creation of new opportunities and programs initiated by section members.
• Our Pro Bono Partners Subcommittee builds relationships and collaborates with “Pro Bono Partners” – groups and organizations that can provide regular sources of pro bono opportunities involving mediation, arbitration, collaborative practice, facilitation and other forms of dispute resolution. You’ll see some of them featured in future articles – including October’s article spotlighting the EEOC, our first Pro Bono Partner.
• Our Recognition Subcommittee gathers data and information about the pro bono work of section members so that their efforts can be recognized and encouraged.
• Our Communications Subcommittee helps spread the word about pro bono opportunities as well as the work we do.

Get Involved!

1. Do some DR work pro bono. Contact a Committee Member to discover pro bono opportunities that might interest you. Coming Soon – both “The List” of existing pro bono opportunities and information about our Pro Bono Partners will be accessible from the Communities platform.
2. New ideas? Let us know if you have an idea for a new pro bono program. We can help you brainstorm, identify resources and individuals who may be helpful in launching your project, obtaining volunteers, and publicizing the opportunity to the section.
3. Get or give some recognition. Respond to our annual survey (coming in November) to tell us about your provision of pro bono dispute resolution services. Nominate your peers in the section who are doing extraordinary pro bono work for recognition by the Committee and the NCBA.
4. Join us! Consider joining one of our subcommittees. Many hands make light work.

Committee Contacts