One of the most gratifying work experiences I have had was working on a DLA Piper Pro Bono Signature project. I volunteered for Project Katrina, where I worked one-on-one with a hurricane victim. I helped her address the title issues that were preventing her from obtaining Federal grant money needed to repair hurricane damage to her home.
– Flavia Berys, Associate in East Palo Alto, California Western School of Law JD 2007.
Our lawyers work in 25 countries — and serve clients in many more countries than that. So, our pro bono and community involvement are built on a global scale, improving the lives and prospects of people on every continent.
As you’d expect, DLA Piper gives you the chance to take on matters for clients who are out of hope and money. And we provide opportunities to devote your time and energy to causes you believe in. We understand your desire to make a difference in this world and we share your passion.
That’s why pro bono and community involvement at our firm have no boundaries. You can get involved in projects with local and global dimensions — on day one and throughout your career.
Our Signature Projects let you tackle a range of issues right in your own backyard. These projects concentrate the firm’s talent and resources on such areas as juvenile justice, domestic violence, fighting hunger, community development, access to justice, child pornography, special education and adoption. Find out how we’re helping New Orleans reconnect its people to their property through our legal work.
Through New Perimeter, our nonprofit subsidiary devoted to international pro bono, you can lend momentum to projects that fight disease and hunger, or build the infrastructure for justice, in countries around the world. New Perimeter gives DLA Piper lawyers the opportunity to devote hundreds of hours – even work full-time, in some cases – on such current projects as enhancing legal education in Addis Ababa, creating carbon-offset programs in east Africa, and drafting new judicial laws in Kosovo.
Our Impact Litigation initiative enables our lawyers to build momentum behind a range of long-term solutions to local and regional communities needs. Find out how we are fighting for the rights of children, the elderly, women, minorities and those with disabilities.
In addition, in communities around the nation, our lawyers help nonprofits and individuals overcome great odds in the face of custody battles, threatened evictions, domestic violence and death penalty sentences.
DLA Piper’s commitment to pro bono work is unparalleled and every lawyer is expected to make a serious and sustained commitment to pro bono work. In 2009, the firm devoted over 140,000 hours to pro bono, over 5% of its billable time, and averaged 80 pro bono hours per lawyer. It also created its own nonprofit organization, New Perimeter, to engage exclusively in large global humanitarian, economic development and rule of law projects. The firm received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 2008 for its commitment to pro bono legal services and innovative signature project model. Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide free legal services to poor people, organizations that serve the indigent, and to perform other work that benefits the community. As a global law firm, our responsibility is not just to each of the cities or countries where we have offices, but to the world community as well.
“Devoting four months to providing legal assistance to a developing nation through the auspices of a private law firm was a unique and thrilling experience and an opportunity for which I am extremely grateful. DLA Piper’s international pro bono work benefits not only those needy communities being served, but also the associates and partners who get to embark on challenging and fulfilling legal projects that are truly experiences of a lifetime.”
- Sara Andrews, International Pro Bono Counsel, New York
“New Perimeter is a unique organization. Through well-conceived, high-profile pro bono projects, New Perimeter provides a means for lawyers in our firm to impact issues of global importance. Leading our Millennium Cities project has been incredibly satisfying and has allowed for creative, practical interaction with African governments, businesses, NGOs, planners and economists to address pressing issues of extreme urban poverty.
- David Reifman, Partner, Chicago
“New Perimeter is a model that has been seen by many people as the most unique in the area of global pro bono and the most desirable; it will not surprise me to see other firms copying it. I think this will be one of the most important legacies for DLA Piper.”
– Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association
Learn more about your pro bono and community service opportunities at DLA Piper.