Making justice more accessible to all through pro bono work is part of Reed Smith's mission as a leading international law firm. That is why, in 1993, Reed Smith answered “yes,” and became a charter signatory to what is now the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge of the Pro Bono Institute. Under that Challenge, we devote 3 percent of our attorneys’ time to pro bono work, especially for the poor, the disadvantaged, and the non-profits that serve them.
One example of our commitment is the Adoption Legal Services Project. Ever since 1996 Reed Smith has partnered with the family courts of Pittsburgh on that project. Since that time, through the efforts of 150 of our attorneys, clerks, and paralegals, hundreds of children have been rescued from foster care and more than 900 adoptions have been finalized. For our pro bono work, Reed Smith has received many prestigious honors, including the Adoption Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Today attorneys at Reed Smith, whether in the United Kingdom, in Europe, in Asia or in the United States, are providing more than 50,000 hours of pro bono service to clients annually, including:
- Obtaining asylum for persecuted immigrants
- Upholding religious freedoms of the Amish
- Rebuilding distressed and neglected neighborhoods
- Bringing about in-school care for California children with diabetes
- Fighting for fair process for Guantanamo detainees
- Assuring fair process for capital defendants
- Supporting lawyers in the developing world to protect human rights
- Enabling young entrepreneurs to build new businesses
- Representing the disabled, the indigent and the homeless
- Protecting the legal rights of the elderly
- Assisting parents navigate the adoption process
Pro bono work by lawyers is fundamental to our firm culture. It is the way lawyers help fulfill the basic promise of “liberty and justice for all.” More information on our pro bono work is available on this Web site at our pro bono and community service page.
U.S. Pro Bono Brochure
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