The program highlighted the inspirations behind the panelists’ commitments to pro bono services and philanthropy, especially for Louisiana citizens who face not only the familiar issue of funding shortages for civil legal aid and public defender services but also unique challenges due to the constant battle against natural disasters. Ralston, who has offered pro bono assistance in Southeast Louisiana for seventeen years and held leadership positions at several legal aid provider organizations and the Access to Justice Commission, shared his dedication for this work was due to the region’s history of having a significantly high population of people in poverty. Amond, a litigation attorney with strong Louisiana roots, recognized early in her career that “the legal profession is a profession as opposed to an industry,” so a lawyer’s role and responsibility to communities “run deeper.”
At the heart of the discussion was the challenge of identifying and overcoming the impediments for getting pro bono volunteers. Panelists noted that skills building should be a strong incentive for young lawyers to engage in pro bono work because they could develop competency in areas such as client interviewing, gain time in court or exposure to depositions, and learn from other opportunities that may be outside their wheelhouse. One of the greatest obstacles, however, is lawyers lacking a pathway to fully commit to pro bono work in a meaningful way when they are bound by demanding billable hours. Whipple, whose law firm runs a robust pro bono program, leads three family foundations. He advocates for law firms to increase the percentage of billable hours dedicated to pro bono activities and for legal aid provider organizations to provide more transparency regarding expectations and appropriate types of pro bono assignments to ensure lawyers spend a reasonable amount of time to make real, tangible contributions.
Kahr, discussing her leadership at The Pro Bono Project, talked about her partnerships with the legal community to provide aid for Louisianans in need of legal representation. It was here where she witnessed and was “struck by how the legal community could make things happen, could move the needle . . . and the real tangible and pragmatic benefits” that came from this close collaboration. This part of the discussion led to an engaging interaction among those in the room recognizing an untapped demand for transactional lawyers to contribute to pro bono work and that these opportunities are not limited to litigation. For instance, corporate lawyers could help nonprofit organizations, like The Pro Bono Project, to comply with rules and regulations, advise on a wide range of business legal issues, provide helpline assistance, or even offer notary services, without needing to go to court.
The ABA Business Law Section presents the National Public Service Award annually as part of its efforts to recognize significant pro bono legal contributions of law firms, corporate law departments, and individual business lawyers. This year, the Pro Bono Committee proudly presented the 2025 National Public Service Award to two exceptional recipients, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Tara K. Burke, for their outstanding pro bono contributions. From supporting minority-owned small businesses and nonprofit organizations, to advising social enterprises across Africa and helping secure life-saving healthcare access for veterans, Wilson Sonsini’s global dedication to advancing equity and justice is truly inspiring. Burke, through her leadership in Exponentum’s National Webinar Series and continued service with the Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, has helped hundreds of non-profit organizations across the country access critical employment law guidance—freeing up their resources to focus on serving their communities.
The next Pro Bono Committee panel roundtable will be held at the ABA Business Law Fall Meeting in Toronto on September 19, 2025.
