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Pro Bono
We believe that lawyers have an obligation to provide high quality legal services to those who do not have access to them. The firm is deeply supportive of the efforts of individual lawyers on behalf of the underserved; many of us have never spent a day at the firm without an active pro bono matter. Some of us have focused on pro bono matters almost exclusively for a period of time – for example, when involved in a death penalty trial, when forming a nonprofit corporation, when structuring debt-for-nature swaps in developing countries, or when working on an appellate brief and argument. If you are interested, you will have the opportunity to participate in the firm’s pro bono work.
The firm's pro bono program is directed by the firm's Pro Bono Counsel, and a team of Pro Bono Managers , and Kathleen Kelly. They help lawyers find projects that best align with their interests. Individual lawyers, including many associates, often bring worthy projects to the attention of the firm.
The firm's abiding commitment to pro bono work consistently ranks us among the leaders in the nation and has earned us many awards over the years from individual clients, legal services organizations, and the legal profession. The American Lawyer magazine’s annual ranking of law firm pro bono work has placed Covington among the top three firms for 15 of the past 19 years. Covington has received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award and the ABA Litigation Section’s John Minor Wisdom Award. In 2008, the Nature Conservancy gave Covington its Lifetime Achievement Award, in large part for work done out or the San Francisco office. Recent awards include:
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association gave its "Beacon of Justice" award to Covington for its work with Guantanamo detainees.
- The Mississippi Center for Justice presented an award to Covington for "Advancing & Ensuring Fairness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
- The ABA Death Penalty Representation Project honored Covington for its outstanding contribution to ensure justice for men and women on death row.
Our pro bono work immerses our lawyers in many controversial, interesting, and important public policy issues, and it reflects the fact that we are a firm of diverse viewpoints. We believe that all views, even of the most controversial issues, are entitled to high quality legal representation.
Please click here to view an electronic copy of the firm’s annual Public Service and Pro Bono Report, which summarizes all of its active pro bono projects.
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