Pro Bono
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione has a firm-wide commitment to pro bono work. We believe that we have a professional responsibility to contribute time, skills and other resources to provide necessary legal services to members of the public who could not otherwise afford them.
In particular, we formally organized a committee and approved a written policy emphasizing that service to persons of limited means is the essence of pro bono. In 2009, we were honored by Lawyers for the Creative Arts at its Annual Benefit Luncheon for our demonstrated commitment to pro bono legal services. In 2007, we were the recipient of the Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS) Golden Gavel Award in recognition of our financial and organizational commitment in support of CARPLS.
Our pro bono program permits every attorney to represent need-based clients who qualify for our services. Many of our attorneys have been organized into teams, each focused on taking matters referred by the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, National Immigrant Justice Center, Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic, Legal Services of South Central Michigan and other organizations. Our lawyers also have handled Veteran appeals before the Federal Circuit.
Through our experiences, we have found that making a commitment to pro bono work can prevent a mother of four from being deported, stop a low income tenant in a substandard apartment from being evicted, and win an appeal for the widow of a World War II veteran who had been deprived of her Veterans Administration benefits. These are just some of the many matters we have successfully resolved on behalf of our clients.
In addition to the time and skills of our volunteer attorneys, the firm makes annual financial contributions to organizations that provide additional legal services to persons of limited means, including the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), Legal Aid Bureau, Chicago Bar Foundation and others.
We at Brinks give our associates the option of working at PILI funded agencies during the summer following their law school graduation, before they begin full-time employment with the firm. Incoming attorneys who choose to serve in these fellowships receive a stipend from the firm in addition to their signing bonuses.
Brinks is dedicated to public service in non-legal settings as well. Our community involvement ranges from providing underprivileged children with holiday gifts to sponsoring internships for Chicago high school students.
Although we have been acknowledged as having one of the finest intellectual property law practices in the country, we have learned that when it comes to pro bono, it doesn't matter whether you are a small firm or a highly specialized law practice. The important thing is to make a commitment.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is proud to uphold the idea that by serving the less advantaged, attorneys can indeed make a difference in the greater community.
