A Blueprint for Law Firms: Jenelle E. La Chuisa Provides Insights Drawn from Hinshaw’s Award-Winning Pro Bono Initiatives

In a recent byline published by the Daily Business Review, Hinshaw partner Jenelle E. La Chuisa shares tips on establishing a law firm pro bono program. Her article's preface follows below:

For law firms like mine, pro bono work not only serves to help bridge the gap between the need and availability of legal aid services but also offers invaluable benefits. By establishing or enhancing pro bono programs, firms can make a meaningful difference in their communities while enriching their attorneys' professional lives.

La Chuisa provides four basic tips on starting a pro bono program:

1. Partner with Local Organizations and Law Schools
2. Build Internal Support and Structure
3. Promote Participation and Celebrate Successes
4. Leverage a Local Approach

Regarding the benefits of taking a local approach, La Chuisa cites Hinshaw partner Joshua Vincent in her article:

For a large law firm like ours, the engagement works best when individual offices identify community needs and the organizations with which they can partner to address them. That results in an immediate, direct benefit to the community and the lawyer. A firmwide policy is important, with some oversight on the types of matters we may take on to avoid business and ethical conflicts, or extraordinary risk or expense, but the projects themselves should be homegrown.

Earlier this year, Hinshaw's pro bono program in Fort Lauderdale was recognized as the 2024 Law Firm of the Year by the Legal Aid Service (LAS) of Broward County. La Chuisa was also individually honored by the LAS with the Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award for her leadership in managing the office's pro bono initiatives.

Read the full article (subscription may be required).

• "Starting a Pro Bono Program: A Blueprint for Law Firms" was published by the Daily Business Review on December 11, 2024.