Overview
Why Pro Bono Legal Services Matter at Michael Best
Equal access to justice is a fundamental principle of the legal profession. Attorneys have a unique social responsibility to use their skills to empower individuals and organizations that might otherwise lack adequate or proper legal support.
At Michael Best, we believe in using our skills to create meaningful change. It's why we encourage and provide opportunities to dedicate time to pro bono work. This enables our attorneys to make a meaningful difference by serving and strengthening the communities where we live and work.
As a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, we commit to providing pro bono legal services to low-income and disadvantaged individuals, families, and nonprofit groups. The Challenge sets a voluntary, firmwide standard for major law firms, reinforcing our dedication to service.
"We're attorneys for our clients, but also, we are members of the communities in which we have offices. The firm has always been incredibly supportive of the initiatives that we do, all of the opportunities that our attorneys take outside of the firm to be involved in local nonprofits, and to sit on boards."
"I think as attorneys, we have a responsibility, as members of the bar, to really be involved in our community, to use our skills and talents for the benefit of others.”
Our Approach: Championing Local Causes with Legal Support
We empower our attorneys to champion causes that matter to them, whether by bringing forward their own initiatives or engaging through firm-supported opportunities. This flexibility removes barriers and opens doors for attorneys to build connections with community partners where they feel most passionate, making a positive impact in our world.
For attorneys seeking firm-supported opportunities, we offer access to pro bono work through a network of trusted partners, including:
- Federal District Courts & State Bar Associations: Opportunities to assist individuals through court and bar-sponsored pro bono programs.
- Legal Aid Organizations: Support for clients who need representation in civil matters.
- Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation: Connects attorneys with social entrepreneurs worldwide, supporting projects that drive sustainable change in education, civil rights, poverty alleviation, and more.
Through these various pathways, our attorneys can select from a wide range of causes and communities to support, ensuring meaningful engagement at every level.
Experience
Making an Impact in Our Communities
Immigration Services
In December 2024, we filed a National Interest Waiver petition for a Ph.D. student who sought to start an organization to provide bibliotherapy (the therapeutic use of reading) to combat substance abuse. Her intended business would not only impact U.S. health and safety, but it will also employ U.S. workers. This petition remains pending due to long processing times at USCIS and now the pause on adjudications for petitions by nationals of certain countries.
Foster Care Support
Some of our attorneys have found their niche supporting various foster care networks throughout the United States. Through this philanthropic work, our attorneys have been able to assist families and young people as they interact with the foster care system.
- Improving Access to Food
We all know that access to food improves people’s lives in many ways. Our attorneys have given their time to support the legal needs of organizations serving to meet one of people’s most basic needs.