WilmerHale’s pro bono practice is among the top ten in the US according to The American Lawyer’s 2023 Pro Bono Scorecard. The annual scorecard analyzes and ranks the nation’s most prestigious law firms based on the legal services the firms have donated to organizations or individuals over the past year. This year, WilmerHale placed sixth on the list.
WilmerHale is one of only 10 firms whose lawyers averaged more than 100 hours of pro bono work, with over 93% of lawyers donating more than 20 hours of pro bono legal services. WilmerHale’s ranking is indicative of the firm’s continued commitment to pro bono representation, which has been a hallmark of the firm for over a century.
The firm’s pro bono practice regularly handles cases involving issues of immigration, public benefits, housing, education, and criminal law reform. Over the past year, WilmerHale has continued its long history of working to advance racial justice by expanding the Racial Justice Reform Initiative, which was established in 2020 to focus more resources on pro bono work that addresses systemic racial discrimination and racial inequities. The firm has also furthered its historic commitment to pro bono cases involving reproductive rights and women’s health, having litigated several challenges to laws restricting access to reproductive health care.
Some of the firm’s recent pro bono representations include:
- Securing the restoration of abortion access in Ohio by obtaining a preliminary injunction on behalf of Planned Parenthood and the ACLU;
- Achieving an important victory for Planned Parenthood when the Montana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking state laws that would have severely restricted abortion access; and
- Representing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, et al., in a challenge to Georgia’s 2022 state House and Senate districts alleging the new maps unlawfully dilute the voting strength of Black Georgians under §2 of the Voting Rights Act.
WilmerHale remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure equal access to justice. Learn more about WilmerHale’s pro bono and public service initiatives.