Law360 Recognizes Jenner & Block’s Pro Bono Program

In the Law360 article, “How Jenner & Block Is Living Up To $250M Pro Bono Pledge,” Co-Chair of Jenner & Block’s Pro Bono Committee Debbie Berman discusses the firm’s five-year, $250 million pledge to provide free legal assistance to those most in need. The firm recently released its annual pro bono report The Heart of the Matter to document its pro bono work and is on target to surpass the goal, having already provided $200 million in free legal services at the end of the third year.

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The article conveys the firm’s long-held values, the depth and breadth of our work, the dedication of our lawyers, and the important pro bono partnerships we have with our clients.

In 2023, Jenner lawyers logged over 82,000 pro bono hours, which amounts to an average of 164 hours contributed per lawyer. That is more than three times the 50 hours of work that the American Bar Association recommends as a minimum for lawyers to complete.

When asked what motivated the firm to commit resources to a five-year pledge, Debbie said, “We thought by being quite public about what we do, and how much we do, that it might inspire others in the industry to join us — and that includes clients.”

When discussing our corporate partnerships, Debbie said, “A lot of our in-house clients really want to be able to do pro bono, but they don't have the apparatus within their corporations to be able to do that. They don't have a pro bono coordinator, or dedicated attorneys like we do. So we meet with clients that are interested, we find out what their mission is, what kind of pro bono they want to try to do to amplify their corporate mission, and then we give them sort of a menu of different options. Then, Jenner lawyers partner with their in-house lawyers to work on those projects.”

As for what makes Jenner’s pro bono program stand out, Debbie said, “When we're recruiting lawyers, one of the things that we're going to talk about is the firm's generous commitment to the community. People who don't share that commitment won't be attracted to Jenner & Block. So that's one big difference: Everybody is all in at Jenner & Block on pro bono, not just a small group of people.”

“Another significant difference is that most of our pro bono is grassroots, meaning that our lawyers do what they care about and what they're passionate about,” she added.

Finally, when asked about the return that the firm gets from pro bono work, Debbie discussed the benefits we get in helping associates hone their skills, the passion pro bono work inspires in lawyers, and the opportunity to do good with our corporate clients.

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Law360 Recognizes Jenner & Block’s Pro Bono Program

In the Law360 article, “How Jenner & Block Is Living Up To $250M Pro Bono Pledge,” Co-Chair of Jenner & Block’s Pro Bono Committee Debbie Berman discusses the firm’s five-year, $250 million pledge to provide free legal assistance to those most in need. The firm recently released its annual pro bono report The Heart of the Matter to document its pro bono work and is on target to surpass the goal, having already provided $200 million in free legal services at the end of the third year.

Read More

The article conveys the firm’s long-held values, the depth and breadth of our work, the dedication of our lawyers, and the important pro bono partnerships we have with our clients.

In 2023, Jenner lawyers logged over 82,000 pro bono hours, which amounts to an average of 164 hours contributed per lawyer. That is more than three times the 50 hours of work that the American Bar Association recommends as a minimum for lawyers to complete.

When asked what motivated the firm to commit resources to a five-year pledge, Debbie said, “We thought by being quite public about what we do, and how much we do, that it might inspire others in the industry to join us — and that includes clients.”

When discussing our corporate partnerships, Debbie said, “A lot of our in-house clients really want to be able to do pro bono, but they don't have the apparatus within their corporations to be able to do that. They don't have a pro bono coordinator, or dedicated attorneys like we do. So we meet with clients that are interested, we find out what their mission is, what kind of pro bono they want to try to do to amplify their corporate mission, and then we give them sort of a menu of different options. Then, Jenner lawyers partner with their in-house lawyers to work on those projects.”

As for what makes Jenner’s pro bono program stand out, Debbie said, “When we're recruiting lawyers, one of the things that we're going to talk about is the firm's generous commitment to the community. People who don't share that commitment won't be attracted to Jenner & Block. So that's one big difference: Everybody is all in at Jenner & Block on pro bono, not just a small group of people.”

“Another significant difference is that most of our pro bono is grassroots, meaning that our lawyers do what they care about and what they're passionate about,” she added.

Finally, when asked about the return that the firm gets from pro bono work, Debbie discussed the benefits we get in helping associates hone their skills, the passion pro bono work inspires in lawyers, and the opportunity to do good with our corporate clients.

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

News and Insights

Event

Partner Terri Mascherin to Speak at Illinois State Bar Association Seminar on Negotiation Ethics

On November 11, Partner Terri Mascherin will join a faculty panel for the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) continuing legal education (CLE) seminar “Negotiation Ethics: Winning Without Selling Your Soul.”

November 11, 2026

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Before You Sign: Key Contract Provisions for Tribes Considering Data Center Developments, ICT

Grace Signorelli-Cassady of Jenner & Block’s Native American Law Practice authored an opinion piece for ICT examining key contract provisions tribes should consider when approached about data center developments.

November 5, 2026

Publications

Jon Skladany and Kayvan Sadeghi Quoted on Fintech Investigation Readiness in Law360

Jenner & Block Partners Jon Skladany and Kayvan Sadeghi were quoted in a Law360 article examining how crypto and fintech companies are preparing for heightened congressional oversight following the 2026 midterm elections.

November 5, 2026

Publications

Partner Emily Loeb Discusses What the 2026 Midterms Mean for Congressional Oversight in the Financial Times

Partner Emily Loeb, co-chair of Jenner & Block’s Congressional Investigations Practice, was quoted in the Financial Times in an article examining how companies are preparing for congressional oversight as the new Congress takes shape following the 2026 midterm elections.

November 4, 2026

Publications

Congressional Oversight after Trump v. United States, Lawfare

Special Counsel David Manners-Weber authored an article for Lawfare examining how the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Trump v. United States may weaken Congress’s ability to investigate the executive branch.

 

November 2, 2026

Publications

In Politico, Partner Emily Loeb Discusses How Companies Are Preparing for Congressional Oversight 

Partner Emily Loeb was spoke with Politico for a story examining how companies are preparing for heightened congressional oversight, particularly those that could become the focus of investigations centered on affordability and accountability. 

 

October 29, 2026