Newmeyer & Dillion, LLP, headquartered in Newport Beach and one of California’s most successful multi-service business and real estate law firms, announced that it is launching a new pro bono program to support local communities.
Through this program, Newmeyer & Dillion is offering its attorneys full credit in billable hours for all pro bono work done up to 50 hours a year.
“The firm is proud to support the communities in which we live and work every day, assisting those who need, but cannot afford, legal representation – often at the most challenging times of their lives,” said Newmeyer & Dillion Managing Partner, Jeff Dennis.
The firm’s pro bono program is chaired by Carol Zaist, a business litigation partner, Joshua Bevitz, a business litigation partner, and Jon Terry, who recently joined the firm as a partner in the litigation group.
Newmeyer & Dillion is working with the Public Law Center, which provides access to justice for low-income residents of the Orange County area; Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit law firm dedicated to providing civil legal services to vulnerable community residents; and the Bay Area Legal Aid Center, an organization committed to providing meaningful access to the civil justice system through quality legal assistance regardless of clients’ location, language or disability.
Pro bono projects could include assisting low-income individuals with conservatorships for disabled children, consumer rights, employment discrimination, landlord/tenant disputes and veterans’ rights.
The pro bono committee will keep lists of eligible projects identified by the public interest groups in that geographic area, and will facilitate pairing attorneys with projects that interest them. Attorneys also may propose pro bono projects they locate for approval, for example helping a charity the attorney supports.
The concept of providing pro bono service is contained in the legal profession’s Rules of Professional Conduct, which acknowledge that lawyers have a basic responsibility to “render public interest legal services,” either without a fee or at a substantially reduced fee.
For additional information, call (949) 854-7000 or visit ndlf.com.
