January 22, 2019—Barclay Damon announces, for the second year in a row, every one of the law firm's full-time attorneys provided pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in need of legal assistance and organizations serving those seeking access to justice.
"To achieve 100-percent pro bono service in 2017 at a firm like ours with nearly 300 attorneys was an incredible accomplishment and to attain it again in 2018 demonstrates how deeply passionate we all are about giving our time and talent to best serve our communities," Heather Sunser, the firm's pro bono partner, said. "We are proud to advocate for those struggling with economic and social barriers who are most susceptible to inequality."
Through its multi-award-winning pro bono program, the firm dedicated more than 3,500 hours of time valued at nearly $1 million to pro bono efforts in 2018, with attorneys actively participating in firm- sponsored family court clinics, litigating civil rights violations, drafting wills for veterans, assisting with clemency applications, and providing online legal aid through initiatives such as the American Bar Association's Free Legal Answers program. They also helped beneficiaries handle legal matters involving many of today's critical issues, including immigration, housing, women's rights, prisoners' rights, and community building and economic development.
"This commitment to the idea of 'liberty and justice for all' has played an integral role in developing our internal culture over the course of our long history and in establishing ourselves as a leading regional law firm in the United States," John Langan, the firm's managing partner, said. "As attorneys, it is our civic duty to use our unique skills and knowledge to give back to some of the nation's most vulnerable populations, and we are thrilled to have once again reached 100-percent pro bono participation, a goal we hope to see other law firms strive to meet as well."
The firm's dedication to pro bono work has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named a Free Legal Answers™ Firm Honoree by the New York State Bar Association. On January 17, Barclay Damon was additionally honored as an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the NYSBA at its annual Justice for All Luncheon for the third year straight. Among other accolades, Barclay Damon has also been ranked the number one firm for pro bono service in Western New York by Buffalo Law Journal.
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients' businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading regional law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices located in the Northeastern United States and Toronto.