Each year, when the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation compiles the Pro Bono Survey results in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Ohio, several individuals and firms stand out as the top pro bono contributors. In 2023, Squire Patton Boggs emerged as one of the leading firms in pro bono service.
When asked about the extraordinary commitment Squire has demonstrated to pro bono service and why the firm has prioritized giving back, Columbus Managing Partner Traci Martinez said it was an effort that came straight from the executive leadership team in the wake of COVID-19 and the nationwide George Floyd protests.
“At Squire, we took that as an opportunity to check in with our colleagues across the globe and ask them how they wanted the firm to get involved,” Martinez said. “There were listening sessions conducted amongst our attorneys to discuss how we as a firm can push for justice issues.”
As a result of these listening sessions, Squire launched a firmwide initiative that includes sending weekly emails highlighting local, national, and global pro bono opportunities for attorneys to engage in. Squire collaborates with local liaisons to identify pro bono opportunities tailored to the specific needs of the cities and states where the firm operates. To further encourage participation, the firm offers up to 100 hours of pro bono work that qualify as billable hours.
“It allows our associates to work with partners they may not have the opportunity to work with otherwise and even take on leadership roles,” Martinez said.
At the Columbus office, Squire made a deliberate effort to find pro bono projects that suited both transactional and advocacy attorneys. This approach also encouraged attorneys to participate in pro bono, even if they were less familiar with litigation.
“One of the longstanding issues with traditional pro bono, especially through legal aids and specialty providers, is that attorneys think, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m not a litigator. I just work with documents. I can’t go into housing court,’’’ Martinez said. “So, it’s great to encourage the transactional side of work and help those who want to do advocacy work grow in those areas.”
Squire Patton Boggs is a leader in pro bono not only locally but also on a national and global scale. In 2023, 60% of the firm’s U.S. attorneys participated in pro bono work. Globally, Squire attorneys dedicated 30,000 hours to pro bono service across 18 countries.
“What we’re seeing not only locally in Ohio but also globally across the entire footprint of our firm is that [pro bono] is like a fever that you catch,” Martinez said. “It’s so rewarding, and you always get a lot more when you give. It’s ingrained in our culture now.”
Join the Foundation in celebrating Pro Bono Month. Visit the Foundation’s Pro Bono Opportunities Guide to learn more about volunteer opportunities near you.