Public Service
K&L Gates has a long and distinguished tradition of providing pro bono legal representation and performing public service work in our communities. The opportunities for pro bono and other public service activities at K&L Gates have been abundant and as varied as the personalities of the lawyers contributing their time, skills, and energy. In addition to litigating civil rights cases, advising nonprofit organizations, and representing clients in myriad transactions and matters, our lawyers serve as members of governing bodies of educational institutions, hospitals, research institutions, religious groups and other charitable community service organizations. Many of our lawyers and staff provide community service in non-legal settings and through an array of teaching and mentoring programs to address the needs of persons at risk.
K&L Gates recognizes and supports both pro bono publico legal service and non-legal public service at the highest levels of the firm. Consistent with the standards approved by the American Bar Association, we consider pro bono activity to be legal service undertaken normally without the expectation of a fee and not within the course of ordinary commercial practice. These activities include legal services on behalf of:
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Individuals of limited means or organizations devoted to the interests of those of limited means;
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Individuals and organizations seeking to secure civil rights and civil liberties; and
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Charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, and educational organizations.
K&L Gates is committed to providing the resources reasonably necessary to support the public service activities of our lawyers. We are also committed to rendering pro bono legal services that are commensurate with the quality of service we provide in billable matters. Every pro bono client is a client of the firm and is entitled to the same high quality of ethical conduct, professional service, and dedication to optimum result as any other client. At a minimum, this means that an attorney with the requisite experience is assigned to every pro bono engagement.
The firm has demonstrated its commitment to pro bono by becoming a signatory to the Pro Bono Challenge of the Pro Bono Institute. The firm and its lawyers have provided leadership in articulating both the ethical and principles and the business case for pro bono and in exploring the synergy between pro bono and diversity. As a result of this leadership and pro bono service, the firm, several of its offices, and many of its lawyers have received awards for their pro bono and public service contributions.
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