Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files

Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files

An exciting limited series podcast showcasing the hard work and heartening stories of the pro bono and public interest community.

Episodes

October 7, 2025 52 mins

Incarcerated survivors of domestic violence and trafficking are finding hope and justice through the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) — with help from pro bono attorneys. Hear a conversation with Dara Sheinfeld and Denis McInerney of Davis Polk, who have been working on the front lines of re-sentencing efforts in collaboration with pro bono clients, legal aid organizations, and prosecutors.

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Pro bono work supporting businesses and nonprofits remains one of the best ways for transactional lawyers to contribute to their communities. In this episode, Alicia Aiken talks with Bruce Ely, Tiffany Graves, and Ashley Robinson, of Bradley, about their firm’s successful implementation of pro bono clinics helping Black small business and nonprofit owners in the Southeast.

Please note: CLE is not offered...

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July 30, 2025 52 mins

Hear how Sam Coren, of Perkins Coie, and Emma Jensen, of the Northwest Justice Project, helped transform a man’s life through a successful bid for clemency that began when they were in law school.

Want to hear about new Pursuing Justice releases? Subscribe to our monthly pro bono emails Explore our Pro Bono programs and resources Learn about our Pro Bono Memberships and Scholarships for qualified organizations and individuals Pl...

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(Originally published 4/28/23): Many lawyers take on pro bono cases unaware of the vicarious trauma they can experience when helping clients in extreme situations. Hear Akin Pro Bono partner Lauren Connell and interactive learning expert Ken Rosenblad discuss the types of training that can help lawyers manage their mental health — and become more effective advocates. 

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Hear from attorneys Keith Y. Cohan and Ryan M. Goldstein of Reid Collins, and Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana, about the Justice Lab’s longstanding advocacy for individuals impacted by discriminatory policing — and how the pursuit of justice in dozens of these cases can lead to systemic reforms.

Want to hear about new Pursuing Justice releases? Subscribe to our monthly pro bono emails Explore our Pro Bono programs and resourc...

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Join host Alicia Aiken and fellow movie buff and attorney John Whitcomb for another lively discussion of how pro bono has been depicted in past Oscar-nominated films, exploring how these stories reflect the popular understanding of access to justice.

Want to hear about new Pursuing Justice releases? Subscribe to our monthly pro bono emails Explore our Pro Bono programs and resources Learn about our Pro Bono Memberships and Schola...

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Pursuing Justice Podcast Episode 57: (Originally Published May 6th, 2022)

What does it mean to design a fulfilling life in the law? And how does pro bono fit in? In this encore episode of Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files, host Alicia Aiken talks to Michigan Law professors Bridgette Carr and Vivek Sankaran and attorney Jessica Morton about taking stock and forging your own career path — and how pro bono can help.

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February 27, 2025 47 mins

Alicia Aiken speaks with Toby Rothschild, Of Counsel, OneJustice, about his career spanning more than 50 years in legal services, how he motivates others to do pro bono work, and why he’s still dedicated to teaching and giving back in spite of being “retired.” Toby is the winner of PLI’s inaugural Victor J. Rubino Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Training, recognizing his extraordinary contributions as a speaker and program chair f...

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Non-consensual disclosure of intimate images, commonly known as revenge porn, can have a devastating impact on victims, mostly women. Launched a decade ago to provide pro bono support to these victims, the Cyber Civil Rights Project receives more than 30 requests for assistance per week. Hear from David Bateman and Amy L. Groff, of K&L Gates, and Elisa D’Amico, of D’Amico Law Firm PLLC, about how they stay on top of development...

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In Part Two of our episode on pro bono legal assistance for journalists, hear how ProJourn lawyers are fighting to ensure that Open Vallejo — a local independent newsroom in California — can shine a light on serious police misconduct and local government.

Want to hear about new Pursuing Justice releases? Subscribe to our monthly pro bono emails

Explore our Pro Bono programs and resources

Learn about our Pro Bono Memberships and Sch...

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Local journalism is in crisis — and among its challenges is the urgent need for lawyers to enforce open records laws and assess stories for legal vulnerabilities. In Part One, hear how lawyers from Microsoft and Davis Wright Tremaine joined forces with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Knight Foundation to build ProJourn, an initiative to protect journalists by equipping them with the pro bono legal support t...

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November 27, 2024 54 mins

Matching willing lawyers with appropriate pro bono projects can be a challenge. What are the factors that contribute to their decisions to work on one project or another — or to even get involved at all? Two experts on managing and advising pro bono teams, Julia Wilson and Kelly Tautges, share how in-depth discussions and focus groups have helped them identify the key drivers of pro bono involvement.

Related CLE Content: How you wr...

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October 30, 2024 47 mins

Florida recently restored the right to vote to over a million individuals who have served time for felony criminal convictions, but thousands in the state are still disenfranchised due to court fees and other hurdles. Hear from lawyers involved in voting rights restoration — as well as a client looking forward to voting — about the long and complex effort to advocate for full participation in democracy, and how pro bono has made a ...

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Entrepreneurs, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, face a lot of pain points when starting a new business or nonprofit enterprise. Hear how corporate lawyers can ease the pain, and support initiatives that benefit communities, through pro bono legal help with Darryl Maxwell of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, Jennifer Kent of Latham & Watkins, and Al Goldberg of Mess Hall in Washington, D.C.

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August 21, 2024 47 mins

In this special crossover episode with PLI’s inSecurities podcast, hear about how pro bono clinics can help vulnerable investors protect their hard-earned retirement funds and nest eggs. Alicia Aiken is joined by Kurt Wolfe and Chris Ekimoff for an informative conversation with law professors, a recent law school grad, and an SEC attorney about their work aiding underserved retirees. Listen to the related inSecurities episode: htt...

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In the second part of Alicia Aiken’s conversation with Lexi Wung, recorded over a year later, Lexi has completed her first year as an associate with Kirkland & Ellis. Has she held on to her passion for pro bono? Hear what her experience has been like as she takes on “interesting, difficult, but meaningful” pro bono cases while building her skills in billable client work.

Go back and listen to Part One

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For a law student, it can be hard to figure out what a law firm job will be like — and whether pro bono will really be supported as part of regular work life. In the first of a two-part episode, hear from Lexi Wung, then a recent Michigan law grad entering a Big Law firm. She shares her aspirations, questions, and fears as an up-and-coming first-generation lawyer with a passion for social justice. Listen to Part 2

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In this bonus episode, Ryan Haygood and Ezra Rosenberg — recently featured in the Protecting Voting Rights episode — share how their backgrounds led to their professional focus on voter advocacy.  

Related CLE Program: You may also be interested in Voter Rights 2024. Attendees will examine current voting laws and challenges in the United States and learn how attorneys can help protect voting rights. Learn more, register and earn CL...

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April 25, 2024 41 mins

Laws restricting the ability to vote, such as unnecessarily strict voter ID requirements, disproportionately impact voters of color. Hear a conversation with Ezra Rosenberg (Voter Rights 2024 Program Chair) and Ryan Haygood about how pro bono advocacy plays a crucial role in the ongoing fight to protect voters’ rights and fulfill the American vision of ballot access for all eligible voters.

Related CLE Program: You may also be inte...

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April 12, 2024 69 mins

Host Alicia Aiken welcomes fellow movie buff and attorney John Whitcomb for a lively discussion of how pro bono has been depicted in past Oscar-nominated films — and how these stories reflect the popular understanding of access to justice.

Want to hear about new Pursuing Justice releases? Subscribe to our monthly pro bono emails

Explore our Pro Bono programs and resources

Learn about our Pro Bono Memberships and Scholarships for qu...

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