WilmerHale has been recognized as a Law Firm Honoree at the New York State Bar Association’s Justice for All Awards Ceremony. Each year, the New York State Bar Association recognizes three New York City law firms based on their total pro bono hours by lawyers who earned Empire State Counsel recognition. This accolade is awarded to those who have performed at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service for low-income individuals or nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities in the preceding year. 

The firm has a long-standing history of pro bono legal service, dating back to the early 20th century. At forerunner firm Hale and Dorr, Reginald Heber Smith authored the groundbreaking book Justice and the Poor in 1919, advocating for civil legal aid. In 1992, our partner John Pickering, of forerunner firm Wilmer Cutler and Pickering, helped establish the Pro Bono Institute’s Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge and ensured that WilmerHale became its first charter signatory. 

WilmerHale has achieved groundbreaking pro bono victories, from the landmark Simmons v. Roper decision, in which the US Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment forbids the death penalty for persons under age 18, to the historic Boumediene v. Bush decision, in which the US Supreme Court ruled that Guantanamo Bay detainees have a constitutional right to challenge their detention in US civilian courts.  In 2023, the firm ranked third in The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard, with 98.6% of US lawyers performing at least 20 pro bono hours. The firm continues to serve pro bono clients in addressing the most pressing social justice and civil rights issues of our time, with active impact litigation cases in the areas of racial justice, transgender rights, reproductive rights, voting rights and more.  

For more information on our pro bono practice, please see https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/about/public-service-and-pro-bono.