Welcome to the first issue of Ireland Stapleton's Spotlight on Pro Bono. This newsletter will highlight the firm's recent pro bono efforts. If you have an exciting pro bono project or outcome you would like to share, please contact Sarah Hogan.
Ireland Stapleton Celebrates National Pro Bono Week:
Sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Ireland Stapleton is proud to support National Pro Bono Week October 24-30. The celebration is a coordinated national effort to meet the ever-growing needs of this country's most vulnerable citizens by encouraging and supporting local efforts to expand the delivery of pro bono legal services, and by showcasing the great difference that pro bono lawyers make to the nation, its system of justice, its communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve.
As many of you know, Ireland Stapleton participates in the Colorado Supreme Court's Pro Bono Legal Service Commitment and Recognition Program. The program recognizes law firms, solo practitioners and in-house counsel that have committed to the annual goal of 50 hours of pro bono legal services by their Colorado-licensed attorneys annually. The firm has participated in this effort since 2007. You may be interested to read the message below from Justice Greg Hobbs:
Dear Colleagues,
This coming week marks a national celebration of pro bono legal services.
Here in Colorado we especially celebrate your firm's pro bono commitment. Please thank every member of your firm for the time they spend with persons and organizations that are in so much need.
Justice Greg Hobbs, on behalf of the Colorado Supreme Court
Please click here to read the Chief Justice's Honorary Proclamation for Pro Bono Week.
While pro bono service is part of our ethical duty as lawyers, we believe it is more than that. Pro bono service is our unique way of giving back to the communities in which we live and work, affecting change for those in need. You may be interested to know some of the pro bono activities the firm has participated in over the past year:
- Completed more than 100 hours of pro bono legal work for Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver in 2010;
- Handled eight unemployment appeals on behalf of Colorado Legal Services;
- Handled an unemployment appeal through the Colorado Lawyers Committee on behalf of a county in Southwestern Colorado;
- Participated in the Public Benefits Investigations Task Force, examining the actions of county employees charged with investigating cases related to the overpayment of public benefits. This task force was nominated for Colorado Lawyers Committee Task Force of the Year Award in 2010.
Our firm is committed to building on our already rich history of pro bono service and to finding new opportunities to support local organizations and underprivileged individuals. We encourage everyone to participate and to bring new ideas for pro bono service to the table.
Sincerely,
K.C. Groves
