Partner Jonathan Baum Featured in Chicago Lawyer on Pro Bono Work and the Economy

Jonathan Baum, Director of Pro Bono Services at the firm, was featured in an article in Chicago Lawyer on lawyers’ increased interest in pro bono work to keep busy in a down economy. “You can get into questions about people’s motivation... I don’t think we care why people are doing pro bono work. I just want them to do it,” he says. It can be difficult, however, to find the right pro bono opportunities, especially for transactional lawyers. For example, conflicts of interest prevent most large firms from working on bankruptcies and foreclosures. But Mr. Baum says the firm has been successful in finding opportunities with nonprofits, minors accused of crimes, refugees seeking asylum, elder law, consumer matters and housing discrimination. “What I’ve encouraged our attorneys to do in this climate where there is a greater demand than supply is to be more flexible, more open to taking on pro bono matters that may not be within their comfort zones,” he says. (“Around the water cooler: Pro bono work and the economy,” February 4, 2009)