Paul Hastings Honored among the Top 10 on The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard—11 Years in A Row

July 09, 2020

New York – Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced that it was ranked among the Top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s Pro Bono Scorecard for 2019. The firm ranked 7th among the AmLaw 200 firms and 11th in the AmLaw 200 international rankings. This is the 11th consecutive year that Paul Hastings has been honored among the Top 10 in the U.S. rankings.

“We believe that we have a responsibility, both professionally and personally, to help those in need in our communities around the world,” said Brian Moran, senior counsel and global pro bono co-chair at Paul Hastings. “In the face of the continuing pandemic, and at this critical time in the fight against racial injustice, our dedication to pro bono service is more important than ever.”

Recently, Paul Hastings announced the launch of a number of initiatives in commemoration of Juneteenth, the national day of celebration memorializing the end of slavery in the United States. These included a pro bono commitment of at least $7 million to end racial injustice. The firm will work on projects that address racial injustice at its systemic roots, including partnering with Innocence Project on a criminal justice reform project and the Brennan Center on an amicus brief to protect voting access, as well as drafting a model act for police disciplinary review.

The firm’s significant pro bono client successes include a groundbreaking settlement concluded in January 2020 between California and the American Civil Liberties Union that ensured people accused of crimes are afforded legal counsel as of right under the Sixth Amendment regardless of their financial status. The settlement resolved litigation in which the firm’s lawyers argued that the Fresno County public defender’s office was underfunded and was severely limited in its ability to provide competent and effective representation. California expanded the mission of the state public defender, adding $4 million to its 2020-21 budget and $3.5 million annually thereafter, as well as a $10 million grant to administer a program to fund local public defense systems.

Over the past year, the firm also deepened its commitment to the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP). The firm’s work ensured that one veteran finally received the full benefits to which he was entitled. After six years that included a federal court appeal, Paul Hastings ensured that his disability rating was adjusted and that he was awarded retroactive retirement pay and benefits. The firm was named 2019 Pro Bono Partner of the Year by the NVLSP not only for litigating more than 100 individual cases in past years, but also for the firm’s work on policy and law reform.

The firm’s other pro bono efforts include an expanding initiative to combat human trafficking by organizing impact work and driving discussions across multiple industry sectors. In addition, Paul Hastings has established a practice focused specifically on supporting social enterprises all over the world.

Paul Hastings was also recently named to The National Law Journal’s 2020 Pro Bono Hot List in recognition of the firm’s commitment to pro bono and its strong track record of pro bono client successes.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.