Main US office location: 100 Northern Avenue Boston, MA 02210 goodwinlaw.com (617) 570-1000 THE STATS No. of Attorneys: 917 No. of Offices: 10 Chairman: David Hashmall Who s Who Primary pro bono coordinator/partner 1: Carolyn Rosenthal Senior Pro Bono Manager (617) 570-1481 crosenthal@goodwinlaw.com Approximate percentage of his/her time spent on pro bono work/administering pro bono program: 100% Primary pro bono coordinator/partner 2: Julia Holczer Manager of Pro Bono & Community Relations (617) 570-3958 jholczer@goodwinlaw.com Approximate percentage of his/her time spent on pro bono work/administering pro bono program: 50% Does the firm have a pro bono committee? If so, how often does the committee meet? Quarterly Please describe the composition of the committee: The firm has an active pro bono committee that is comprised of 10 partners representing a variety of practice areas throughout the firm and each of the domestic jurisdictions in which we have offices, as well as the pro bono managers. THE SCOOP Does the firm have a written pro bono policy? 192 Can associates bring pro bono matters of interest to the firm? How does the firm decide whether to take on a pro bono matter? A variety of factors are considered by the pro bono committee in determining whether the firm will undertake a particular matter on a pro bono basis including: the nature of the referral (i.e., referred by an established legal services program or a court appointment); the client s needs and circumstances; public policy issues involved; the significance and potential impact of the matter; whether the matter is for a charitable organization or an individual screened by a legal services program; the firm s ability to staff and supervise the matter; whether the matter will provide training and professional development opportunities for firm attorneys; potential conflicts; and the strength or merits of the case. Has the firm signed on to the law firm pro bono challenge? What are some of the areas of law in which your firm has performed pro bono legal work since 2014? Asylum; Civil rights; Community economic development; Death penalty defense; Disability benefits; Domestic violence; Education; Elder law; Employment; Environment; Fair housing/ tenants rights; Family law; First Amendment and constitutional issues; HIV/AIDS advocacy; Homeless advocacy; Immigration; Indigent criminal defense; Juvenile justice reform; Nonprofit corporate law; Nonprofit incorporation/tax exemptions; Nonprofit intellectual property; Parole hearings; Police misconduct; Prisoners rights; Social security law; Probate law; Public benefits; Real estate transactions; The arts and historic preservation; Veterans benefits/appeals; Voting rights Are there areas of law in which, as a matter of policy or practice, your firm does not perform pro bono work? If so, please indicate the specific areas below. If not, please select none. Bankruptcy; Consumer law and small claims court
List up to 10 of your firm s pro bono clients or partners since 2014, including legal service providers or clearinghouses. Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Lawyers Alliance for New York Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Bet Tzedek DC Bar Clinic National Center for Homeless and Poverty Project Citizenship Volunteer Lawyers Project Immigration Equality Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) List up to three pro bono matters/representations that are highlights (e.g., a Supreme Court case). Goodwin represents homeless persons and a local politician challenging two Worcester, MA laws enacted for the express purpose of reducing panhandling by the city s poor and homeless. The first law sets up hundreds of 20-foot buffer zones, including around all places of public assembly, in which any solicitation including mere sign holding is deemed aggressive and subject to substantial fines. The second law grants police free rein to prohibit all expressive conduct on the city s roadways and traffic islands, areas that indisputably are traditional public fora. Plaintiffs claim that both laws violate the First Amendment and other state constitutional provisions. In June 2015, plaintiffs persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate the denial of their motion for a preliminary injunction. Following remand, the federal district court in November 2015 granted plaintiffs summary judgment, striking down both Worcester laws as impermissible under the First Amendment. We represent the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting victims of sexual assault. Working on its End the Rape Kit Backlog initiative, which seeks to shed light on the number of rape kits that go untested every year, we sent public records requests to police departments and state agencies in more than two dozen U.S. jurisdictions, asking for records reflecting the number of untested kits booked into evidence over the last 10 years, and spent months following up with police and laboratory personnel. The persistence of our team has not only elucidated the number of untested kits in many of these cities but has also helped to forge relationships between Joyful Heart and several police departments that are eager to partner in achieving policy reform to end the backlog in their respective jurisdictions. This project is developing the data needed to drive lasting change and providing this previously unavailable information to the public and legislators. Michael Cowels was convicted of the knifing death of a young woman in 1994 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. His conviction was affirmed on appeal. Cowels, who has always maintained his innocence, asked the Innocence Project to review his case, and it in turn reached out to Goodwin. In 2004, Goodwin arranged for DNA testing to be done on bloody towels that had been used to corroborate the trial testimony of the key prosecution witness. Based on the DNA test results, Goodwin then filed a motion for a new trial in 2008, which the trial judge denied in 2011. Goodwin appealed, and this past year Massachusetts highest court reversed Cowels conviction and remanded for a new trial. It was the first time mere impeachment evidence provided the basis for a new trial in Massachusetts. Cowels, who served over 20 years, is now out on bail and continues to assert his innocence. The government says it intends to retry the case. Goodwin will represent Cowels in any retrial. BY THE NUMBERS What is the total number of hours that lawyers at your US office(s) spent performing pro bono legal services, as defined by the law firm pro bono challenge, in 2014 and 2015? Do not include summer associate or non-lawyer pro bono hours in your answers. 2014: 74,118 2015: 59,642 What was the attorney headcount in your firm s US office(s)? As of December 31, 2014: 838 As of December 31, 2015: 877 Using the number of attorneys listed above, what is the average number of pro bono hours per attorney in your firm s US office(s) during the following years? 2014: 88 2015: 68 What percentage of attorneys employed in 2014 and 2015 in your firm s US office(s) did at least 20 hours of pro bono work during that calendar year? 2014: 51% 2015: 50% SUPERVISION AND EVALUATIONS Is there partner supervision on all pro bono matters? Do partner supervisors or, if applicable, senior associates provide written evaluations of associates work on pro bono matters? If so, are those evaluations taken into account in determining salary or bonuses?, they are taken into account in determining salary and bonuses Visit www.vault.com for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 193
Are those evaluations taken into account in determining advancement within the firm? Is there a pro bono requirement at your firm? No Does the firm give billable hour credit for pro bono work? Does the firm have a maximum number of pro bono hours that can be applied toward the billable hour target? No Does the firm consider pro bono hours when determining bonuses? Average hours per summer associate spent on pro bono work 2014: 40 2015: 23 Percentage of summer associates in your firm s U.S. office(s) engaged in pro bono work 2014: 87% 2015: 70% Please provide any additional information about pro bono opportunities available to summer associates. Summer associates have an opportunity to be staffed on pro bono matters through the regular staffing channels. There are opportunities to work in small or large teams on a wide range of matters, including criminal defense, civil rights, immigration work, legal work for indigent people and families in areas served by legal services groups, and provide business related legal assistance to nonprofit organizations or inner-city entrepreneurs. PRO BONO POINTS What training opportunities are open to associates working on pro bono matters? Each year we organize several relevant training programs and information sessions at the firm. Typical programs might include: landlord tenant law, nonprofit-related law, education law training and immigration law training. We also publicize training programs offered outside the firm through established legal services programs and PLI. In addition, the pro bono matters themselves provide numerous opportunities for professional development and growth. The firm has made pro bono a vital component of its summer associate program by providing opportunities to work on pro bono matters. Before the summer program begins, we survey prospective summer associates about their interests. We then review our pro bono docket to make opportunities available to match those interests. Does the firm offer the use of support staff in handling pro bono matters? Please indicate how many total hours and average hours per person your summer associates spent performing pro bono work in 2014 and 2015. Please round to the nearest hour and include numbers only: do not use commas, decimal points or labels. Total hours summer associates spent on pro bono work 2014: 1,899 2015: 1,468 Does the firm have established programs, such as externships, that enable its associates to work in a public interest setting? If so, please describe the established program(s) and their duration, if applicable. Goodwin has a long-standing externship arrangement with the Middlesex County (MA) District Attorney s office and the Brooklyn (NY) District Attorney s office. Through these externships, each year four litigation associates in the Middlesex Office and two litigation associates in the Brooklyn Office serve six-month rotations as Special Assistant District Attorneys. These externships provide unique opportunities for training and professional development through intensive experience in court arraignments, evidentiary motions and trials. What other law-related public interest and community service programs (that are not pro bono as defined by the law firm pro bono challenge) do you offer and manage? For example, list any law school collaborations and public interest scholarships, auctions at law schools, monetary support, or fellowships applicable. Goodwin 1L Diversity Fellowships: Our 1L Diversity Fellowships offer financial awards to students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who work in public interest positions during the summer after their 1L year. For more information, see www.goodwinlaw.com/ Careers/1L-diversity-fellowship Law School Affinity Groups: We collaborate with law school affinity groups and other public interest/equal justice law school organizations through panel participation, conference and symposia sponsorships, job fairs, leadership summits and programs, and many other programs and activities. 194
Affinity Bar Associations: We participate in and provide financial support to affinity bar associations and related legal organizations, including: ACLU and NYCLU LGBT & HIV Project Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts Boston Lawyers Group GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) Hispanic National Bar Association Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association Metropolitan Black Bar Association Minority Corporate Counsel Association National Asian and Pacific American Bar Association National Association of Women Lawyers Point Foundation Social Mobility Foundation South Asian Bar Association Women in Law Empowerment Forum Women s Bar Association and Foundation Other Sponsorships: Examples include: Equal Justice Works, American Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation, American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, ACLU, Equal Rights Advocates, NY Legal Aid Society, Victims Rights Law Center, Belin Economic Justice Project, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Lawyers Alliance for NY, Boston Bar Association and Foundation, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, DC Bar Foundation and Pro Bono Program, Constitution Project, Federalist Society, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, Pro Bono Institute, Women s Refugee Commission, Youth Advocacy Foundation, National Women s Law Center, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights What non-law related volunteer opportunities does your firm offer? For example, list any work with high school students and non-legal volunteerism for organizations like habitat for humanity. The firm has a rich tradition of community service with dedicated days of service in all of our offices where all lawyers and professional staff have the opportunity to volunteer for a day with local partner organizations. Goodwin s Annual Community Service Days and other community-focused initiatives throughout the firm allow our lawyers and professional staff to give back to our communities through teamwork which is integral to the firm s culture. For example, from October 2015 through December 2015, nearly 600 Goodwin volunteers across the firm fanned out in teams to locations across our local regions to do a variety of service projects including: preparing and serving food, cleaning-up parks, sorting donated goods, assisting at shelters, writing letters and preparing care-packages for soldiers and their families, constructing homes, painting school hallways and harvesting and planting crops at community gardens. On an ongoing basis throughout the year, Goodwin volunteers coach and mentor elementary and middle school students on a variety of curriculums including mock trials, moot court, reading and geography. Each year Goodwin volunteers serve Thanksgiving dinner to Veterans. Goodwin volunteers participate in charity walks/runs and donation drives for local, national and international organizations. Please list special recognition or awards your firm has won in the last three years for its pro bono work. 2015 Lawyers Committee recognized Jaime Santos with its Associate Award Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs recognized the firm with its Outstanding Achievement Award Mass Service Alliance recognized the firm for its work helping US residents become naturalized US citizens Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recognized partner Doug Doskocil with its Excellence in the Law Pro Bono Award Youth Advocacy Foundation Youth Advocacy Division of CPCS honored partners Bill Mayer and David Apfel KIND recognized the firm with its Allegiance Award for work on behalf of unaccompanied minors 2014 The Boston Mayor s Office of New Bostonians recognized the firm with its Community Champion Award Legal Aid Society honored the firm with its Pro Bono Publico Award The Lawyers Committee recognized attorney Bill Collins with its Associate Award Compass Working Capital recognized the firm for its pro bono service The ACLU honored the firm with its Alan and Adrienne Barth Volunteer Service Award The ABA Business Law Section honored the firm with its National Public Service Award Please add any additional information about your firm s pro bono program. You might want to touch on some of the following issues: firm s pro bono philosophy; procedures for undertaking pro bono; assignments; staffing of pro bono cases; general volunteering opportunities (outside of legal services); salary structure as it relates to pro bono work and billable hours or bonuses; international pro bono; opportunities; pro bono hours by office or region, including overseas. Goodwin believes that an active pro bono program creates a true win-win for everyone. The firm tries to match the needs of pro bono clients with experience, expertise and interests of Visit www.vault.com for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 195
its lawyers to promote a successful outcome and a rewarding experience for all involved. The firm offers a wide range of pro bono opportunities designed to appeal to attorneys and other legal professionals in all practice areas and at all levels of skill, commitment and experience. The firm also encourages these individuals to identify additional worthy pro bono matters of interest. Some pro bono matters require only a handful of hours and others take years to resolve. There are opportunities to work in small or large teams on a wide range of matters, including criminal defense, civil rights, low-income community business development and providing business-related legal assistance to nonprofits. What these matters all have in common is the opportunity for attorneys and other legal professionals to work directly with clients and broaden their own professional experience while making an important and rewarding contribution to the communities in which they work and live. The firm has committed to dedicate 3-5% of our total annual hours of legal work to pro bono, and it provides one-forone billable hour credit for pro bono hours. These policies underline the individual and collective importance of our pro bono efforts, and allow us the flexibility to take on significant pro bono projects that require more substantial time commitments from our attorneys annually. Many offices have local Community Affairs Committees to help attorneys identify community organizations in which to become involved. Some offices have a separate fund (in addition to the money the firm has already allocated to community organizations), specifically to support and encourage associates to become actively involved with organizations that may have a donation requirement for board involvement. The so-called Associates Fund is made up of donations from individual partners and those donations are matched by the firm. 196