The practice of law is more than a career — it is a calling. At Stoel Rives, we believe that pro bono service is an essential element of every attorney’s professional responsibility for three primary reasons:
- Attorneys have a duty to contribute to the welfare of the community.
- Attorneys have an obligation to ensure that the legal system is accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances.
- Attorneys possess unique skills and abilities to serve persons of limited means and to promote the public interest.
Through pro bono service, attorneys receive invaluable training that broadens their professional development, fulfills their professional responsibilities, and expands their awareness of community needs.
Our firm has been honored with numerous pro bono awards over the years, including the Bryan P. Timbers Pro Bono Lifetime Achievement and Law Firm of the Year Awards from the Alaska Bar Association, the 6.1 Challenge Award from the Idaho Law Foundation, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year awards from the Utah State Bar and Lewis & Clark Law School, and we have won the Pro Bono Challenge by the Oregon State Bar. We have also received the Pro Bono Award of Merit from the Multnomah Bar Association, been named Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer, earned the Denise O’Donnell Day Pro Bono Award from the Idaho Bar Association, and been recognized by the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program (IVLP).
Representative Work
Regardless of their experience level, we expect our attorneys to engage in professional and pro bono activities that reflect their commitment to the legal profession and the communities in which we live. Our attorneys meet that expectation across our offices year in and year out. In alignment with the American Bar Association's Model Rule on pro bono work, Stoel Rives believes that legal professionals have a unique duty to assist those who cannot afford legal services. This belief is a principle deeply ingrained in our policy and actions. Our attorneys have advised pro bono clients in civil rights and social justice, environmental law, employment and business law, housing and property law, criminal law, and tax law. The following examples showcase just a few of the areas where we are making a difference.
- Stoel Rives is a founding member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA), a nationwide network of law firms acting together to work for racial justice. The LFAA "is committed to leveraging the resources of the private bar in partnership with legal services organizations to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, particularly anti-Black racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color and to promote racial equity in the law." Attorneys from across our offices participate in LFAA's programs and projects. We are proud to be a founder and sponsor.
- Delivering justice and advocating for change, our team achieved a landmark settlement for Nathon Pressley, a survivor of severe mistreatment within the Alaska foster care system. We secured a life-changing resolution through meticulous legal efforts for Nathon, who endured numerous challenges, including separation from siblings and constant relocations. Beyond the settlement, our proactive approach offered valuable insights to the Department of Health and Social Services, aiming to enhance the foster care system and prevent others from facing similar hardships.
- In Pettibone v. Biden (formerly Pettibone v. Trump), Stoel Rives and the ACLU of Oregon represent peaceful protesters and allied groups who were attacked by federal security forces during the summer of 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon. Our clients are suing a number of federal agencies, and the ACLU is seeking monetary and declaratory relief arising from torts and constitutional violations committed by the federal actors during the protests. Stoel Rives' pro bono involvement includes a large, cross-office team and reflects its longstanding commitment to civil liberties and racial justice in the communities in which we live.
- One of our attorneys stepped in to help a local nonprofit after a contractor completely failed to perform a contract. After two firms made negligible progress, the Alaska Bar Association sought our assistance to help the nonprofit recover the money it had lost. Taking swift legal action, we filed suit and aggressively litigated the matter, leading to a favorable settlement in December 2023. Under the settlement terms, the nonprofit will be repaid for every penny it lost.
- Stoel Rives played a pivotal role in representing Mi Familia Vota, a nonprofit advocating for civic engagement, and individual voters in a landmark legal battle in the Western District of Texas. The case aimed to challenge the constitutionality of SB 1, a voter suppression law enacted post-2020 that restricted voting hours and methods and imposed other limitations. Our legal team argued violations of constitutional amendments and the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing the significant impact on Black and Latino communities. This case is a crucial test of constitutional safeguards for voting rights in the United States.
- Stoel attorneys achieved notable success for a pro bono client, securing him asylum after he suffered persecution in Namibia due to his sexual orientation and ethnic minority status. The team dedicated substantial time to research, significant briefing, and expert preparation, culminating in a merits hearing. The Immigration Judge issued her decision from the bench, a rare outcome attributable to the legal team's preparation and argument. Our client had tears of joy when he learned of the favorable decision and his ability to remain in America.
- In collaboration with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in Washington, D.C. and New York, our attorneys have represented numerous Afghan refugees seeking asylum after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. For example, our attorneys engaged in extensive interviews, affidavit drafting, and completion of an asylum application after overcoming language and trust barriers for one applicant. Recognizing the importance of direct communication, one of our attorneys traveled to Toledo, Ohio, where the client resides, to ensure administrative tasks were timely completed. Through the team's dedication, the client's application was successful and the client was granted asylum.
- A dedicated Stoel legal team represented a transgender woman who faced assault while incarcerated with a male inmate. Despite warnings from other inmates, guards allegedly neglected the imminent danger. Appointed by the court to represent the inmate pro bono, our efforts extended to discovery and representation before the magistrate judge in a settlement conference. Stoel's advocacy resulted in a settlement that proved instrumental in supporting the client upon her release.
- Through relentless advocacy, our attorneys provided pro bono services to help a Somali refugee navigate the intricate path to U.S. citizenship. Confronting prolonged USCIS hurdles, our strategic legal efforts and steadfast commitment culminated in a naturalization ceremony, enabling him to register to vote, apply for a passport, and plan a trip to reunite with his mother after nearly 15 years. This victory underscores the firm's dedication to championing human rights and providing legal refuge in complex immigration matters.
Policy Highlights
At Stoel Rives, our dedication to pro bono work is about more than just words; it's about making a tangible difference. Aligned with the National Pro Bono Institute, our pro bono policy addresses three general areas:
- Supporting Those in Need: “The delivery of legal services to persons of limited means or to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, and educational organizations in matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means.”
- Defending Civil Liberties: “The provision of legal assistance to individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties, or public rights.”
- Empowering Organizations: “The provision of legal assistance to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization's economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate.”
Encouraging Engagement
We encourage our attorneys to devote at least 50 hours per year to pro bono causes that align with their values, including offering legal support to refugees and those without homes and advocating for voting rights and racial equality. Acknowledging our attorneys' valuable efforts, we provide billable credit for up to 50 hours of pro bono and administrative services, underscoring our dedication to creating meaningful change in our communities. Moreover, many of our attorneys devote significantly more than 50 hours each year to their pro bono projects.
Beyond Legal Services
Our commitment to serving our communities extends beyond the courtroom, as demonstrated by Stoel attorneys' dedication to pro bono and related work, reinforcing one of our core values daily across the firm. From our "Main Street Relief" project during the COVID-19 pandemic to various charitable efforts, we have actively offered pro bono services, volunteer hours, and financial donations to organizations that aid those in need, whether local businesses trying to stay afloat during the lockdown, or refugees and homeless neighbors in need of help.
