Barriers Impediments to Pro Bono The Best

Barriers & Impediments to Pro Bono The Best of International Pro Bono 2009 International Bar Association Kenneth Thompson, II Chief Legal Officer, Lexis. Nexis Group October 6, 2009 IBA Presentation | 1

Agenda • Civics & Good Business - Reminder • Goals – Address needs (Local & International) • Overcoming Barriers and Implementing Models/Activities to Address Barriers - Lexis. Nexis Group Pro Bono Initiative and representative example activities IBA Presentation | 2

Civics & Good Business Healthy Idealism • Why we entered the profession - Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia • The right thing to do -Wills for Heroes Political • Magna Carta: "To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice. ” - Magna Carta, 1215 • Furthers the Rule of Law IBA Presentation | 3

Civics- Continued Ethical • Access to justice for the economically or socially disadvantaged • Benefits all of society - Anti-trafficking initiatives • In some countries/jurisdictions there may be obligations or aspirational obligations to provide pro bono work associated with licensure requirements • Again, the right thing to do IBA Presentation | 4

Civics - Continued Satisfaction • Pro Bono work engenders satisfaction - it enhances the employees’ job fulfillment • Reminds lawyers why they became lawyers • Pro Bono work helps hone skills and improve productivity • The variety of experiences is unique and unmatched IBA Presentation | 5

Civics-Continued Good Business • Improved Teamwork and Morale - volunteerism improves morale and productivity - reinforces a sense of pride and common values - provides opportunities for members of the legal department to work together • Recruitment and Retention - many job seekers consider an organization's social commitment an important factor in selecting an employer - job satisfaction, variety and broad experience - develop and improve skills - creates a well-rounded attorney/employee IBA Presentation | 6

Civics-Continued Good Business - Continued • Pro Bono work enhances a company’s reputation in the community • Corporate Social Responsibility/Corporate Citizenship • Increased recognition and importance of social responsibility IBA Presentation | 7

Goals • What does your organization want to accomplish – community projects – global projects • What can it accomplish – start small – insular & discrete projects – work with others • Does your organization’s business align with the pro opportunities – is there a good fit – do you have the skills, resources and commitment to address the issues IBA Presentation | 8

Goals-Continued • What are the needs in the community – what can you do in your neighborhoods • What are the interests of your employees – surveys – what are they doing now – listen • Which pro bono organizations are viable partners • Which law firms or other corporations are viable partners IBA Presentation | 9

Overcoming Barriers Potential Barriers & How to Overcome Them (From an In-house Corporate Counsel Perspective) • Senior Management Support Civic Good Business Fits into overall Corporate Responsibility Good Citizenship IBA Presentation | 10

Overcoming Barriers-Continued • Alignment of Interests • Policies and Guidelines -written policy and website/share-point site • Oversight of Activities (but don’t micro-manage) -task force • Flexibility and receptiveness to non-traditional ways of support - use of services/products - support in other areas to bolster the non-profits to improve their services (e. g. , products, web development, HR) IBA Presentation | 11

Overcoming Barriers-Continued • Business unit engagement – ties back to alignment of interests • Partnering opportunities (e. g. , non-profits, laws firms and corporations)

Overcoming Barriers- Continued Lexis. Nexis Group Pro Bono Initiative • Issues and Barriers: LNG initiative is not limited to the Legal Department -- seeks to leverage (1) a broader spectrum of employees and (2) service/product offerings - Examples of some issues we face: • licensure & multi-Jurisdictional practice/unauthorized practice of law • a mile wide and an inch deep • insurance • time commitment (some positions have fixed time obligations) • geographic issues • control • fear factor IBA Presentation | 13

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group Model • Task Force – diverse (global, experience and function) - Sub-Committees (communications, collaboration and customization) • • • Policy (allows for certain individual projects) Survey/gage interest Share. Point Site Partnering Newsletter & Communications Focus on non-traditional and creative ways to leverage our employees and products/services in a global way IBA Presentation | 14

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • Rule of Law in Africa – LNG Africa Division completed the consolidation, editing, updating and publication of the laws or law reports for the following countries and states: Laws of Nigeria Laws of Zimbabwe Laws of Kingdom of Swaziland Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria Laws of Cross River State, Nigeria Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria Kwara State, Nigeria Laws of Malawi Laws of Rivers State, Nigeria Law Reports of Swaziland Laws of Ghana Delta State, Nigeria Laws of Law Reports of South Africa Law Reports of Kenya Laws of Bayelsa Laws of Kenya Laws of Mauritius IBA Presentation | 15

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • The Southern African Litigation Centre (a joint initiative of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). It is also supported by DLA Piper). – Lexis. Nexis donated the following products to SALC The entire electronic Lexis. Nexis South Africa law content East Africa Law Reports Ghana – Legislation and Law Reports Kenya – Legislation Malawi – Law Reports Mauritius – Revised Laws of Mauritius Nigeria – Commentary, Legislation and Law Reports for Federal and State Governments - Legal Research Support IBA Presentation | 16

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • ABA Commission on Youth-at-Risk – The ABA Commission working with Lexis. Nexis and Legal Marketing Association worked to put a handbook together regarding programs for youths run by bar associations or programs with significant bar involvement to make it easy for lawyers and law firms to become involved. – The handbook will be available for downloading free of charge on the ABA and Lexis. Nexis websites. IBA Presentation | 17

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • Law. Works (Law. Works works to increase the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and communities in need by supporting, promoting and encouraging a commitment to pro bono across the solicitors' profession) – Support and the provision of the Lexis® PSL service (available free of charge to Law. Works members and students) • Innocence Network UK (a university-based initiative, which works towards, ‘Educating to overturn and prevent the wrongful conviction of innocent people’) – Free licenses for Case. Map® Case Analysis Software (The Casemap software allows the individual projects to help manage the complex facts of the cases) • Mary Ward Legal Centre (provides free legal advice to low income individuals in London) – Members of the LNG UK Web Development team are working with the centre to provide them with a new website which will allow the staff to manage their relationship with clients more effectively. IBA Presentation | 18

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • Anti-trafficking initiatives – Somaly Mam Foundation. The Somaly Mam Foundation combats sexual slavery by funding AFESIP and other NGOs that work at the grass-roots level to rescue victims from brothels and offer them shelter, safety, counseling, education, vocational skills, and assistance transitioning back into society. – Sponsorship of “Holly” – a feature length film on anti-trafficking – specifically vis-à -vis the sex trade. – Publishing and distributing other anti-trafficking materials. • The Lexis. Nexis® ASPIRE Program – a new program which will enable students who pursue public service during the deferral of professional practice to access certain Lexis. Nexis services free of charge. IBA Presentation | 19

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Non-Traditional • Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia – an LNG attorney worked with Baker & Mc. Kenzie to develop a memorandum for the office of the prosecutor of the ECCC on the Role of the Prosecutor in Cambodian Criminal Trials. • Donation of products and services IBA Presentation | 20

Overcoming Barriers-Continued Lexis. Nexis Group: Examples/Traditional • Wills for Heroes • Pro Bono Clinics (assistance from Corp Pro Bono) • Volunteers Lawyer Project of Greater Dayton – Dayton, OH • Partnering/working with law firms (e. g. research assistance, food stamp programs, etc. ) • Citizens Review Board (arm of the juvenile courts) • Project Homeless Connect – Denver, CO IBA Presentation | 21

Lexis. Nexis “Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere. ” Martin Luther King, Jr. IBA Presentation | 22