The legal community has an honorable tradition of using its skills for the benefit of society. Wildman Harrold embraces this heritage. Our encouragement of pro bono work has helped establish the firm's reputation for community advocacy.

The Pro Bono Committee works to raise the profile and scope of pro bono opportunities related to the interests and skills of attorneys and staff. Wildman Harrold is involved in a wide variety of pro bono projects, emphasizing asylum, housing, and guardianship cases. Attorneys regularly represent low-income individuals in political asylum hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, domestic relations matters, and veterans' benefits appeals. The firm supports agencies including the National Immigrant Justice Center, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Tax Assistance Program, and the Public Interest Law Initiative.

Lawyers are favorably evaluated on their willingness to take on pro bono activities and doing so will enhance their opportunities for promotion.  For associates, up to 100 hours of pro bono time will be counted toward the billable hour requirement of 1950 hours.  With prior approval of the Pro Bono Coordinator, time billed to pro bono matters in excess of 100 hours may be counted as billable time for purposes of compensation and bonuses.  The firm believes that an associate's involvement in pro bono activities is an important factor in the firm's ongoing evaluation of the associate.  A willingness to serve and become involved with the community evidences a level of maturity and professionalism which is highly prized by the firm.  Associates shall be evaluated on their pro bono matters in the same manner in which they are reviewed on billable matters.

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