Wiley Rein Hosts Free Legal Clinic for DC-Area Nonprofits

Washington, DC—A select group of local nonprofit organizations attended a free legal clinic at Wiley Rein that focused on social media policies and critically important data security and privacy strategies. The November 8 program, developed by the Pro Bono Institute as part of its Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) Initiative, was co-sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) National Capital Region (NCR), the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, and Wiley Rein.

The day began with a CLE training session, led by Wiley Rein partner Duane C. Pozza for ACC NCR members who had volunteered for the clinic. The volunteer lawyers then provided one-on-one counsel to nonprofits that serve veterans, low-income families, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence, among others. The volunteers advised nonprofit leaders on “best practices” for drafting or revising their organizations’ social media policies, and also provided guidance for safeguarding their electronic systems and their clientele’s personal data.

Wiley Rein prides itself on a strong tradition of service to the local and global community, and encourages its lawyers and legal assistants to participate in pro bono activities. A key part of the firm’s pro bono mission is to provide equal access to the justice system for individuals and/or groups otherwise unable to afford it. We do this primarily by taking cases referred through local legal service providers with whom we have forged close ties.

The ACC NCR – serving the professional needs of in-house counsel in Washington, DC, Virginia, and suburban Maryland – is the regional chapter of the global Association of Corporate Counsel.

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and mobilizes volunteer attorneys to take pro bono cases serving individuals living in poverty, as well as small businesses and community-based nonprofits needing legal assistance.

CPBO is a project of the Pro Bono Institute designed to substantially increase the amount of pro bono work performed by in-house counsel and to enhance the pro bono culture of in-house legal departments.