Expanding Virtual Pro Bono Clinics, Increasing Access to Justice

By: Betsy White, Associate, Mountain View

Every year, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) honors a cadre of attorneys whose outstanding service and achievements advance the cause of equal access to justice. This year, in recognition of Fenwick & West’s integral involvement in the 2013 roll-out of the Virtual Pro Bono Clinic (VPBC), NLADA awarded its Beacon of Justice Award to Fenwick and partner law firm DLA Piper at the annual gala in Washington, DC. This prestigious award is designed to honor law firms that have devoted considerable resources to creating and implementing innovative strategies to improve life outcomes for low-income people.

This award represents the work and time of many volunteers who helped bring to fruition the virtual clinics, which enable online document exchange and remote meetings. During 2013, at least 30 Fenwick attorneys contributed more than 200 hours to creating and implementing the VPBC. And in 2014, the reach of the VPBC continues to expand. To date, Fenwick attorneys have contributed 134 pro bono hours to the clinic, and they have served at least 206 community members. Congratulations to the Fenwick & West attorneys whose continuing dedication to this project earned Fenwick national recognition for its pro bono efforts: Phil Haack, Malcolm Katz, Jane Kim, Liza Kostinskaya, Brian Lahti, Liwen Mah, Pam Reid, and Michael Saunders.

Thinking about this award and looking at the numbers, it amazes me how far we have come in using technology to increase access to justice; but I am also reminded of how far we have yet to go. I look forward to seeing the numbers - the number of volunteers, the number of clinics, the number of counties and even states that adopt this virtual clinic model - grow in the coming years.

Betsy White, an alum of UCLA School of Law, is an associate in the Litigation practice group at Fenwick & West LLP. She focuses her practice on commercial and intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on patent infringement, copyright, and trade secret misappropriation disputes. An avid supporter of pro bono, Betsy received the firm's 2011 Pro Bono Associate of the Year Award for her work with the Domestic Violence Limited Scope Representation Project, as well as the Pro Bono Client Service Award for her participation in the Citizen Schools Program, which brings relevant learning experiences to middle school students in low-income neighborhoods.