Michael S. Forshey, the managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs’ Dallas office, is so passionate about pro bono work he co-leads the firm’s program. The work of his firm’s Public Service Initiative has made a tremendous change for their clients, including overturning a death sentence. In recognition of National Pro Bono Week, Forshey shared with us the importance and unmet need of providing equal access to justice.
What is your role in supporting Pro Bono efforts at your firm?
Along with senior partner Richard Gurbst, I co-lead our firm’s pro bono program.
Why is this work important in law?
Providing equal access to justice is at the heart of what makes pro bono work important and that is only possible when the poor and most vulnerable in our society have access to high-quality legal representation. Large law firms and their caring and highly skilled lawyers come in to level the playing field. At Squire Patton Boggs, we view it as an obligation. We certainly are not alone in this regard, but make no mistake – there is a huge unmet need out there. This is especially true as funding to pro bono service providers is cut. The private sector must step up and do much more.
What’s the case you are most proud of?
I have personally been doing pro bono work for over 20 years and while there are several matters for which I’m personally proud, what I have learned is that progress can only be made through the efforts of the collective. I’m proud that as our firm has grown to operate in 46 offices across 20 countries we have ensured that Corporate Responsibility, including pro bono, is embedded in our business operations. Our lawyers and staff worldwide are involved in a wide range of initiatives – from pro bono to supporting charitable organizations – that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As lawyers, we are in a privileged position to serve the communities in which we live and work.
I am also proud of the unique approach our firm took almost nine years ago when we launched our Public Service Initiative (PSI), which is the only free-standing public interest law project housed within a major international law firm. Led by George Kendall, PSI focuses on resource-intensive matters, including capital and actual innocence cases that are beyond the scope of most pro bono lawyers. Operating without the constraints of cost, resource and time, the team has obtained some tremendous results that have changed the lives of indigent inmates who otherwise would have been forgotten in the country’s vast criminal justice system and led to significant changes to prison policy concerning solitary confinement.
What advice would you give to an attorney who is looking champion pro bono efforts at their firm?
First and foremost, you must have the full support and commitment of firm leadership. Particularly at larger firms, it is also important to develop some structure that provides pro bono opportunities and makes it easy for the individual lawyers to take on new matters. The last thing you want to do is create a barrier to doing pro bono work.
Doing pro bono work is the right thing to do, but there are many other benefits. It provides great opportunities to train lawyers and provides them early client contact. It helps with retention, building networks with those whom you share interests and generally makes us feel more connected to people. When you do pro bono work, everyone wins.