David Turetsky shares how, in the summer of 1981, he found himself at the U.S. Supreme Court as part of a team that halted the New York City primary elections to protect voting rights.

Pro bono lawyers are often called upon to calmly and competently help clients experiencing crises. But what if the crisis — a natural disaster, a pandemic, an unprecedented challenge at the polls — impacts the lawyer as well? In this episode, Alicia Aiken speaks with Ray Brescia, Associate Dean for Research and Intellectual Life and Hon. Harold R. Tyler Chair in Law and Technology, Albany Law School, and David Turetsky, Professor of Practice Emeritus, University of Albany, about how lawyers can plan ahead to meet the moment for pro bono clients.

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Thousands of Washington, D.C. area kids with disabilities rely on buses for transportation to the schools that can serve their educational needs — some of which are very far from their homes. But for years, the DC school bus system has been failing these students, with buses that arrive late, or not at all, or with safety concerns, all of which impacts their access to education. In this episode, hear from a local parent about her experience with this dysfunctional system — and how a pro bono team including Kathy Zeisel of the Children’s Law Center, Shira Wakschlag of The Arc, Kaitlin Banner of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and Christopher Shoemaker of McDermott Will & Schulte have brought a major federal class action seeking to remedy these issues systemwide.

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Incarcerated survivors of domestic violence and trafficking are finding hope and justice through the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) — with help from pro bono attorneys. Hear a conversation with Dara Sheinfeld and Denis McInerney of Davis Polk, who have been working on the front lines of re-sentencing efforts in collaboration with pro bono clients, legal aid organizations, and prosecutors.

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Pro bono work supporting businesses and nonprofits remains one of the best ways for transactional lawyers to contribute to their communities. In this episode, Alicia Aiken talks with Bruce Ely, Tiffany Graves, and Ashley Robinson, of Bradley, about their firm’s successful implementation of pro bono clinics helping Black small business and nonprofit owners in the Southeast.

Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI

Hear how Sam Coren, of Perkins Coie, and Emma Jensen, of the Northwest Justice Project, helped transform a man’s life through a successful bid for clemency that began when they were in law school.

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(Originally published 4/28/23): Many lawyers take on pro bono cases unaware of the vicarious trauma they can experience when helping clients in extreme situations. Hear Akin Pro Bono partner Lauren Connell and interactive learning expert Ken Rosenblad discuss the types of training that can help lawyers manage their mental health — and become more effective advocates. 

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Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Hear from attorneys Keith Y. Cohan and Ryan M. Goldstein of Reid Collins, and Nora Ahmed of the ACLU of Louisiana, about the Justice Lab’s longstanding advocacy for individuals impacted by discriminatory policing — and how the pursuit of justice in dozens of these cases can lead to systemic reforms.

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Join host Alicia Aiken and fellow movie buff and attorney John Whitcomb for another lively discussion of how pro bono has been depicted in past Oscar-nominated films, exploring how these stories reflect the popular understanding of access to justice.

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Pursuing Justice Podcast Episode 57: (Originally Published May 6th, 2022)

What does it mean to design a fulfilling life in the law? And how does pro bono fit in? In this encore episode of Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files, host Alicia Aiken talks to Michigan Law professors Bridgette Carr and Vivek Sankaran and attorney Jessica Morton about taking stock and forging your own career path — and how pro bono can help.

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