The Pro Bono Institute

In 2005, the Pro Bono Institute launched the Second Acts Project^SM (i.e., second acts in the lawyering lives of experienced attorneys) to facilitate institutional support for transitioning and retired attorneys who contribute significant time, skills, and experience to help public interest organizations meet the complex legal needs of low-income and underserved communities. Working with the Institute’s core constituencies – major law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations – the project’s objectives are as follows:

• Develop a clear understanding of the benefits and obstacles to second, volunteer careers for transitioning and retired attorneys, and develop strategies to raise awareness, create support, and address obstacles within law firms, legal departments, and public interest organizations;

• Support, evaluate, and replicate quality and effective pro bono models which can engage substantial numbers of transitioning and retired attorneys in second, volunteer careers in public service.

To date, the Institute has made important progress on the Second Acts Project^SM:

“The Results of the Pro Bono Institute Firm Survey on the Viability of a ‘Second Acts’^SM Program to Transition Attorneys to Retirement through Pro Bono Work,”

Second Acts^SM

^SM

UPDATE: Second Acts^SM Pro Bono Pilot Projects Application period is now closed.

The Second Acts^SM Pro Bono Pilot Projects application period has ended as of 5:00pm on Friday, May 16, 2008. The Pro Bono Institute will not be taking any new applications for Second Acts^SM funding. Thank you to all that applied, and for your interest in the Second Acts^SM Project.

The Institute will notify applicants of funding decisions by June 30, 2008.

If you have any further questions, please contact Ben Bay, Project Assistant at secondacts@probonoinst.org.