Feb. 17 2016 – There is still time to jump-start or enhance your pro bono program. The State Bar of Wisconsin Legal Assistance Committee has limited funds available through the Pro Bono Initiative for grants to develop or expand pro bono legal services projects.
The deadline is March 4, 2016, to apply for a grant of amounts from $500 to $3,000.
Past Grant Recipient: The Student Expulsion Prevention Project
The Student Expulsion and Prevention Project (StEPP), organized by the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, is one example of a pro bono project that started with a Pro Bono Initiative grant.
This Dane County project aims to keep more students in school and reduce the minority achievement gap that results from the disproportionate number of minority students being expelled. Since its inception, StEPP volunteers have represented students in expulsion hearings in their school district.
For more information on the StEPP Program, see the November 2015 issue of Wisconsin Lawyer and an article in the Feb. 18, 2015, issue of InsideTrack.
The committee is looking for projects that engage State Bar members in helping to address unmet legal needs in local communities. Grant funds are most commonly sought for start-up expenses such as training, technology, resource manuals, forms, and office supplies.
The success of the Pro Bono Initiative depends on individual and organizational creativity and effort, says State Bar Pro Bono Coordinator Jeff Brown. “I’m very proud of the pro bono projects that started with financial and planning support from the Pro Bono Initiative.”
The most recent project to receive funding through the Pro Bono Initiative is an expansion grant to support the Parenting Conference Program, a joint effort of the Milwaukee Justice Center and Milwaukee County Child Support Services with volunteers from Quarles & Brady LLP and Marquette Law School. This grant will help the program to serve more families more efficiently and reduce the number of court proceedings necessary to resolve family law disputes in the county.
What Is the State Bar Pro Bono Initiative?
The State Bar’s Pro Bono Initiative is a statewide-coordinated program to support, recognize, and increase lawyers’ volunteer legal efforts. In collaboration with the judiciary, legal services providers, and local bar organizations, the initiative works to improve public access to the legal system by promoting solutions that eliminate barriers to effective access to the civil justice system.
The Pro Bono Initiative Grants
Grants of up to $3,000 are available to establish or expand pro bono projects.
Grants of up to $500 are available for State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® products or other items to support pro bono projects.
How to Apply
For more information, visit the State Bar Pro Bono webpage on WisBar.org or contact Jeff Brown at (608) 250-6177, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6177. Applications are due March 4.
