Description:

Job Description:
The pro bono counsel manages and plays an important role in the pro bono work in Sidley's Dallas and Houston offices. assists in supporting work in other offices, and also provides support for the Firm-wide pro bono chair. The pro bono counsel receives requests for pro bono help from a wide variety of organizations and individuals and determines which opportunities to make available to lawyers in the office, taking into account potential conflicts, the Firm's ability to do the work, and the value of the project from a public interest perspective. The pro bono counsel highlights the importance of pro bono work to the Firm's lawyers and encourages and supports their participation in that work, by identifying opportunities of interest to particular lawyers and by internally marketing the importance and satisfaction of pro bono work. The pro bono counsel also supervises, on an as needed basis, pro bono cases that the office is handling and makes occasional court appearances. He or she also handles the administrative aspects of opening new matters, resolving conflicts, providing staffing and monitoring cases to ensure that they are properly staffed and supervised, particularly when handling lawyers leave the Firm.

In addition, the pro bono counsel is responsible for external marketing of the Firm's pro bono program. This involves responding to surveys from legal publications, the Pro Bono Institute, and other governmental and nonprofit organizations, as well as to RFPs requesting information about our pro bono work. The pro bono counsel may also participate in on-campus recruiting at law schools and law school events sponsored by the Firm. The position also includes representing the Firm at Dallas and Houston events related to the public interest, access to justice and pro bono law practice, and also may include representing the Firm at other pro bono events nationwide. The firm-wide tasks include preparing an annual report on the pro bono hours and matters for the Firm's management and pro bono committee, as well as a published report highlighting the Firm's pro bono work of the previous year to be posted on the Firm's website and used for marketing and recruiting purposes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership and creative input on improving and shaping the Firm's pro bono program
Provide leadership and creative input on the development and enhancement of pro bono practices in Firm offices in Europe and Asia
Liaise with legal service providers and non-profits that are sources of pro bono matters
Assist attorneys and provide resources who have questions regarding specific cases
Assist Managing Partner and Director of Administration in managing pro bono related charitable contributions
Participate in local boards and groups, including the Association of Pro Bono Counsel
Liaise with other pro bono counsel within the Firm on Firm-wide pro bono initiatives
Originate and participate in pro bono partnerships with Firm clients
Assist with marketing efforts and responses to requests for proposals where pro bono information is sought
Prepare an annual pro bono report for publication and dissemination to Firm clients and the community on a Firm-wide basis
Prepare annual pro bono report to Firm leadership
Participate in Firm recruiting
Assess in-coming pro bono matters
Disseminate pro bono opportunities to Firm attorneys
Lead new-client intake procedures, including conflicts analysis, risk management and reputational diligence
Evaluate the performance of associate attorneys and staff
Promote training efforts and community service initiatives
Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).