For the public good ⚖️

It’s Pro Bono Celebration Week, and we’re marking the occasion with stories, checklists and ideas to inspire—and protect—your practice. This issue has everything from a practical guide for firms launching a pro bono program to a podcast filled with the kind of client stories that remind you why you went to law school in the first place. We’re also highlighting firms that showcase their volunteer work in smart, authentic ways that connect with clients and communities alike.

But good deeds still need good defenses. As ransomware gangs find new ways to exploit everyday remote access tools, now's a good time to tighten up your cybersecurity, too. After all, helping others starts with protecting your own house.

But first, forget the jewelry heist at the Louvre. Find out how thieves stole a truckload of tequila headed to Flavortown. 

Your motion to spook is granted.
We’re a week out from Halloween. Do you have a law-themed costume ready? Will you enter Above the Law’s annual Halloween costume contest?

You may be entitled to compensation.
Over on Instagram, @jon.thedad is aggregating claims for the class action every Millennial longs to file. 

Shocking verdicts are… shocking. 
This Reddit thread on unexpected verdicts is full of crazy war stories. 

Permits? We ain't got no permits. We don't need no permits! I don't have to show you any stinkin' permits!
Construction of the new White House Ballroom is blowing the minds of every attorney who has ever battled a local planning or zoning board.

What we’re watching. 
Part legal thriller, part horror flick, The Exorcism of Emily Rose should be on your watch list every Halloween.

Don’t reinvent the wheel

Thinking about setting up a pro bono program at your firm? Want to make sure your existing efforts are impactful? Check out the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Checklist. Designed to help firms and other organizations that want to give back understand where to start and how to keep going, it “guides users through the beginning stage of defining the legal problem to be solved and through all the subsequent stages of design, implementation, evaluation and maintenance.”

Why this matters: This collection of pro bono best practices is a helpful resource for anyone setting up or managing a pro bono program. Kudos to CBF for giving back by giving this to all of us. (Chicago Bar Foundation)

The risk of remote access 

Ransomware gangs are no longer relying on suspicious executables or malware-laced email attachments to gain access to your firm’s files. Instead, they are sneaking in by using the same remote access tools your IT department relies on. 

Once inside, attackers can move laterally through systems, using stolen credentials and remote sessions that look routine on the surface. Early detection is difficult. Sometimes the only warning sign is a remote login from an unexpected location. The article urges defenders to implement tighter controls to stop these attacks: strict whitelisting, multi-factor authentication, and close monitoring of activity tied to remote access tools.

Why this matters: Understanding these evolving tactics isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a risk management imperative. Clients expect their counsel to anticipate and advise on such threats, and firms that ignore them may find themselves not just victims, but defendants, in future cybersecurity litigation. (Today’s General Counsel) 

The pro bono pod

The Practising Law Institute (PLI) is known for its CLEs, but it also produces a number of legal podcasts. Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files, hosted by attorney Alicia Aiken, tells uplifting stories about pro bono and public interest legal work. What makes this podcast interesting is the frequent inclusion of clients, who give heart-warming (and sometimes harrowing) accounts of their experience with the legal system.

Why this matters: If you need to hear some good news that restores your faith in humanity, this is the podcast for you. It’s also a good way to learn about the different types of pro bono work out there. (Pursuing Justice: The Pro Bono Files)

• ICE detentions derided as “Kavanaugh Stops” 
  
• Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are up for retention
  
• 60 Minutes interview with DOJ whistleblower Erez Reuveni
  
• The courts are out of cash
  
• 10 states have mandatory pro bono reporting, 26 others encourage it

Show your work

Too often, law firms and the attorneys who work there keep their pro bono and volunteer work quiet. That’s a mistake. Clients, recruits and even referral sources increasingly look for firms whose values show up in their actions. 

Highlighting you and your firm’s community involvement signals that you don’t just practice law, you are a part of something bigger and your commitment to it goes beyond a few words on your firm’s website. When done thoughtfully, this builds your credibility and strengthens your brand’s emotional resonance.

Here are a few examples of ways you can do this:

The Beasley Allen Law Firm’s Gavin F. King posted a video on Facebook that talks about why giving back to the community is important to him. 

The District of Columbia Bar dedicated its May/June issue of Washington Lawyer magazine to pro bono topics. Attorney Alexander Geraldo of Robinson & Geraldo highlighted his inclusion in the publication on his LinkedIn. 

The trial attorneys at Goldberg and Rosen documented their time spent helping clients at Legal Services of Greater Miami with a video on Instagram.

The Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast from the Pro Bono Institute features a variety of stories about lawyers giving back. 

While you may not have Husch Blackwell’s pro bono budget or big marketing team, this graphic highlighting their firm’s impact is something you could emulate.  

Why this matters: This isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about visibility and integrity. When you use your online presence and promotional materials to talk about pro bono and volunteer work, you build credibility with clients and trust within the profession. In a crowded legal marketplace, that kind of goodwill is hard to come by.

You're all caught up!

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 Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.