Our Pro Bono Commitment

We are all in on pro bono

In 2023, The American Lawyer ranked Jenner & Block as number one for international pro bono service on its Pro Bono Scorecard for the second consecutive year. Lawyers from the firm’s London office dedicated 115.2 pro bono hours on average in 2022.

“I feel very fortunate that there are so many exciting opportunities available to lawyers to help those less fortunate than ourselves achieve appropriate representation and better access to justice. Professionally, I am grateful that Jenner & Block’s long-held commitment to pro bono means that our services can be deployed to meet those aims, regardless of the financial status of our clients.”

Michaela Croft
Special Counsel

“My experience working on pro bono matters has been extremely rewarding. Each case I worked on reminded me of the important need for pro bono services and the value those services provide to society. This work has helped me develop as a lawyer through managing matters and dealing with new and complex legal problems.”

Ronan O’Reilly
Special Counsel

“Having worked on a number of important pro bono matters this year, I have seen first-hand the impact we can have on individuals who may not otherwise have had access to legal advice. This gives real meaning to the pro bono work that we do day-to-day.”

Sol Gelsomino
Associate

In this video, Co-Managing Partner, Katya Jestin talks about her work representing Majid Khan.

Our lawyers, in some cases, spend decades pursuing justice for our clients. Co-Managing Partner Katya Jestin represented Guantánamo Bay detainee Majid Khan for over 14 years, securing his release and resettlement in Belize in February 2023. She continues to advocate for the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention camp.

“The men languishing in Guantánamo who have been cleared for release must be transferred; indefinite detention is anathema to a just society,” Katya said when Mr. Khan finally won his release. “Closing Guantánamo would go a long way toward reclaiming the values that our country was founded upon and that have never been more important than today.”

In January 2021, Jenner & Block launched its five-year pro bono commitment (2021-2025) to provide $250 million in free legal services to those in need of access to justice. The need for pro bono representation in the pursuit of social, racial, and economic justice is greater now than ever before. In 2024, our dedication to this commitment continues with an unwavering passion for pro bono service.

Our Pro Bono Committee

Our pro bono program is managed by a dedicated group of lawyers who volunteer their time and experience to this important effort. Jenner & Block’s Pro Bono Committee includes members from across all cities that also represent the breadth of our practice offerings and is co-chaired by five partners who oversee the comprehensive program.