As a leading global law firm, we recognize our unique ability to advance UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. As stated by the UN, conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain a great threat to sustainable development. We are committed to promoting the rule of law and increasing access to justice through our long-standing pro bono program.
Our distinguished pro bono history derives primarily from our profound sense of professional and moral obligation to increase access to justice and help under-represented clients and non-profits otherwise unable to access legal support.
Eversheds Sutherland lawyers are encouraged to provide pro bono legal services as a part of their well-rounded practice. This expectation of service is supported by billable hour credit and attorney review policies that include pro bono as a factor in promotion and bonus eligibility, with specific criteria varying by region. Pro bono work is both rewarding and essential to the professional development of our lawyers.
Supporting the International Rescue Committee
On World Refugee Day 2024, we marked the first anniversary of our global partnership with the International Rescue Committee ('IRC'). Founded in 1933, the IRC’s mission is to ‘help people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and gain control over their future.’ We provide the IRC with financial and pro bono support to help ensure its focus can remain on supporting those most in need across the 40+ countries where the IRC works with its local partners.
In the first year of our global partnership, we recorded over 1,200 hours on more than 40 different pro bono matters for the IRC involving colleagues from across the globe and multiple jurisdictions. Examples of some of the projects we have supported pro bono during the first year of our partnership include:
- Preparing a Global Data Privacy Policy
- Advising on AI provisions in various commercial agreements, including in relation to an AI-driven software subscription that would allow the IRC’s HR team to generate learning content
- Supporting the IRC with the legal and commercial framework around its flagship Signpost programme, which gives those displaced by humanitarian crises access to quick and secure support and advice
- Advising on real estate projects across the IRC’s US offices
- Providing employment law advice and training in a number of jurisdictions, and free places on our external International Employment Law courses for the IRC’s HR and legal teams
- Participating in legal research projects to support the IRC’s US RAI Immigration Programme
- Ensured compliance with new UK procurement regulations and updated a suite of documents issued to UK programming partners