Pro bono and social responsibility

Pro bono and social responsibility

At DLA Piper we are determined to achieve our vision of becoming the leading global business law firm by acting in a way that is consistent with our values. 

We want to make a difference
  • Ensure that our firm continues to make a positive contribution to the world we live in by giving free legal advice to those in need.
  • Around the world, our lawyers are working pro bono to ensure access to justice, promote the rule of law, and provide legal services to those unable to afford a lawyer.
  • Globally, our pro bono efforts focus on three areas: the rights of children, access to justice and the rule of law, and assisting asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless people.

Who do we help?

  • Individuals who cannot afford a lawyer and cannot access legal aid
  • NGOs
  • Developing countries
  • United Nations and other intergovermental agencies.
  • Social entrepreneurs
  • Academic institutions

What do we do for them?

  • Legal advice
  • Litigation
  • Research
  • Training
  • Secondments

 

DLA Piper and UNICEF

In 2013, UNICEF and DLA Piper launched a ground-breaking partnership to support and develop UNICEF’s child justice and child protection work around the world. In 2017 our partnership was renewed until 2020 and UNICEF was enlisted as one of our 33 key global clients.

Over the course of our six-year partnership with UNICEF, we have pledged $7.5 million through fundraising and pro bono legal support to improve child justice and protect children's rights worldwide.

Our Helsinki office has, inter alia, conducted legal research for UNICEF concerning children’s rights in the digital environment.

Pro bono in Finland

  • Participation in global United Nations and UNICEF projects
  • University of Helsinki's Legal Lab project
  • The Committee for Legal Help
  • Bold for Baltic Sea project
  • Individual projects and assignments

Each DLA Piper office has a dedicated pro bono partner that supports the creation and delivery of our pro bono services. Our goal is to engage in innovative pro bono projects, develop a leading pro bono practice and help build a pro bono culture in the legal profession around the world.

Dedicated LGBT+ pro bono unit - Iris Represents

We have launched of Iris Represents on 23 February 2021, a range of dedicated, international pro bono services specifically tailored to LGBT+ focused NGOs and individuals. DLA Piper has a leading global pro bono practice and Iris Represents formalises our pro bono offering in the LGBT+ space under a distinct and recognisable brand, provided by a firm with a strong commitment to diversity.

Iris Represents will leverage DLA Piper’s international LGBT+ network so its pro bono clients can be confident that the services being delivered are by lawyers who speak their language, are aligned to their values and who can support them wherever they are in the world.

In addition to advising NGOs with their existing advocacy work and supporting their general commercial requirements, Iris Represents is making a commitment to progressing more specific aims, including:

  • Advocating for the rights of LGBT+ asylum seekers to help navigate the immigration system;
  • Continuing to represent and advocate for the repealing of laws and policies that discriminate against the trans community, in particular relating to housing, healthcare, employment and education; and
  • Partnering with prominent LGBT+ activists globally to support their calls for equality, build capacity and amplify their voices.ing global pro bono practice and Iris Represents formalises its pro bono offering in the LGBT+ space under a distinct and recognisable brand, provided by a firm with a strong commitment to diversity.
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