Steve Schulman Quoted in Association of Pro Bono Counsel Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic
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The Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo), a membership organization of more than 250 attorneys and practice group managers who run pro bono practices in more than 100 of the world’s largest law firms, has released a statement on its members’ plans for a coordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the statement, Akin Gump pro bono partner Steven Schulman, who is co-president of APBCo, notes, “In addition to developing and implementing new ways to deliver legal services remotely—in light of office closures, limited court access, and many other social distancing measures—there will be many new legal needs arising in multiple areas, from public benefits to housing instability to detention conditions.”
The statement notes that it is giving legal aid organizations, the “experts in providing legal assistance to those most profoundly affected by COVID-19 and its many ramifications,” time to assess the situation and how best to utilize law firm resources. It also recognizes that APBCo member firms are already mobilizing in anticipation as well as networking with non-APBCo firms through regional pro bono networks and initiatives.
Schulman said, “The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income and marginalized populations across the world is catastrophic. APBCo members recognize that no one law firm can lead this pro bono effort alone and ask others to follow. Rather, an effective response will take true coordination, which involves deliberation, cooperation, and collaboration among firms and public interest organizations from the start, for as long as it takes.”
To read the full statement, please click here.