This document announces a workshop from April 24-26, 2008 organized by Robert Granfield to explore the evolving role of pro bono legal work. The workshop will examine the relationship between pro bono ideals and practice, and the opportunities and limitations of pro bono in expanding access to justice. Over the three days, there will be keynote addresses from Deborah Rhode and Karen Mathis, as well as panels discussing topics like pro bono and legal education, social change, and implementing pro bono in family law cases. The workshop is cosponsored by legal organizations and universities and will bring together scholars to discuss theoretical, empirical, and practical issues regarding pro bono.

1. April 24 – 26, 2008
Private Lawyers and the Public Interest:
The Evolving Role of Pro Bono in the Legal Profession
The legal profession's commitment to the expansion of pro bono has achieved significant gains in recent years. This
workshop, organized by Robert Granfield, Chair of Sociology at University at Buffalo, will explore the evolving role of
pro bono, the relationship between pro bono ideals and pro bono in practice, and the opportunities and limitations of
pro bono in expanding access to justice. The participants will explore theoretical, empirical, and practical questions
regarding the role of pro bono and public service in the legal profession. This workshop is cosponsored by the
Volunteer Lawyers Project, Eighth Judicial District Pro Bono Committee, University at Buffalo Department of Sociology,
Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy, and University at Buffalo Law School.
Thursday, April 24
th
Reception and Keynote Address:
Private Lawyers in the Public Interest by Deborah Rhode, Stanford Law School
Friday, April 25
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Morning panels:
Pro Bono and the Life of the Legal Profession • Pro Bono in Context of Legal Practice
Keynote Address:
A Second Season of Service by Karen Mathis, past president, American Bar Association
Afternoon panels:
Pro Bono and Legal Education • Pro Bono and Social Change • Community Roundtable
Saturday, April 26
th
Implementing Pro Bono in Matrimonial Cases: Nuts and Bolts of Public Service
Conference Participants:
Richard Abel, UCLA Law School
Cindy Adcock, Director of Experiential Learning
Programs, Charlotte Law School
Steven Boutcher, Law, Society, and Criminology,
UC Irvine
Scott Cummings, UCLA Law School
Ronit Dinovitzer, Criminology, University of Toronto
Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Graduate Center, CUNY
Cynthia Feathers, Former Director of Pro Bono
Affairs at the New York State Bar Association
Susan Feathers, Levin Center for Public Services
and Public Interest Law, Stanford University
Bryant Garth, Southwestern Law School
Clarke Gocker, Sociology, University at Buffalo
Robert Granfield, Sociology, University at Buffalo
Leslie Levin, University of Connecticut Law School
Lynn Mather, Director of Baldy Center for Law and
Social Policy, University at Buffalo Law School
Karen Mathis, past president, American Bar Assoc.
Peter Pitegoff, University of Maine Law School
Deborah Rhode, Stanford Law School
Rebecca Sandefur, Sociology, Stanford University
Deborah Schmedemann, Mitchell College of Law
Ann Southworth, Case Western Reserve
University School of Law
Lucie White, Harvard Law School
Program details forthcoming