While many of us are heading to the beach, having barbeques or planning our summer vacations, a good number of our lawyers have been using their time helping those in need.

In a recent survey conducted by Volunteers of Legal Service, the Firm reported a total of 37,551 hours worked on pro bono in 2007.  We also exceeded VOLS Pro Bono Pledge, requiring a minimum average of 30 hours, with an average of 78 hours of qualifying pro bono work per lawyer.

So, what exactly have our lawyers been up to? Here are some recent highlights:

• Vin FitzPatrick, Heather McDevitt and Stephanie Cohen were awarded the 2008 Thurgood Marshall Award for Capital Representation by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for leading the charge in challenging Alabama's method of execution by lethal injection as cruel and unusual punishment. 
• John D. Rue received the 2008 Young Lawyers Division Service to the Community Award at the New Jersey State Bar Association's Annual Meeting on May 21. John is currently supervising a pro bono program for our summer associates, which has accepted eight special education cases from Volunteer Lawyers for Justice and the Education Law Center. 
• Sophie East, with the assistance of Sam Mendez, was successful in applying for asylum for an HIV-positive gay man from Guyana who suffered abuse at the hands of the Guyanese police because of his homosexuality and his public role in HIV/AIDS education. 
• Nima Ashok and Bobby Counihan, assisted by Jason Litwack and Mike Saliba, achieved a victory for a high school senior who was expelled from his school district.  The team worked to regain educational services enabling him to graduate on time and also won a $25,000 settlement. The team was advised by Jim Stillwaggon, Jeff Whyte, Paul Carberry, Brendan Woodard and Meghan McCurdy.
• White & Case was recently recognized by The Humane Society for outstanding pro-bono litigation on behalf of animals at a ceremony held in partnership with The BeKind Foundation at the New York University Torch Club.
• The Firm was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award by Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts at its Summer Benefit and Awards Ceremony on June 23.
• At our annual Pro Bono Awards ceremony held on May 28, the Firm honored 18 lawyers for their outstanding pro bono achievements.

Pro bono work does not take a summer vacation. If you're interested in learning more about pro bono opportunities, please contact or .

© 2008 White & Case LLP