Pro Bono
A Commitment to Our Community
The spirit and pursuit of justice is inherent in all that we do. Throughout our more than 50-year history, Preti has been more than a law firm. We’ve been an active member of the community. To us, that means working hard for social causes and nonprofit partners as well as our clients. In service to the cities and towns we serve, we provide high-quality pro bono services and promote justice for organizations and individuals who lack the legal knowledge and financial resources to achieve it.
Lawyers for Civil Rights, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, ACLU-NH—these are just a few of the organizations we’re proud to partner with to provide pro bono services. Each Preti attorney commits to 50 hours of pro bono and community service each year, contributing to our firmwide goal of 3,000 hours. To achieve this goal, we have established key initiatives offering support, inspiration, and recognition, including our Pro Bono Committee; our annual Preti Flaherty Pro Bono Award; and membership in organizations such as the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine Justice Foundation, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and many others.
Since 2020, Preti has committed significant pro bono hours and more than $30,000 to organizations throughout New England that actively promote racial justice and foster equal opportunity. We’ve also had more than a dozen attorneys working with ILAP to help more than fifteen young immigrants secure permanent citizenship in the United States.
It’s our honor and privilege to give back to our communities and to use our time and resources to help those in need. We look forward to our continued work with current partner organizations, and to new opportunities ahead.
The Pro Bono Committee
The members of Preti Flaherty’s Pro Bono Committee serve as the first line of advocacy for our deep involvement in providing pro bono services. The committee members are tasked with seeking out pro bono opportunities, community service projects, fundraising initiatives, and maintaining communications with our partner organizations to better anticipate and address their needs.
Pro Bono Committee Members
Preti Flaherty Pro Bono Award
To further promote the importance of pro bono service, the Firm has established the Preti Flaherty Pro Bono Award. The annual award recognizes the Preti Flaherty attorney who has gone above and beyond in their dedication to their community. Our hope is that award recipients will lead by example, inspiring other Firm attorneys to realize the reward that comes from helping those in need in the pursuit of justice.
Our Pro Bono Partners and Charitable Organizations
Our attorneys are now or recently have been members of, support, provide pro bono services for, and in most instances, have held leadership positions in the following organizations, among others:
- Campaign for Justice
- Campaign for Legal Services
- Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)
- Justice Action Group
- Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
- Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Lawyers for Civil Rights
- Maine Bar Foundation
- Maine Equal Justice Partners
- Maine Justice Foundation Racial Justice Fund
- Maine State Chamber of Commerce’s Standing in Solidarity Pledge
- Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project (MVLP)
- New Hampshire Bar Foundation
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance
- Refugee and Human Rights Clinic at University of Maine School of Law
Campaign for Justice
In addition to providing pro bono legal services, Preti is proud to be an active fundraiser for the Campaign for Justice. The Campaign for Justice raises money to support six legal aid providers in Maine that collectively provide legal aid to an average of 30,000 adults and children annually:
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance
- Legal Services for the Elderly
- Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic
- The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project
- Maine Equal Justice Partners
- Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
The Campaign for Justice supports these organizations that provide essential legal services for low-income Mainers in civil matters. These services improve living conditions, health, security, and food safety for thousands of Maine families, as well as work to advance laws affecting the poor in Maine.