Pro Bono
Since our founding, we have proudly upheld a commitment to serve pro bono clients with the determination and legal excellence that define our broader culture. We devote tens of thousands of hours to pro bono cases, and our people are dedicated to corporate social responsibility and volunteering in our communities around the world.
Latest news
Pro bono stories
Challenging Louisiana’s Gender Affirming Care Ban
The adolescent years are widely understood to be among the most challenging life stages. For the hundreds of thousands of youths who identify as transgender in the United States, their coming of age is much more difficult.
Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund: Helping a family honor their son’s legacy
Compassionate release for individuals impacted by discriminatory sentencing practices of the past
Gun violence prevention through legal action
Areas of work
Our pro bono work spans the globe, tackling some of the most pressing, high-stakes challenges facing society and individuals today. Powered by lawyers from across Davis Polk’s corporate and litigation practice groups, as well as business professionals, alumni and clients, collaborative teams put their unique skills and experience to work in support of our pro bono clients. Our expansive pro bono practice serves a wide variety of disadvantaged populations and important community-driven organizations affecting change in many arenas, including:
Asylum & Immigration
Criminal Justice
Domestic Violence & Family Law
Election Protection & Voting Rights
Gender Equality & Reproductive Rights
Gun Violence Prevention
LGBTQ+ Rights
Nonprofits & Social Enterprises
Racial Justice
Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Our pro bono team
We are proud to have a large team of full-time pro bono lawyers, with members focusing on litigation, corporate and transactional, racial justice, and humanitarian immigration matters. The pro bono work done by these lawyers and lawyers from across the firm is supported and magnified by our pro bono professional staff.
Contact via email 
Recognition
Pro Bono Excellence Award
LGBT Bar Association Foundation of Greater New York, 2024
Pro Bono Partner Award
New York County Defender Services, 2024
International Pro Bono Excellence
(support for Prison Journalism Project)
Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, 2024
Legal Services Center Pro Bono Partner
(for support of NYC vulnerable youth)
The Door, 2024
Empire State Counsel Law Firm Honoree
(for service to low-income/vulnerable people)
New York State Bar Association, 2023
Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy
Sanctuary for Families’ Above & Beyond Awards, 2021 and 2023
Champion of Justice Award
New York Legal Assistance Group, 2023
Outstanding Pro Bono Leadership
Volunteers of Legal Service, 2023
Silver Award
Law Society of Hong Kong’s Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Program, 2020 and 2022
Cornerstone Award
(for service to nonprofits)
Lawyers Alliance for New York, 2021
Impact
Data for calendar year 2023
Nonprofits advised on corporate or transactional matters
Systemic racial justice initiative matters
Small businesses and entrepreneurs advised
Humanitarian immigration matters
Civil and criminal matters on behalf of domestic violence and/or trafficking survivors
If you need a pro bono lawyer
Our pro bono clients come to us through our partnerships with legal services and other nonprofit organizations; we do not accept direct inquiries for pro bono representation.
If you are in need of a pro bono lawyer, one of the following resources may be of help:
City Bar Justice Center Legal Hotline