Pro Bono Service Opportunities

For Attorneys

Pro Bono Service

It is the Court's pleasure to announce the certification of the U.S. District Court Pro Bono Program by the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund ("PLF"). Certification by the PLF allows pro bono participation to be covered under the PLF. This coverage applies to the activities of all attorneys who provide legal services on cases to which they are appointed through the Pro Bono Program, whether or not they carry personal PLF coverage. Professors, corporate counsel, retired attorneys, and other attorneys who do not carry PLF coverage are now able to volunteer with the Court's Pro Bono Program and rest assured that their involvement in the program is covered by the PLF.

The District of Oregon's pro bono panel is also certified by the Oregon State Bar. Hours spent representing individuals in Federal Court in Oregon now count toward Pro Bono Challenge, Honor Roll, and other OSB-sponsored programs. Attorneys are asked to track their hours spent on pro bono activities. An annual reporting form is available below.

If you have any questions regarding the Pro Bono Panel, please contact the Court's Pro Bono Panel Administrator, Nicole Munoz, at (503) 326-8014. If you'd like to apply for inclusion on the Panel, download the application below.

Please Note that the procedure for responding to an Order Appointing Pro Bono Counsel has changed. Responses are now handled in CM/ECF. A video walkthrough of the new response procedures is available for your convenience.

Pro Bono Service in the District

Civil litigants may apply for pro bono representation by filing a Motion for Appointment of Pro Bono Counsel in an active case, or the Court may order appointment of a pro bono attorney at its own discretion. The appointment may be for all purposes, for the limited purpose of reviewing the factual and legal basis of a plaintiff's complaint, or for any other Court-specified purpose (such as representation in alternative dispute resolution proceedings). Please review the Program documentation for more information.

Attorneys may apply for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred during a pro bono appointment by filing a Motion for Reimbursement with the Court. Current expense limits and other information related to policies is available in the Court's Pro Bono Representation Program Procedures.

In addition to individual attorneys, the following law firms have agreed to provide pro bono representation to litigants:

Ball Janik, LLP
Barran Liebman, LLP
Black, Chapman, Webber & Stevens
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester, LLP
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Frohnmayer Deatherage Jamieson Moore Armosino & McGovern, P.C.
Garvey Schuber Barer
Klarquist Sparkman LLP
Lane Powell, PC
Larkins Vacura, LLP
Lindsey Hart Neil & Weigler, LLP
Miller Nash, LLP
Perkins Coie
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
Stoel Rives, LLP
Stoll Stoll Berne Lokting & Schlachter, PC
Sussman Shank, LLP
Tonkon Torp, LLP

Attorneys or law firms wishing to be added to the Pro Bono Representation Panel should contact Nicole Munoz, Pro Bono Administrator, at (503) 326-8014.

Combining Public Service and Mentoring at ORProBonoStudent.net

The Oregon State Bar and the three law schools within the District of Oregon have organized a clearinghouse of pro bono opportunities at http://www.orprobonostudent.net. The website allows attorneys with pro bono cases to post requests for assistance from law students attending Lewis & Clark, Willamette, and the University of Oregon. This collaboration allows attorneys to share the research and drafting burdens of pro bono cases while providing valuable practical education to law students throughout the state.

Please consider utilizing this service in your pro bono work in this Court and elsewhere.

U.S. District Court - Oregon