Washington Council of Lawyers Profiles Arnold & Porter's Pro Bono Commitment
Washington, DC, October 20—The Washington Council of Lawyers, a voluntary bar association promoting pro bono and public-interest law, recently profiled Arnold & Porter's impactful pro bono work and commitment to fostering partnerships with pro bono organizations.
One profile highlighted Arnold & Porter's nationwide pro bono program, launched in March 2020, to assist workers who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than 100 Arnold & Porter attorneys throughout the country have assisted workers in their efforts to obtain unemployment benefits. The firm's attorneys have prevailed in numerous appeals on behalf of workers who were initially denied benefits. In addition, lawyers throughout the US have assisted workers in navigating the unemployment regulatory system and securing benefits. The effort is led by Dan Cantor, chair of Arnold & Porter's Pro Bono Committee, together with Rebecca Gordon and Roberta Horton. The team receives referrals from multiple sources, including legal services organizations. In Washington, DC, the team has handled more than 40 matters referred by Legal Aid. According to Legal Aid, "from day one, the [Arnold & Porter] leadership team took it upon themselves to really dig in and learn the nuts and bolts of the District's UI system, as well as the additional federal benefits that were made available as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."
A second profile, focused on the firm's work defending Washington, DC seniors with limited means from eviction and homelessness, commended Cantor's "exemplary pro bono work" that resulted in "life-changing victories" for his clients. Since joining the Legal Counsel for the Elderly's Advisory Board in 2015, Cantor has represented vulnerable, low-income senior citizens in opposing eviction actions and remedying unacceptable housing conditions. Recently, following two-plus years of hard fought litigation, Cantor preserved a client's ownership interest in a low-income housing cooperative. In another recent matter, Cantor obtained a preliminary injunction preventing the eviction of his client, hospitalized with COVID-19.
Through our commitment to use the power of law in order to protect the rights of the community, Arnold & Porter has established one of the world's leading law firm pro bono programs. Our attorneys have been actively involved with the Washington Council of Lawyers for over 40 years and have served in leadership positions including president, treasurer, and secretary, as well as chairing numerous committees.
