Multilaw Pro Bono Mission

Initiated in mid 2012, the Multilaw Pro Bono Mission is designed to increase and institutionalise Multilaw’s charitable and pro bono activities.  Our goal is threefold:

• To demonstrate Multilaw’s social responsibility in the countries we serve and visit
• To improve the brand and profile of Multilaw, particularly at conference locations and the Multilaw Academy 
• To more fully engage Multilaw firm lawyers, particularly those at the conference-hosting law firm who might not otherwise be as involved in Multilaw activities

There are three primary components to this initiative.

1.  BILLABLE HOUR PROJECT

We are a relatively privileged group of individuals travelling to conferences around the world and we believe that it would be a good thing to leave a Multilaw pro bono footprint in each of the places we visit.

Through the Multilaw Billable Hour Project we raise funds from Multilaw member firms and Multilaw members individually to allow Multilaw, as an organization, to make a significant cash donation to a local charity selected by each conference hosting firm and the Multilaw Academy.  The cash donation sought from each member is small – the monetary equivalent of just 1 billable hour each year.   

We are deliberately ambiguous as to whether we are asking for the equivalent of 1 billable hour per firm, or per individual attending a conference, and whether it is per conference or per year.  The total donation is up to each firm and each individual and may, of course, be nothing at all.  It is entirely voluntary.  No donation is too small or too large.  

We see 1 billable hour as a useful measure of giving.  While each billable hour donation is relatively small, the impact we, as Multilaw, can make with these contributions will be significant.  

Conference host firms are encouraged to have short presentations by the selected charity at the conference so Multilaw members can see firsthand the important work that is being done.   

Charities selected are locally based or able to assure that the funds will all be used locally, have low overhead structures and are of the widest possible appeal to Multilaw members.

To make your Billable Hour Donation, please CLICK HERE to complete the donation form and forward it to Secretariat at secretariat@multilaw.com

2.  HOURS OF SERVICE PROJECT

Under the umbrella of the Multilaw Hours of Service Project, the Multilaw Academy attendees participate in a community service project during Academy week.  the 5-day Academy agenda has built-in several hours of public service to be performed by Academy attendees for a selected local charity.  In addition. Multilaw makes a cash donation  (from the Billable Hour Project) to  the charity.  We have found this to be an excellent opportunity for the Academy delegates from around the world to bond with one another as well as give back to the local community hosting the Academy.

Click here to see the Hours of Service Project in action

 3. JOBST VON WAHLERT MULTILAW ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP  

For a number of years Multilaw has offered a scholarship (in memory of one of Multilaw’s Past Chairmen, Jobst von Wahlert, who passed away in 2007) that provides an opportunity for one or two lawyers from developing countries, where Multilaw does not have a member firm, to attend the Multilaw Academy free of charge and learn from the experience of meeting like-minded lawyers from other countries.  In the past scholarship winners have been from Ethiopia, Georgia, Indonesia and  Uzbekistan. Funds for the scholarship are annually solicited from Multilaw member firms.  Firms interested in being a primary sponsor of the scholarship for this year or on an on-going basis should contact the Secretariat at secretariat@multilaw.com.

DONATIONS MADE TO DATE

2013  Asia Pacific Regional Meeting, Seoul, Korea
       Charitable Recipient:
      Gonggam Human Rights Law Foundation

Click here for more information

2012  Annual General Meeting, Melbourne, Australia
         Charitable Recipient:
         Multilaw Bursary for Indigenous Student at Ormond College at
         University of Melbourne

Click here for more information
Click here for photo - Master Rufus Black of Ormond College receiving cheque from Mark Lowndes, Multilaw Chairman

Click here for article in Ormond College Magazine
Click here for press coverage in NZ Lawyer Magazine

2012  Multilaw Academy.Philadelphia, PA, USA
         Charitable Recipient:
         Philabundance

Click here for more details
Click here for Academy video
Click here for press coverage

2012  Europe, Middle East & Africa Regional Conference, Athens, Greece
          Charitable Recipient:
          The Smile of the Child

Click here for more information
Click here for photos
Click here for press coverage

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

For more information about the Multilaw Pro Bono Mission or any of the programs listed above, please contact the Secretariat at secretariat@multilaw.com

FUTURE CONFERENCE DONATIONS

2013    Americas Regional Meeting, Dallas, Texas, USA
           Texas Loves Children

2013    European, Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting, Helsinki, Finland
           Mannerheim League for Child Welfare

2013    Multilaw Academy - Oxford, UK
           Helen & Douglas House Childrens Hospice

2013    Annual General Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina
           Haciendo Camino

Academy students working at Philabundance

MULTILAW PRO BONO MISSION