Pro Bono & Community Service
Pro bono and community service are integral to Kramer Levin’s practice and culture. Our pro bono achievements have been recognized with major awards from the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Her Justice, Legal Services NYC, The National Law Journal, New York’s Legal Aid Society and others. We routinely rank at the top of the Am Law pro bono survey.
We encourage our lawyers to pursue the pro bono work most meaningful to them — and their passions have fostered broad involvement in such areas as asylum, LGBTQ+ rights, domestic violence, voting and reproductive rights, housing and homelessness, criminal trials and appeals, service to nonprofit groups and microentrepreneurs, and more.
We were co-counsel in the landmark Hernandez v. Robles case, which sought equal marriage rights for same-sex couples under the New York Constitution, and League of Women Voters v. Cobb, which struck down Florida’s burdensome voter registration law.
We represented several New York bar associations in lawsuits to increase the hourly compensation for assigned counsel lawyers in New York to prevent the continuing violation of the constitutional right of children and indigent adults to meaningful and effective legal representation by assigned private counsel in criminal and family proceedings. Through our Attorney Service Program, firm lawyers staff a full-time position at Brooklyn Legal Services representing low-income individuals in family court. Summer associates also actively participate in all areas of our pro bono program.
We have filed amicus briefs in landmark civil rights and civil liberties cases, including Obergefell v. Hodges, United States v. Windsor and Lawrence v. Texas. Through our partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, we have filed numerous amicus briefs and litigated issues such as the prohibition of bump stocks, the federal regulation of ghost guns, and the prosecution of gun shop owners who engage in illegal gun trafficking and straw transactions.
The firm has a rich history of involvement in public and community service. Many of our attorneys serve on the boards of leading nonprofit legal service providers, including the Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, Human Rights First, Brooklyn Legal Services, Volunteers of Legal Service and the New York Legal Assistance Group, as well as other community-based, cultural and religious nonprofits. For over 20 years, the firm has been a participant in Legal Outreach’s summer internship program, helping high school students from underserved communities in New York City develop skills such as public speaking, persuasive writing and critical thinking. Many of us are also involved in volunteer service to nonprofit organizations, youth mentoring and moot court programs, as well as other public service activities. In addition, Kramer Levin participates in a wide range of nonlegal community service activities that involve both lawyers and staff.