Since our founding in 1866, Sidley has cultivated a tradition of, and commitment to, pro bono service. As we have grown, so has the reach of our pro bono efforts. From Alabama to Arizona, Colombia to Madagascar, Sidley lawyers and staff devote more than 150,000 hours annually to serving those most in need. Our pro bono work has influenced the legality of Americans to live freely and proudly; protected the constitutional rights of prisoners, including the rights of inmates on death row; saved the lives of immigrants who fled their home countries seeking religious freedom; and lifted up women trying to make a better life for themselves and their families by starting businesses in developing countries.
Sidley considers every one of our pro bono matters “high impact.” The consequences of our pro bono work are critically important to improving — even saving — the lives of our clients.
Sidley’s pro bono program is as varied as our commercial practice. We provide those services that our pro bono clients need most. We have six initiatives that span across all our offices to expand our impact: Capital Litigation Project; Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Project; Veterans Benefits Project; Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties Project; Pro Bono Project for the Arts; and the Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program.
Sidley lawyers also work with local nonprofits to directly serve the legal needs of our neighbors who are facing imminent eviction and possible homelessness; were wrongfully denied public benefits, such as food stamps and disability insurance; or have been the victim of domestic violence and need legal protection from their abusers. We work on issues of national importance that bring our lawyers to the U.S. Supreme Court to advocate for human rights. And our international pro bono work is providing critical legal support to developing countries.