Pro Bono and Community

Foley Hoag LLP has an outstanding pro bono program that has been a hallmark of the firm since our representation of the plaintiffs in the original lawsuit to desegregate the Boston public schools. The firm encourages its lawyers to engage in direct pro bono work and to participate in the community through other avenues such as board involvement and charitable organizations. In a typical year, we handle approximately 100 matters in and contribute approximately 23,000 hours to our pro bono program – totaling on average more than 5% of the work of the firm.

In its annual pro bono report in 2011, The American Lawyer ranked Foley Hoag #8 in its evaluation of the pro bono efforts of the top 200 firms identified in its annual "AmLaw 200" listing. The firm had been ranked #25 in 2009 and 2010. In 2008, Foley Hoag was named to The American Lawyer's "A-list" of the country’s 50 elite law firms that are "best at balancing a thriving business with their obligations to the profession." Inclusion in the A-List is based not only on economic success but also on success in furthering diversity, pro bono work, and associate satisfaction.

Key areas we serve on a pro bono basis include domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, housing, environmental protection, disability rights, healthcare, prisoners’ rights, voting rights, immigration and political asylum, taxation, education and charter schools, transactional and corporate advice to nonprofit organizations and small for-profit businesses providing services to inner-city communities, advice to artists (including First Amendment protection), and intellectual property protection (domestic and international).

Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights

In March 2009, Foley Hoag’s pro bono lawyers filed a lawsuit with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and another law firm challenging the denial of certain federal benefits to married same-sex couples. The suit is the first concerted, multi-plaintiff challenge to Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In July 2010, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the plaintiffs were entitled to the same federal spousal benefits as every other married couple.

Fair Housing and Other Services  

At the request of several non-profit advocacy groups, Foley Hoag has served as lead trial counsel on behalf of thousands of low-income tenants and applicants in a fair housing class-action case against a municipality and its local public housing authority. Also, with facilitation and mentoring provided by the Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (MLPC) at Boston Medical Center, Foley Hoag lawyers run a weekly legal clinic at the South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC) to assist patient families with a wide range of legal issues, from housing and immigration to safety and education.

Domestic Violence Prevention   

For 20 years, the firm has represented victims of domestic violence. Today, more than 30 lawyers and paralegals assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to obtain protective orders and other forms of relief.  

Political Asylum  

Lawyers at the firm regularly handle immigration and political asylum cases referred by the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project and the Battered Immigrant Women’s Project. 

Awards and Honors  

In the past three years, Foley Hoag and its individual lawyers have been recognized with many awards and honor for pro bono work.

2011 Awards

  • The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court honored Foley Hoag as part of its Pro Bono Recognition Program for demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to pro bono work by voluntarily assisting vulnerable people of limited financial means with their legal issues.

2010 Awards

  • Named a Top 10 Law Firm of the Year by Law360.
  • The Political Asylum and Immigration Representation Project (PAIR) awarded Foley Hoag associate Punam Rogers a Pro Bono Award.
  • Foley Hoag ranked in the Top 25 nationally and as the top Boston law firm in The American Lawyer's Pro Bono Report, and also was included in the publication's annual A-List.

2009 Awards

  • The National Legal Aid and Defender Association honored Foley Hoag for the representation of a Guantanamo detainee.
  • The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law of the Boston Bar Association honored Foley Hoag associate Robin Toone with a Civil Rights Recognition Award.
  • Foley Hoag was ranked in the Top 25 nationally and as the second-highest Boston law firm in The American Lawyer's Pro Bono Report and also was included in the publication's annual A-List.
  • The Women's Bar Foundation honored the Foley Hoag pro bono program during its 2009 awards ceremony.
  • The Victim Rights Law Center honored the Foley Hoag pro bono program at the 2009 Shining Star Awards, choosing to recognize the collective effort of the firm's team, along with individual contributors Tony Mirenda, Ara Gershengorn and Jennifer Cardello.

Foley Hoag’s rich tradition of giving back gave rise to the creation of The Foley Hoag Foundation in 1981, resulting in the first and only foundation in Boston focused on improving the dialogue on race relations.  The Foley Hoag Foundation continues to be a source of pride for the firm at large, and from this civic involvement our lawyers have had the opportunity to assume leadership roles with grantee organizations.

For further information about Foley Hoag’s Pro Bono Program, please contact:

Claire Laporte
617 832 1210

Rebecca Cazabon 
617 832 1755