Pro Bono

Making a Difference

We believe that freely sharing our talents with individuals and the community makes us better lawyers, better people, and a better firm.

Overview

Foley Hoag is deeply committed to providing pro bono services to those in need. Since our founding, we have been at the forefront of efforts to provide high quality pro bono legal representation to under-resourced and underserved individuals and communities. Among the many types of pro bono matters we handle, our lawyers have represented survivors of gender-based violence wanting to be safe from abuse, children seeking immigration relief, and disabled individuals placed in nursing homes wanting to return to community. Many of our lawyers help nonprofits and small businesses that are critical to the economic and social well-being of our communities. We believe that freely sharing our talents with individuals and the community makes us better lawyers, better people, and a better firm.

OUR PILLARS

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Asserting the legal rights of under-resourced and historically marginalized individuals and communities, including advancing racial and social justice, and human rights.

OUR PILLARS

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Working to expand economic opportunity for under-resourced individuals and minority and women owned small businesses.

OUR PILLARS

SOCIAL IMPACT

Advising organizations and companies making a positive social or environmental impact on society.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

SOCIAL IMPACT

Pro bono provides a way for lawyers and others to make a difference in people's lives. Learn more about our pro bono program and the three critical areas of need where we focus our efforts.

Quotes Highlighted

"In all my time working in the Foley Hoag Pro Bono Program, I’ve witnessed a substantial and deep commitment to the vindication of individual and collective rights."

Colin J. Zick, Administrative Law Partner

“I was able to practice skills that usually come much later in your career, like talking directly with clients, writing substantive legal arguments, and organizing tasks within my team. I love that I can use my work as a lawyer to serve others and I’m really grateful that Foley Hoag has been supportive of that.”

Katherine Luo, Intellectual Property Associate

“I am personally invested in creating a sustainable present to protect our future and my children’s future as well. Foley Hoag’s commitment to pro bono allows me to pursue these interests to make a difference in areas of incredible importance.”

Matthew Miller, Litigation Partner

Our Pro Bono Efforts

27,500+

annual pro bono hours

442

Number of pro bono matters worked on

OF FIRM'S WORKLOAD SPENT ON PRO BONO MATTERS

Notable Pro Bono Cases

Assisting Families Flee Afghanistan and Seek Refuge in the United States
Attorneys at the firm have helped multiple Afghan families obtain humanitarian parole and other forms of immigration relief following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban regaining control of the country in September 2021.

Advocating to Protect the Privacy Rights of Survivors of Sexual Assault
The firm submitted an amicus brief to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on behalf of pro bono clients the Victim Rights Law Center and Jane Doe, Inc. that advocated for continuing to protect the privacy rights of survivors of sexual assault.

Advising U.S. Western Sahara Foundation on Human Rights Advocacy
We have been advising the U.S. Western Sahara Foundation on its strategic engagement with the U.S. Government, in solidarity with the rights of the Sahrawi people in the Western Sahara and their five-decade struggle for self-determination.

Client Who Suffered Violence and Discrimination Due to Sexual Orientation Granted Asylum
The firm assisted a young gay man who suffered numerous incidents of violence, discrimination, and bullying in his home country obtain asylum in the United States.

Major Win for Individuals with Disabilities Living in Nursing Homes
Several lawyers helped structure a significant agreement reached in a class action lawsuit that expands opportunities for individuals in nursing facilities to receive the services they need to live in their communities of choice.

Advising Children’s Media Start-Up in $300K SAFE Financing
Business lawyers assisted an educational technology and media start-up company offering educational content for Black preschoolers and other children in closing a $300,000 financing from a local impact fund.

Helping Disabled Veterans Obtain Medical Retirement and Disability Benefits
Partnering with the National Veterans Legal Services Program, a group of lawyers is representing veterans in cases before various Department of Defense review boards, seeking to correct our clients’ service records to reflect that they were medically retired on account of a service-related disability.

Collaboration

Pro Bono Partnership With Avangrid

Foley Hoag partner Adam Kahn and Avangrid General Counsel R. Scott Mahoney (l and r) signed Avangrid’s Pro Bono Partnership Statement, outlining shared pro bono goals. Through its Construyendo Juntos (“Building Together”) initiative with parent company Iberdrola, Avangrid will collaborate with Foley Hoag and other firms to expand pro bono opportunities for in-house and outside counsel.

Sustainability

Working for a Better Future

Sustainability is core to who we are as a firm, with 20+ years of experience developing solutions for our clients, colleagues, and communities. Through innovative legal solutions, pro bono initiatives, and partnerships with key stakeholders, we strive to address climate challenges, promote social responsibility, and support policies that foster a more sustainable future.

Learn More

AWARDS AND HONORS

The firm and individual lawyers are frequently recognized for their pro bono work. Here is a sampling of recent accolades:

American Lawyer Pro Bono Report: The firm improved 4 points on the American Lawyer 2025 Pro Bono Scorecard, ranking 30th overall. The American Lawyer Scorecard ranks pro bono efforts across Am Law 200 law firms.

Foley Hoag and client Transparency International U.S. received the TrustLaw 2025 Impact Award for pro bono research on combatting international corruption that led to the landmark Foreign Extortion Prevention Act.

The Boston Bar Association 2024 Mary K. Ryan Achievement in Pro Bono Award given to Anthony Mirenda for his steadfast commitment to pro bono work.

The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) honored the firm with the Friend & Leader Award, which highlights those whose work contributes to progress in awareness, health promotion, prevention and effective treatment of children and adults affected by mental health challenges throughout Massachusetts.

The De Novo 2024 Dr. Joseph H. Brenner Award given to Chris Feudo, recognizing his leadership and commitment to volunteerism.

Center for Justice & Accountability's 2024 Partner in Justice Award for excellence in the field of international human rights.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts 2024 Champions of Creative Justice & Innovation Award for our representation of under-resourced artists.

American Lawyer Pro Bono Report: The firm improved 20 points on the American Lawyer 2024 Pro Bono Scorecard, ranking 34 overall. The American Lawyer Scorecard ranks pro bono efforts across Am Law 200 law firms.

Law360 Pulse Social Impact Leader as part of its 2024 Leaderboard series for our focus on diversity; gender equality; employee engagement; pro bono; and responsible business. Firm ranked 6th on pro bono and 4th overall.

40@50 Judicial Pro Bono 2022, 2024 and 2025 Recognition by the D.C. Circuit Judicial Conference Pro Bono Committee for having 40% of our Washington lawyers at 50+ hours.

Capital Pro Bono 2018-2024 Honor Roll recognizing 34 DC attorneys for completing 50+ hours.

Empire State Counsel Program 2023 Pro Bono Recognition recognizing NY State Bar members who performed 50+ hours.

MA SJC 2023 Pro Bono Honor Rolls recognizing the firm and Massachusetts attorneys who performed 50+ hours, since its inception in 2010.

USPTO 2023 Patent Pro Bono Certificate for the firm’s support of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – New York by providing at least one hundred hours of volunteer services to financially under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses.