April 24 – 26, 2008

Private Lawyers and the Public Interest: The Evolving Role of Pro Bono in the Legal Profession The legal profession's commitment to the expansion of pro bono has achieved significant gains in recent years. This

workshop, organized by Robert Granfield, Chair of Sociology at University at Buffalo, will explore the evolving role of

pro bono, the relationship between pro bono ideals and pro bono in practice, and the opportunities and limitations of

pro bono in expanding access to justice. The participants will explore theoretical, empirical, and practical questions

regarding the role of pro bono and public service in the legal profession. This workshop is cosponsored by the

Volunteer Lawyers Project, Eighth Judicial District Pro Bono Committee, University at Buffalo Department of Sociology,

Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy, and University at Buffalo Law School.

Thursday, April 24th

Reception and Keynote Address:

Private Lawyers in the Public Interest by Deborah Rhode, Stanford Law School

Friday, April 25th

Morning panels:

Pro Bono and the Life of the Legal Profession • Pro Bono in Context of Legal Practice

Keynote Address:

A Second Season of Service by Karen Mathis, past president, American Bar Association

Afternoon panels:

Pro Bono and Legal Education • Pro Bono and Social Change • Community Roundtable

Saturday, April 26th

Implementing Pro Bono in Matrimonial Cases: Nuts and Bolts of Public Service

Conference Participants: Richard Abel, UCLA Law School

Cindy Adcock, Director of Experiential Learning

Programs, Charlotte Law School

Steven Boutcher, Law, Society, and Criminology,

UC Irvine

Scott Cummings, UCLA Law School

Ronit Dinovitzer, Criminology, University of Toronto

Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Graduate Center, CUNY

Cynthia Feathers, Former Director of Pro Bono

Affairs at the New York State Bar Association

Susan Feathers, Levin Center for Public Services

and Public Interest Law, Stanford University

Bryant Garth, Southwestern Law School

Clarke Gocker, Sociology, University at Buffalo

Robert Granfield, Sociology, University at Buffalo

Leslie Levin, University of Connecticut Law School

Lynn Mather, Director of Baldy Center for Law and

Social Policy, University at Buffalo Law School

Karen Mathis, past president, American Bar Assoc.

Peter Pitegoff, University of Maine Law School

Deborah Rhode, Stanford Law School

Rebecca Sandefur, Sociology, Stanford University

Deborah Schmedemann, Mitchell College of Law

Ann Southworth, Case Western Reserve

University School of Law

Lucie White, Harvard Law School

Program details forthcoming