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    Pro Bono and Community

    "Shipman's firm-wide culture embodies the very ethos of pro bono public legal services. [Its lawyers] deeply understand that no case is too small and no client should be barred from the courthouse door because they lack the wherewithal to buy legal assistance."

    Statewide Legal Services' Executive Director, presenting the Hartford County Bar Association's Pro Bono Award to Shipman


    "All in the legal community know [Shipman's] well-deserved reputation for the highest quality legal services and high impact civic and community engagement."

    Greater Hartford Legal Aid's Executive Director, presenting its first ever Law Firm Leader Award to Shipman for "Outstanding Leadership and Investment in Justice"

    We believe that all people, regardless of their economic status, should have equal access to legal representation.  We are proud of the unwavering commitment we have made to providing pro bono legal services to those who are poor, underrepresented, or otherwise in need.  Lawyers at all levels in our firm are encouraged to use their skills and experience for the benefit of the community and to find opportunities to help those who need our assistance the most.  We staff and resource our pro bono matters with the same level of excellence and commitment that we bring to all our client work.  

    Our clients include families facing eviction, disabled veterans, abused and neglected children, immigrants escaping violence abroad, victims of domestic violence and non-profits serving the disadvantaged, the environment, the arts and other needs of our community.  We work actively with legal aid organizations on a variety of projects, including recently Greater Hartford Legal Aid’s Pardon Clinic, the ACLU of Western Massachusetts’ Immigrant Protection Program, the CBA’s COVID-19 Small Business Virtual Legal Clinic, Hartford Public Library’s Naturalization Program, and Statewide Legal Services’ Family and Security Deposit Clinics.  Our lawyers sit on the boards of local legal aid organizations and on the Connecticut Bar Association’s pro bono committee. 

    To learn more about our pro bono work, we invite you to read our most recent newsletter.

    screenshot of current pro bono newsletter

     

    Pro Bono Awards and Activities

    Many of our lawyers donate generously of their time to pro bono matters, so we'd like to take a moment to acknowledge some of the awards they and the firm have received, and some of the pro bono activities we have engaged in over the last few years:

    Shipman & Goodwin LLP was honored in September of 2023 for its pro bono contributions to Lawyers for Children America (LFCA) at LFCA’s Gala. Lawyers for Children America is a leading child advocacy organization protecting the rights of children who are victims of abuse, abandonment and neglect by providing quality pro bono legal representation and collaborating for systematic change to improve the lives of children. Shipman lawyers have participated in pro bono work on behalf of the organization for 15 years. “It is a great honor to be recognized by Lawyers for Children America tonight,” said Kent Nevins, Chair of Shipman’s Management Committee, “but the real reward is in being able to give our time and talents to make significant contributions to the children of Connecticut who are struggling with a myriad of serious problems from which they need legal protection, including physical and emotional neglect and abuse."

    Shipman & Goodwin LLP recognized three lawyers for their outstanding pro bono contributions and presented them with awards at the Lawyers’ Retreat which took place on September 14, 2022 at Goodwin University’s King Court Housing Complex in East Hartford. Vaughan Finn, Keegan Drenosky, and Sarah Westby were each awarded the inaugural Shipman Pro Bono Award, which included a $500 donation by the firm to a legal organization of each recipient’s choice. In 2023, the Shipman Pro Bono Award went to Joette Katz and Michael King for their substantial pro bono contributions.

    Shipman lawyers participate in the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s ("CCADV") 2021 Pro Bono Restraining Order project, helping victims of domestic violence obtain protection from their abusers in Hartford Family Court. Alyce Alfano represents clients pro bono in domestic violence cases and in obtaining temporary restraining orders through this partnership with the CCADV.

    Tracy Williams assists Greater Hartford Legal Aid in its representation of a victim of domestic violence in immigration and dissolution matters by serving a subpoena for employment records on the husband’s out-of-state employer.

    In its 2020 Annual Report, the Hartford Public Library thanks Bradley Harper for donating his “skills and knowledge to HPL’s Naturalization program,” which helps clients apply to U.S. Customs and Immigration Services for full citizenship. In its 2021 Annual Report, the Hartford Public Library again thanks the firm's lawyers for "assisting immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship," acknowledging both the firm's pro bono partnership and the continuing efforts of Bradley Harper on behalf of immigrants.

    Shipman lawyers participate in the CBA’s 2020 COVID-19 Small Business Clinic, advising area businesses on such matters as PPP loan forgiveness and obtaining funding under federal and stimulus programs.
    >> Click to learn more about our participation in CT Bar Association's COVID-19 Small Business Pro Bono Virtual Legal Clinic.

    The Connecticut Veterans Legal Center thanks Sarah Dlugoszewski for her “exceptional” work on behalf of a Navy veteran with PTSD, after Sarah successfully reversed the denial of the veteran’s application for VA benefits and submitted a discharge upgrade application on his behalf.  CVLC states that Sarah’s “tenacity, attention to detail, and kindness” during her 15-month representation of this veteran had impressed them all.

    Shipman lawyers Morgan Rueckert and Keegan Drenosky partner with Greater Hartford Legal Aid to win employment authorization and protection from deportation for 10 immigrant crime victims in a suit filed against the federal government in United States District Court, Chacha et al. v. Nielsen et al., 3:19-cv-88 (RNC).

    Shipman lawyers participate in the ACLU of Western Massachusetts’ Immigrant Protection Project, preparing parole and bond applications on behalf of 11 families confined in crowded and unhealthy ICE detention facilities that put them at high risk of COVID-19 infection.

    Lawyers for Children America honors Lara Greenberg at its 2019 gala for her “tireless advocacy” on behalf of abused and neglected children while employed at Shipman.

    Shipman lawyers and paralegals participate with other firms in Greater Hartford Legal Aid’s 2019 Pardon Clinic, which results in eight clients having their criminal records fully expunged by the State Board of Pardons.

    Michael Widland receives the 2017 ACE Citizen Award from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County for his contributions to the enrichment and prosperity of area arts and culture. 

    Greater Hartford Legal Aid presents Shipman at its 2017 gala with its first-ever Law Firm Leader award for “Outstanding Leadership and Investment in Justice.”

    At the 2017 Law Day Celebration, the Hartford County Bar Association presents Shipman with its Pro Bono Award.

    ImmaCare, Inc., Hartford’s shelter for the chronically homeless, presents Shipman with its 2016 Partnership Award for long-time pro bono services; in presenting the award, ImmaCare’s Executive Director states: “I’m not sure if ImmaCare would exist today if it were not for Shipman & Goodwin.”

    The Pro Bono Partnership’s 2016 Volunteer Honor Roll includes Shipman lawyers Keegan Drenosky, Jarad Lucan, Peter Murphy and Dan Schwartz.

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