It Isn’t What We Say.
It’s What We Do.
Because It’s Who We Are.
Akin's global pro bono practice leverages the experience, knowledge and passion of our lawyers, advisors and business services personnel to maximize access to justice, community development and the rule of law. Our long-standing partnerships with legal services organizations worldwide are an essential component of our pro bono practice.
Our lawyers engage in the issues of the day through individual representation, public interest litigation, legislative counseling and transactional counseling.
At Akin, we are committed to transformational change, real action and accountability from the top down. Together, we work to make a positive impact where it is needed most.
Pro Bono
Our pro bono work helped individuals and groups in need take on the most important issues of this decade.
Racial Justice
- The NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund (“LDF”) asked Akin to help two Black high school students who were told that they had to cut their locs to continue participating in classes and other school functions. Akin heeded the call to fight this discriminatory hair grooming policy, and obtained an injunction to keep these young men in school. The case is continuing toward a final trial this fall. Akin was honored to receive NLADA’s 2023 Beacon of Justice award for this matter.
- In April 2021, Florida enacted H.B.1, also known as Florida’s anti-protest law, in response to national protests against police violence and the murder of George Floyd. In May 2021, Akin joined LDF, ACLU of Florida and Community Justice Project in bringing suit challenging H.B.1 as a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The team obtained an injunction that blocked key parts of the law from going into effect. Florida appealed and, in early 2023, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals left the injunction in place and asked the Florida Supreme Court to express its view on the law’s proper interpretation, validating the concerns expressed by Judge Mark Walker of the Northern District of Florida, who previously deemed the legislation’s broad definition of rioting to arguably criminalize expressive activity protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Human Rights and Refugees
- After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in Fall 2021, Akin committed to representing as many Afghan refugees as possible. We took on the cases of diplomats, human rights and women’s rights activists, journalists, scholars, and Afghan military veterans who worked with U.S. forces. To date, more than 300 Akin attorneys have represented more than 100 Afghan clients and their families in applications for asylum, work authorization, permanent residence, family reunification and more.
- At the request of the White House, in 2022 Akin led an initiative to provide remote legal consultations for migrants subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols (“MPP,” also known as “Remain in Mexico”) at the United States/Mexico border. Despite the horrendous human rights abuses reportedly happening against these vulnerable refugees daily, MPP required migrants to stay in Mexico pending their U.S. immigration court proceedings, unless they qualified for an exclusion for passed a non-refoulement interview (NRI). Akin led the charge of multiple law firms, which included more than 200 volunteers, in conducting consultations 7 days a week. Nearly 3,000 migrants received legal consultations through this project.
Non-Profit Counseling
- Our pro bono work goes well beyond litigation. Counseling non-profit entities undertaking crucial work in their communities around the world is another pillar of our pro bono practice. Our largest pro bono client is the non-profit KIPP Charter School network, which has schools in major cities around the United States and predominantly serves students of color. Over the past decade, Akin attorneys have represented KIPP on financing transactions, contract reviews, lease negotiations, corporate governance reviews, and employment matters. Currently, we are assisting KIPP with managing their day-to-day legal needs while they have a vacancy in their General Counsel’s office.
Policy Advising
- The lawyers and advisors in our bipartisan lobbying and public policy practice are able to apply their unique skills to pro bono matters. For example, a team in the Congressional Investigations sub-practice represented Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesperson for the Oath Keepers, in testimony before the January 6 Committee. Mr. Van Tatenhove, who severed all ties with the Oath Keepers in 2018, spoke about the threat posed to American democracy by extremist groups.
- In 2022, a public law and policy team worked tirelessly with Sandy Hook Promise to engage congressional offices in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This legislation has been heralded by many as the most significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in decades.
Pro Bono Sub-Practices
- Criminal Defense
- Education Reform
- Environmental Protection
- Housing & Homelessness
- Impact Litigation
- International Development
- Non-Profit & Small Business Counseling
- Policy Work in the Public Interest
- Poverty Law
- Racial Justice
- Refugee Protection & Immigration
- Veterans and Families
- Voting Protection
- Wills/Trusts & Estates.
Members of the firm worked on pro bono matters in 2023
Pro bono hours donated by members of the firm in 2023
Pro bono matters handled in 2023
Akin received the American Bar Association’s 2022 Pro Bono Publico Award, becoming the only firm to win the prestigious honor twice.
Akin’s Chairperson Kim Koopersmith leads our firm by example. Koopersmith co-chairs the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.’s Board of Directors and serves on the Board of Equal Justice Works.
Akin received the 2023 Beacon of Justice Award from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association for a demonstrated commitment to intentional inclusivity and intersectionality with their LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, and racial equity work.
Every year Kim Koopersmith hosts Akin’s Firmwide Pro Bono Awards to celebrate and honor our colleagues who are dedicated advocates for our pro bono clients.