Bond Appoints John H. Callahan Leader of Firm’s New Pro Bono Committee

February 4, 2019

(Syracuse, NY): Bond, Schoeneck & King has provided pro bono legal services throughout its more than 120 years of existence. This work is central to Bond’s commitment to the communities in which its attorneys and staff work and live. To solidify this commitment Bond has a newly established Pro Bono Policy which will be administered by a Pro Bono Committee to oversee the efforts of their attorneys in all of its offices across New York State, as well as in Kansas City and Naples, Florida.

According to Kevin M. Bernstein, chair of Bond’s Management Committee, “We have always believed in providing legal services to the underserved in our communities. In fact, we have seen a continual and growing need for pro bono work that our attorneys are responding to, and therefore the reason to establish a formalized policy and framework is to identify and manage this important work.” 

In forming the committee, Bond appointed John H. Callahan, a long-time member of the firm, former Chair of its Litigation Department and a current member of its Management Committee, as Pro Bono Leader of this committee. “As a litigator, John has a solid understanding of the court system and how many of our communities’ poor fall through the cracks. We are empowering the committee to identify those in need, including many of our charitable, religious, civic and educational institutions, and manage the pro bono efforts of the firm,” says Bernstein. The Pro Bono committee will consist of a representative from each office who will assist the Pro Bono Leader in identifying meaningful opportunities in each of the communities in which the firm operates.

This new policy encourages attorneys to work up to 50 hours per year on pro bono matters—sometimes more than that for significant matters such as a trial—and receive credit for this work toward their annual billable hour goal. Such credit allows attorneys, especially younger ones, to take on pro bono matters while gaining valuable experience. 

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC is a law firm with 250 lawyers serving individuals, companies and public sector entities in a broad range of practice areas. Bond has eight offices in New York State and offices in Naples, Florida and Kansas City.