In the spring of 2003, Best Buy’s senior vice president and general counsel Joe Joyce learned about the Call to Honor, a statewide initiative encouraging all attorneys to volunteer 50 hours per year—and something clicked.
While many private law firms have pro bono programs to support volunteer work, corporate law departments often don’t.
Seeing the connection with the company’s corporate value to support the communities in which employees work and live, Joyce created a Pro Bono Committee headed by corporate counsel Marlys Gould. "Marlys and the committee created an environment where pro bono activities are supported and encouraged—their efforts made our values come alive," Joyce said.
Today, Best Buy sends teams of attorneys to help various programs at the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN), including in criminal expungement, housing/lending, unemployment appeals, and family law clinics. Its 35-member corporate legal department has already contributed more than 90 hours of pro bono service to VLN and other venues.
Jim Baillie, the outgoing president of the Minnesota State Bar Association, launched the Call to Honor initiative during his 2003-2004 term. At its annual convention in Duluth, the bar honored Best Buy for its model pro bono policy.
The Best Buy Pro Bono Committee started in November 2003 by looking to the best practices models of major corporations, such as 3M, AT&T Wireless, Inc., Xerox, McDonald’s, and Ford Motor Company (information is available at corporateprobono.org). The Best Buy team paid special attention to Minnesota corporations offering pro bono services.
The committee found a pattern. In-house counsels tended to create exclusive partnerships with established nonprofit organizations, targeting their pro bono services. The committee then researched a handful of such leading Twin Cities-based nonprofit organizations to select one for Best Buy’s pro bono efforts.
In January 2004, Joyce approved committee recommendations to work with VLN. The group invited VLN’s executive director, Brad Thorsen, to meet and suggest volunteer opportunities for Best Buy’s legal department.
Committee members divided up the responsibilities for Best Buy’s pro bono efforts, forming teams based on areas of interest. VLN supported the efforts by holding training sessions at Best Buy’s corporate offices.
One team of attorneys volunteers at VLN’s Criminal Expungement Clinic. At this clinic, attorneys help law students draft persuasive petitions for clients and make sure they comply with the law. Attorneys also occasionally advise clients directly.
"It’s a great way to get involved in the community," said Jill Barnett, one of the volunteers. "I am able to help several people in the two hours that I’m here [per clinic]. Expunging a criminal record can make all the difference for a person seeking a job or a place to live."
Said Joyce: "We look forward to contributing many more hours in the future and meaningfully supporting the Twin Cities communities."
For more suggestions on engaging corporate legal departments in pro bono activities, please contact Sue Pontinen, assistant executive director at VLN, at 612-752-6671, or sue@hcba.org.
