A Passion for Pro Bono

Liz Trebbien is a fifth-year litigation associate in our Columbus office. Ever since her law school internship with the firm, Liz has been passionate about pro bono. Here, Liz shares her most memorable pro bono experience, how the firm supports her with pro bono work and her top tips for taking on a pro bono project.

“The firm makes it incredibly easy to find pro bono projects to join. Our pro bono partner Corrine Irish shares a huge variety of projects needing lawyer participation, including projects involving all practice areas and skill levels. My colleagues are all passionate about their pro bono work, and we often find ourselves helping each other out with our pro bono projects, just because we care about each other and the work we are all doing.

“I have been involved in many pro bono projects since the start of my legal career, but one of my most memorable was from the summer of 2024. I was part of a team made up of lawyers across the country – from New York, Washington DC, Columbus and San Francisco – which represented a client seeking a reduction in his sentence under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act. It was a great opportunity to work with an extremely deserving client, who spent countless hours and immeasurable effort working to overcome his traumatic upbringing and tragic past to transform his life. Ultimately, the court granted his motion from the bench and ordered his immediate release, and he got to go home to his family just a few days later. It was a truly humbling and inspiring experience to advocate for his second chance and I am grateful that I got to be a part of his team.”

Pro Bono at Squire Patton Boggs

“At each level of this firm, from the most junior associate to the most senior leadership, there is a true and honest commitment to pro bono. The firm’s commitment means I give my pro bono matters the same attention and effort given to my other client work.

“Every year, the firm hosts pro bono awards, which highlight pro bono work done by both associates and partners, and individuals who have achieved success or noteworthy accomplishments in their pro bono work. The firm also celebrates its Pro Bono Honor Roll, which includes lawyers who have completed a certain number of pro bono hours. Globally, the firm counted over 30,000 pro bono hours in the last year. That is incredible and makes me very proud to be a part of this firm.

“Pro bono projects have offered me an incredible opportunity to grow as a person and expand my view of the world. As a global law firm, many of our clients are large corporate entities who are familiar with the legal process and who have sufficient access to resources. Our pro bono clients face a variety of hurdles, including access to justice issues, institutional or systemic biases, and economic barriers. To represent these clients also means understanding them, seeing where they are coming from, meeting them where they are and helping them pursue their goals."

Liz’s Top Three Pro Bono Tips

Take on a pro bono project that:

• Challenges or tests you
• Will help you develop new skills or give you exposure to a new practice area
• Exposes you to an issue you aren’t familiar with or challenges you with a different perspective