The Bar Foundation

Citizens Bank Pro Bono Award

Created in 2003, The Citizens Bank Pro Bono Award is presented annually by Citizens Bank, the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Philadelphia Bar Foundation to a Philadelphia law firm or corporate legal department that demonstrates outstanding volunteer efforts in providing legal services to those in need.

The recipient of the Citizens Bank Award designates the award's $10,000 monetary prize to a qualifying law-related public service agency.

Congratulations to Dechert LLP and Berner Klaw&Watson LLP for receiving the 2009 Citizens Bank Pro Bono Award.

Both Dechert and Berner Klaw & Watson exemplify the concept of pro bono service.

Dechert has partnered with several public interest legal organizations in Philadelphia to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars of free legal services annually. The firm is also developing practice groups that focus on specific areas of poverty law and which provide materials and support for Dechert attorneys volunteering in that area of law.

Despite being a small firm, Berner Klaw and Watson’s attorneys often exceed the 50 hours of pro bono service suggested by the firm’s internal policies. Founding partner Joni J. Berner has set the tone for the firm’s commitment to pro bono by personally performing 500 hours of volunteer work in the past five years.

For more information contact Lynne Brown or call (215) 238-6347.