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3d ago

Major Law Firms Push Back on Trump’s Pro Bono Demands

Firms assert independence in client selection as Democratic investigations into Trump’s executive orders intensify.

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The office of the law firm Perkins Coie is seen on April 10 in Washington, DC.
People march during the LULAC Dallas Mega March for a bipartisan immigration reform to the Dallas City Hall in Dallas on March 30.
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Overview

  • Several prominent law firms have publicly reaffirmed their autonomy in choosing pro bono clients, countering claims of compliance with Trump administration directives.
  • Nine firms, including Latham & Watkins and Simpson Thacher, pledged nearly $1 billion in pro bono work but maintain the administration cannot dictate their client or matter selection.
  • Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, are investigating potential violations of federal laws, including bribery and racketeering, linked to Trump’s coercive executive orders.
  • A federal judge recently struck down one of Trump’s executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, declaring it unconstitutional and an attack on legal independence.
  • Law school students and institutions are boycotting firms perceived as capitulating to Trump, further straining the reputations of the affected firms.