Pro Bono

Our firm supports and gives credit to associates who take an active role to assist those with limited means. Further, our lawyers are encouraged to select pro bono and community service activities they feel passionate about, including:

• Serving as board members and trustees of educational, religious, non-profit and civic institutions
• Teaching as adjunct professors at local law schools
• Representing battered spouses and abandoned children in immigration proceedings
• Acting as mobile legal volunteers during elections
• Assisting immigrants with the U.S. citizenship process.

Through the “Gibney for the Community” program, we match vacation time for employees who use their own vacation time to engage in worthy causes that serve the needs of the community.

Partner Organizations

Gibney partners with several organizations to provide ongoing service opportunities:

• Her Justice supports women and children who have been abused and require assistance to obtain legal immigration status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) or under the U-1 visa regulations for victims of crimes who assist law enforcement with the prosecution of the crimes

• The Safe Passage Immigration Project at New York Law School assists young children who are potential candidates for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and/or political asylum and require legal representation in immigration court proceedings

• American Immigration Lawyers Association Citizenship Days are single-day workshops with sites around the country that provide assistance to lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization

• City Bar Justice Center runs  projects on foreclosure, veterans assistance, neighborhood entrepreneur law, consumer bankruptcy, legal clinics for the homeless, elder law, cancer advocacy, refugee assistance and immigrant outreach

Pro-Bono Activities

SAFE PASSAGE IMMIGRATION PROJECT

Safe Passage works with volunteer attorneys to provide representation for unaccompanied minors in immigration court, and provides training, resources and mentoring to volunteer attorneys on Special Immigrant Juvenile status and other immigration alternatives for children.

DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS – LEGAL CLINICS

Gibney partners with the City Bar Justice Center and other organizations to hold legal clinics assisting children who may qualify for work authorization and deferral of removal under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

CARESVOLS MICROENTERPRISE PROJECT – COMMERCIAL LEASING INITIATIVE

Volunteers of Legal Services (VOLS) Microenterprise Project leverages law firms’ deep expertise in business law to promote economic development in New York City. Through the project, pro bono lawyers help low-income micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses with legal issues such as commercial leasing and real estate, intellectual property, and contracts so that their businesses can thrive. VOLS’ Microenterprise Project has teamed up with NYC Small Business Services and a number of law firms to launch a Commercial Leasing Initiative. Through this initiative, VOLS educates entrepreneurs and small business owners about commercial leasing.

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

Our firm participates in an annual holiday toy drive. This year, we donated gifts to The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and The Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc.

NEW YORK CARES

Each year the firm participates in the New York Cares Annual Coat Drive. Employees bring in warm winter coats to donate to New Yorkers in need.