Pro Bono “Now and Zen”: Views from the Bench & Bar

Director William H. Milliken will speak on the Pro Bono “Now and Zen”: Views from the Bench & Bar panel at the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s 2022 Bench & Bar® Conference on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The hybrid conference is hosted in Sea Island, GA and virtually.

Session Overview

Pro bono is often misunderstood as a mere set of discrete legal services provided free-of-charge to indigent clients. Those who choose to embrace it in their practices understand that it is much more. It is part mindset, part duty, and in many ways core to what it means to be a member of the Bar and a servant of justice. Through the lens of both Bench and Bar, and with special focus on patent and Veteran’s Appeals practice, this panel will begin to explore the true meaning and impact of pro bono for clients, practitioners, the legal system, and society as a whole. Topics will include exploration of the role of pro bono during times of crisis (including the pandemic and beyond); how it fits into broader efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the profession, the legal system, and the innovation ecosystem; and its overall relationship to the pursuit of justice.