“Lawyers have a license to practice law, a monopoly on certain services. But for that privilege and status, lawyers have an obligation to provide legal services to those without the wherewithal to pay, to respond to needs outside themselves, to help repair tears in their communities.”
— U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Our firm personnel have dedicated significant portions of their time to service and pro bono projects throughout their careers at Larson and in prior positions.
Combating Homelessness With National and Community-Based Organizations
Larson was among the first firms to join the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA), the national coalition of law firms formed in June 2020 aiming to create large-scale, coordinated pro bono projects that address systemic racism. Through this, members of our firm are assisting in developing research-based pro bono projects to combat homelessness in L.A. and across the country.
Upon its formation in May 2020, Larson joined L.A. Represents, a city-wide pro bono initiative composed of law firms, bar associations, and legal aid organizations providing free legal services to Los Angeles residents facing hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
Partner Stephen G. Larson serves on the Board of Directors for National Community Renaissance© (“National CORE”), which provides affordable, safe, and high-quality housing communities and services to families and seniors. The firm actively supports National CORE’s Hope through Housing Foundation, which elevates the well-being and self-sufficiency of low-income residents living within National CORE housing communities.
Supporting and Mentoring Aspiring First-Generation Lawyers
In 2021, Larson proudly sponsored the Larson LLP Cohort of UCLA Law Fellows, a program designed to encourage and prepare high-potential students from minority backgrounds for a career in law and increase the diversity of the law school pool.
Through our collaboration with UCLA Law, we formed the annual UCLA—Larson LLP Law Fellows Mentorship Program. The mentorship program pairs Larson attorneys with current law students who are alumni of the UCLA Law Fellows Program and offers networking and professional development programs to the mentees to support their law school and career journeys.
Completing Families Through Adoption Programs
In partnership with Public Counsel’s adoption program, our attorneys and staff finalize adoptions, advocate for children with special needs, and petition to receive the appropriate levels of funding for families.
Our attorneys have also provided legal services in support of Public Counsel’s Annual National Adoption Day and the Alliance for Children’s Rights’ adoption finalization program.
Succeeding in Court
Our attorneys notch victories in court for pro bono clients, which include the following matters:
- Successfully advocated for an incarcerated client to receive early release to home confinement after being denied compassionate release from custody, allowing the client to go home months earlier than sentenced.
- Obtained a settlement just prior to trial for a former federal inmate who was subjected to a violating strip search by prison guards after being unjustly accused of hiding drugs.
- Defended Dietrich Canterberry pro bono as lead trial counsel in a widely publicized murder case in which the prosecution sought a first-degree murder conviction with 24 years to life, but the jury returned a verdict of involuntary manslaughter and the judge imposed a four-year sentence.
- Successfully represented three California nonprofit housing groups pro bono in a dispute over a $331 million special fund, negotiated by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris, that was intended to help financially distressed homeowners but was ultimately diverted by the governor to address a general budget shortfall.
And More
- Larson supports Ryman Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves over 500 students annually with out-of-school art instruction, college and career guidance, and support services to create a diverse community of young artists.
- We sponsor the Malouf Foundation’s annual Golf for Freedom event to support the nonprofit’s mission of confronting child sexual exploitation by providing education, promoting healing, and ensuring justice for survivors.
- Our attorneys have also provided legal services to the Special Olympics World Games.
We continue to target and expand our service and pro bono efforts to those who need it most.
