One of the most powerful ways we express our “we’re all connected” philosophy is through meaningful service in the communities where we live and work. Below are highlights of some of our recent pro bono and diversity activities.
Loeb Spotlights Transgender Rights in Diversity and Pro Bono Programming
In February, Loeb commenced its social impact speaker series, highlighting voices from underrepresented communities. Loeb hosted Kay Martinez, director of diversity and inclusion education and training at Georgia Institute of Technology, for a discussion on gender identity and inclusion. Martinez is a queer, Afro-Latine, nonbinary educator with over a decade of experience with justice, equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. Following the program, Loeb embarked on its second round of pro bono cases with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Name Change Project. The Name Change Project helps transgender, gender-nonconforming and nonbinary individuals secure a legal name change—an important step toward making their legal identity match their lived experience and helping them access public benefits and fight back against discrimination.
Two Female Partner-Led Loeb Teams Handle Asylum for Afghan Refugees
Two teams of Loeb lawyers and paralegals are supporting refugees from Afghanistan. Following the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the need for immigration support has been critical. Partners Ann Chen and Nicole Webb are leading the Loeb teams as they pursue asylum for Afghan refugees. One refugee worked as a linguist with the U.S. Marines and as an English language instructor at a high school in Afghanistan, and the other was a member of the Afghan military who worked with the U.S. government as part of her role. She is also a member of an ethnic minority group that has been historically persecuted by the Taliban and ISIS-K. The Loeb teams have been supporting these cases since March 2022.
Loeb Teams Support Domestic Violence Survivors through Peace Over Violence
In 2022, Loeb began a partnership with Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic and interpersonal violence. Three teams, consisting of 14 Loeb lawyers and paralegals from across the firm, are supporting three women in support of their U visa cases. U visas are a form of immigration relief offered to undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic violence. This effort is part of Peace Over Violence’s Legal Advocacy Project, which provides free, comprehensive legal services for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and their families dealing with legal issues in the areas of immigration and family law.
For more information on Loeb’s Pro Bono program or to collaborate on a pro bono matter, please contact Meredith Madnick, senior manager of Pro Bono.