Advocating for Racial Justice

Systemic racism permeates every level of the American legal system, and We The Action’s lawyers work every day to bridge the access to justice gap for underrepresented communities, including communities of color. In all, more than 200 lawyers signed up for Racial Justice projects this year.

For instance, since partnering with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition in 2020, more than 500 We The Action volunteers have researched more than 20,000 cases for Floridians with previous felony convictions to help them restore their voting rights. WTA even hosted a research-a-thon that recruited 50 lawyers from 17 states to complete research for more than 150 returning citizens in a single day!

Spotlight on: Jeff Nesvet

A retired lawyer from Maryland, Jeff has donated hundreds of hours since 2019 to Tzedek DC, a DC-based nonprofit safeguarding the legal rights of low-income DC residents dealing with often unjust, abusive, and illegal debt collection practices. Namely, Jeff has helped challenge the “Clean Hands Law,” a DC policy that exacerbates racial inequalities by automatically suspending the driver's license of people with unpaid traffic tickets without considering the person’s ability to pay and bars them from renewing their license until all fines are paid. In a city where the median income for a white household is more than 300% higher than Black households, this law deeply impacted DC’s communities of color.

Jeff’s work has led to the upcoming repeal of the Clean Hands Law, which will take place in October 2023. Jeff also worked with Tzedek DC to contribute to a lawsuit against the District arguing that continued enforcement of the Clean Hands Law in the months before the repeal takes effect violates the Constitution's Equal Protection and Due Process principles.

Fighting for Reproductive Freedom and Gender Equity

Following the devastating Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, lawyers from across the nation were looking for opportunities to help defend abortion access. In all, 220 We The Action lawyers volunteered with 10 nonprofits on 12 projects to help abortion providers expand or modify services, track abortion-related bills, serve as legal observers at protests, and more. 

For instance:

  • In the first 72 hours following the ruling, more than 40 lawyers volunteered with Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP) to help abortion providers comply with restrictions, expand or modify services, and respond to state inspections.

  • We The Action lawyers worked with Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health to answer legal questions related to increasing patient and clinic capacity and risk assessment.

Meanwhile, volunteer lawyers also flocked to sign up for other projects to advance gender equity more broadly. For instance, 12 lawyers helped End Rape on Campus prepare to launch their Campus Accountability Map – an interactive tool that allows users to view in-depth information on sexual assault investigation policies, prevention efforts, and available survivor support resources on colleges campuses.

Spotlight On: Rachel Spitz

A “staunchly pro-choice” lawyer of 22 years licensed in Georgia, Rachel volunteered with Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP), working in partnership with RAAP attorneys to help an abortion provider understand the available options to keep their doors open during a time of unparalleled uncertainty for patients and providers.

“It was something constructive I could do in a time that felt bleak,” Rachel says. “The ability for patients to find care kept me going. It gave me a real sense that I could help while things were going to hell.”

For two months, Rachel worked with the staff attorneys at RAAP to analyze Georgia state law and offer guidance to the provider to help them continue providing care to their clients. Staff Attorneys for RAAP say Rachel’s work is the reason the provider is still open and providing abortion care in compliance with state law.

“Rachel’s work had a direct impact on an abortion provider’s ability to stay open and continue providing abortion care in Georgia,” a RAAP attorney said.

Read more about Rachel

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Protecting an Election Official in Iowa

The 2022 midterms are behind us, and we want to take a moment to thank all of the 3,500 volunteer lawyers who donated more than 45,000 hours to 36 organizations working to make the midterm elections safe, secure, and accessible for every voter.

That’s why we’re giving the next Amicus Mundi Award — a monthly award we present to an outstanding lawyer in our community — to a lawyer who donated his time to represent an election official facing legal challenges stemming from her work administering the 2020 elections.

Congratulations, Frank Feilmeyer!

The big picture: A lawyer from Iowa with more than 30 years of legal experience, Frank’s experience as a poll watcher led him to respond to a call from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law through We The Action’s network to volunteer to represent Roxanna “Roxy” Moritz, a local election official facing harassment and specious legal challenges stemming from her work in the 2020 elections.

  • “When this opportunity came up, I felt like it was so important to help a local official who was having a hard time,” Frank said. “Because of election denialism and the difficulties in that election, I felt it was time to step up and help out.”

“Election officials were - and remain - under attack”: Across the country, election officials faced harassment, threats, and frivolous legal challenges during and after the 2020 election— many aimed at impeding officials’ ability to do their jobs and ensure the election was safe, secure, and accessible for everyone.

  • “Election officials were — and remain — under attack,” says Liz Howard, senior counsel for the Brennan Center's Democracy Program. “Helping to ensure they have committed legal counsel was an important piece of the Brennan Center’s efforts to support election officials.”

“Bullied and targeted”: This was happening to Roxy Moritz, who was serving as the chief election officer in Scott County, Iowa, the third most populous county in Iowa. The state announced an investigation into her decision to offer hazard pay to poll workers who staffed polling locations amid the COVID pandemic.

  • “She wanted to make sure that the people she was sending out to count votes were appropriately compensated for the risk they were taking,” Frank says. “Many people didn’t want to take that risk and she wanted to compensate the people willing to do the work.”

  • After resigning from her position due to the threats and harassment she faced, Roxy no longer had access to government representation — and that’s where Frank came in to represent her for free.

  • “People don’t understand the passion that election officials feel about our jobs, our constituency, and the services we’re delivering,” Roxy says. “To be bullied and targeted for doing our jobs was very emotional. Knowing that I had someone to protect my legal rights was extremely important to me.”

A trusted voice in a difficult time: Roxy says Frank helped decipher the complicated legal processes surrounding the investigation, which only officially concluded several months ago. Roxy says Frank also helped her maintain her mental health as the agonizingly slow process moved forward.

  • Frank says he had to navigate two competing factors: handling the media fallout of the investigation, and handling the day-to-day legal steps of the investigation itself.

  • “The news cycle is one thing, but the legal process for resolving these things tends to be a lot longer and less in the spotlight,” Frank says. “I was focused on making sure she knew that we were going to get this sorted out. It was a little bit of legal advice, a little bit of practical advice.”

You can help too!: Unfortunately, election officials across the nation still face harassment and threats every day. There are still opportunities for lawyers like you to help like Frank helped Roxy!

  • Along with our work with The Brennan Center, WTA has partnered with the Election Official Legal Defense Network to match lawyers with election officials facing harassment and threats.

  • Click here to sign up with the Election Official Legal Defense Network. Election officials need help with a variety of issues, such as harassment, defamation, and employment problems, so you don’t need election law experience to volunteer.”

On behalf of 45,000+ volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Frank!

And thank you again to the 3,500 volunteer lawyers who donated more than 45,000 hours to 36 organizations working to make the midterm elections safe, secure, and accessible for every voter. Your work made an enormous difference in the 2022 midterms, and we’re so grateful to have you in our community.

A Thank You from Anna Chu, Executive Director of We The Action

I can’t believe it, but the 2022 midterm elections are mostly behind us. I know when I volunteered on past Election Days as a voter protection lawyer, I woke up the next day exhausted, and I’m sure many of you are feeling the same way this morning. So I’ll cut right to the chase: 

Thank you. Your work mattered.

Over the past year, nearly 3,500 volunteer lawyers donated more than 45,000 hours to 36 organizations working to make this election safe, secure, and accessible for every voter. Whether you answered voter questions through the national Election Protection hotline, represented local election officials facing harassment, helped create voter guides to empower young voters, or volunteered on another election protection project through We The Action, you made an enormous impact in the fight to defend voting rights.

From the bottom of my heart: Thank you for all the time and dedication. We know that not everyone has the same access to democracy yet, but your work helped voters across the country.

Our work is far from over, but I’m taking some time this morning to be grateful for lawyers like you.

With gratitude,

Anna Chu
Executive Director, We The Action

Ps. If you’re new to We The Action after signing up for an Election Protection Hotline shift — Welcome! Your Election Protection login gives you access to hundreds of opportunities for lawyers to volunteer with more than 500 nonprofits nationwide through We The Action.

We’re hosting demos of We The Action in the coming days — We hope you’ll join us and learn how we can help you find projects to work on the issues that matter most to you:

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Fighting for Abortion Access

Abortion rights continue to be under attack and lawyers like you are an important resource in the fight. From supporting abortion providers to protecting the vote in states where abortion is on the ballot, We The Action makes it easy to volunteer on the frontlines of today's most pressing concerns.

Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to a volunteer in our community of 45,000+ lawyers to recognize the impact they’ve made fighting for issues they believe in. This month’s award recipient used her time and talent to help a health care provider continue offering abortion services in the aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling.

Congratulations, Rachel Spitz!

The big picture: As the nation reeled following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling, Rachel turned her anger into action and helped an abortion provider in Georgia continue treating patients amid an uncertain legal landscape.

  • A “staunchly pro-choice” lawyer of 22 years licensed in Georgia, Rachel volunteered with Regulatory Assistance for Abortion Providers (RAAP), working in partnership with RAAP attorneys to help an abortion provider understand the available options to keep their doors open during a time of unparalleled uncertainty for patients and providers.

“A real sense that I could help”: When Rachel started volunteering, the Dobbs decision had already been leaked in the press, and her volunteer work became a positive outlet during an emotional time. 

  • “It was something constructive I could do in a time that felt bleak,” Rachel says. “The ability for patients to find care kept me going. It gave me a real sense that I could help while things were going to hell.”

Navigating the post-Roe landscape: State abortion laws have always been unique and complex, so the Dobbs decision impacted each state differently. RAAP relies on volunteer lawyers like Rachel to work with providers in each state to help them protect and expand abortion services.

  • In 2019, the Georgia state legislature passed a law that banned abortion after six weeks, but at the time the law was unconstitutional due to Roe v. Wade.

  • However, once the Dobbs decision became official, that six week abortion ban became law in Georgia, severely limiting the care that the state’s abortion providers could offer to their patients.

  • “We gave them the best advice we could, which kept them open,” Rachel says. “They had a lot of hard decisions to make, and they had limited options. It was harrowing for them and very sad for me.”

A direct impact: For two months, Rachel worked with the staff attorneys at RAAP to analyze Georgia state law and offer guidance to the provider to help them continue providing care to their clients.

  • Staff Attorneys for RAAP say the provider Rachel served is still open and providing abortion care in compliance with state law — and that Rachel made the difference.

  • “Rachel’s work had a direct impact on an abortion provider’s ability to stay open and continue providing abortion care in Georgia,” a RAAP attorney said.

“We could not do our work without our volunteer lawyers”: Want to join Rachel and help abortion providers keep their doors open? Click here to sign up with RAAP to volunteer as local counsel to an abortion provider!

  • “Just sign up!” Rachel says. “RAAP makes it really easy on you. It was honestly the best free time I‘ve spent lately.”

On behalf of 45,000+ volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Rachel!

Don’t forget: We’re days away from the midterm elections, and organizations need volunteer lawyers to help protect the vote! Click here to see how you can help ensure the election is safe, secure, and accessible for everyone!

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Helping Nonprofits Engage Voters

Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer in our community to recognize their dedication to fighting for the causes they believe in.

With the midterm elections fast approaching, this month’s award recipient is a lawyer who volunteered to help empower local nonprofits to engage and mobilize their communities to vote.

Congratulations, Katherine Mirassou!

The big picture: A recently-barred lawyer from California, Katherine volunteered with the Democracy Capacity Project to help create state-by-state guides to help local nonprofits navigate their state’s laws around voter engagement and turn out the vote in the midterms.

  • State laws vary considerably across the U.S., but they regulate much of the democracy-promoting work that nonprofit organizations do, including running voter registration drives, assisting voters with applying for a vote by mail ballot, organizing GOTV programs, and much more.

A passion for social justice: After spending several years working after getting her undergraduate degree, Katherine says she was drawn to practicing law by her interest in social justice issues.

  • Katherine started volunteering as a data entry volunteer for a local immigrants rights organization, but that experience would soon turn into a legal internship with the same group.

  • But once the pandemic made volunteering more difficult, Katherine says she missed giving back to her community and sought out online opportunities to volunteer.

Empowering nonprofits to engage voters: That’s how Katherine found We The Action and the Democracy Capacity Project, who were recruiting lawyers to research state election laws.

  • “I read the project description and it really seemed like something I wanted to be a part of,” Katherine says. “It was an opportunity to not only help out, but to expand my knowledge.”

The ‘magic sauce’: Katherine would eventually take on a larger role for the Democracy Capacity Project, creating training materials for other volunteer lawyers to help them better conduct their legal research and understand where to look for state-specific legal information.

  • “Smaller non profit organizations often struggle to find free, publicly-available, practical advice about how to comply with state laws surrounding their democracy-promoting work,” said Sue Zachman, Founder and Director of the Democracy Capacity Project. “Katherine brought such enthusiasm and a kind of ‘magic sauce’ to the work! She quickly became a leader in this project — helping us design both our volunteer data collection process and the content of the nonprofit-facing resource itself!”, 

Take a look for yourself: — 19 state guides are already live on the Democracy Capacity Project’s website!

  • These free resources empower nonprofit organizations operating in those states to design and run civic engagement, democracy support, and Get Out the Vote programs while complying with complex state laws and regulations governing those activities.

You can get involved too: Katherine emphasizes that whatever your availability, organizations are willing to work around your schedule and get you the training you need to get up to speed.

On behalf of 43,000+ volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Katherine!

We The Action Welcomes Anna Chu as New Executive Director

Today, We The Action announced that on September 1, Anna Chu began leading the organization as Executive Director. Anna joins WTA from the National Women’s Law Center where she served as Vice President for Strategy and Policy.

“I decided to practice law because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Anna says. “I believe the law can be an engine for change — especially among underrepresented communities — to protect the most vulnerable, fight for justice, and defend our values. At We The Action, we put those values to work and give lawyers of every experience level, every expertise, and from every ZIP code a chance to make a difference on the issues they care about most.  There’s an unprecedented need for volunteer lawyers nationwide, and I’m thrilled to join We The Action and continue growing this community as we fight for a more just and equitable nation.”

Anna brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Director of We The Action. At the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Anna shaped NWLC’s cross-cutting advocacy and policy work and led federal and state government relations. Prior to joining NWLC, Anna served as the Vice President of Policy and Research at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, leading its economic justice advocacy work. Chu attended the University of Southern California Law School and began her career as a law clerk to former Chief Judge Jane A. Restani in her sittings before the U.S. Court of International Trade and in six different federal appellate courts. She has also spent time as an attorney at Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP and as a policy advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Anna says she’s most excited about working at the intersection of the law, nonprofits, and activism to help drive change on the issues she cares about most. From fighting for reproductive justice, to defending the right to vote, to advocating for immigrant communities, Anna says that her vision for We The Action includes bringing diverse and underrepresented voices to the table to find innovative ways to engage the legal community and address the known and unforeseen challenges facing the nation.

“I’ve been a lawyer, and I’ve worked at nonprofits,” Anna says. “So I’ve seen both sides of We The Action’s work firsthand. I know how passionate lawyers are and how much impact they can have. And I know how even a few hours of free legal support can make a world of difference for organizations who work around the clock to improve their communities. Together, we can continue building on the incredible impact We The Action has made over the past five years.”

Anna’s hire comes as We The Action celebrates its fifth birthday. Since its founding in 2017, We The Action has built an expansive network of lawyers ready to volunteer their time and skills:

  • More than 42,000 volunteer lawyers have joined We The Action. That includes lawyers from all 50 states — plus DC, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Guam.

  • We The Action volunteer lawyers have donated nearly 260,000 hours of free legal services worth more than $110 million. 

  • We The Action has partnered with more than 500 nonprofits to provide the free legal support they need to make a difference in communities nationwide.

We The Action has also partnered with leading organizations and coalitions to ensure social justice movements have the legal support they need. For instance, WTA recently partnered with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a grassroots organization helping people with previous felony convictions restore their right to vote. Since the partnership launched, WTA has recruited more than 400 lawyers to work with returning citizens and help them navigate the re-enfranchisement process. To date, they’ve served more than 10,000 people.

“Anna has dedicated her career to addressing gender equity and economic inequality, utilizing her legal expertise to fight for justice,” said Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation. “Over the last five years, We The Action has made a stunning impact and we know the initiative will continue to thrive under Anna’s leadership and vision.”

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Helping Innovate Education Nonprofits

Every month, We The Action gives the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and volunteerism.

With the school year set to begin, we’re proud to give this month’s Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer who uses her expertise in copyright law to help innovative education nonprofits make an impact in communities nationwide.
We hope the profile below inspires you to volunteer for one of our 150+ active projects. And if you’re already volunteering – thank you!

Congratulations, Stephanie Abrutyn!

The big picture: A lawyer in New York with 30+ years of experience, Stephanie has volunteered on three different We The Action projects to help education innovation organizations navigate copyright law and other intellectual property questions.

  • After a long career, Stephanie says her schedule finally allowed her to explore something she’d been interested in for years: pro bono legal work.

  • “It’s only getting more and more expensive to get good legal advice,” she says. “When I decided to take a break from full-time employment — and after a couple months of sleep — I wanted to find an opportunity to contribute.”

A win-win: That urge to give back led her to We The Action, where she sought out projects with a defined time commitment in familiar areas of the law.

  • “I started looking for projects from organizations who needed my expertise and couldn’t find it in the paying legal marketplace,” she says. “It’s a win-win. I got to actually use my skills and experience, and they got the benefits of my help.”

“The perfect match for me”: With a background in copyright and intellectual law, Stephanie volunteered for projects where she could apply her specialized expertise.

  • For instance, Stephanie held an in-person training for one organization to help them understand fair use laws, consider the risks and tradeoffs of fair use, and answer questions for themselves.

  • “That project was the perfect match for me because I didn’t have to do a bunch of extra research to get up to speed,” she says. “But I also felt like I was doing something meaningful for them.”

Using her expertise to make an impact: In her work, Stephanie has helped nonprofits review policy agreements, navigate intellectual property questions.

  • For instance, Stephanie helped Deans for Impact, a national nonprofit organization working to improve how teachers are prepared, understand and navigate “fair use” questions to make the latest teaching materials widely available to the teachers and institutions they serve.

  • “It’s incredible that someone so accomplished who has so many demands on her time has gone above and beyond for us,” said Benjamin Riley, founder of Deans for Impact. “She helped us work through the practical applications and pros and cons of our work. It was so perfect, and we’ll be able to serve the education community in a broader fashion.”

The time for action: If you’re interested in trying pro bono work too, Stephanie says there is no learning curve when working with pro bono clients.

  • “The most important thing to remember is that these organizations are clients just like any other, except for they’re really thrilled to have your time.” Stephanie says.

On behalf of 42,000+ volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Stephanie!

Be sure to check out our 150+ active projects currently looking for volunteer lawyers. Whatever your experience, expertise, or availability, there's an opportunity for lawyers like you to make a difference!

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Channeling Hopelessness into Action

Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and dedication to building a more just and equitable society. In honor of our 5th anniversary this week, we’re proud to give the next Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer who has been with us since the very beginning and has completed several projects each year. 

We hope the profile below inspires you to volunteer for one of our 130+ active projects. And if you’re already volunteering – thank you!

Congratulations, Pushpa Bhat!

A Self-Described Voting Nerd: Pushpa Bhat didn’t grow up dreaming of being a lawyer. But accompanying her dad to the polls as a kid turned her into a “voting nerd.” 

  • While waiting for the results of her New York bar exam in 2016, Pushpa started volunteering for the voter protection hotline. “I really enjoy making sure people have the right information about voting. It sounds simple, but that information can be really hard to find state by state. Even as a voter, I had trouble navigating it.” 

  • Helping people vote has been the focus of her pro bono work since then. “Volunteering is a way of fending off feelings of hopelessness. I was feeling down in 2017 and I’m glad WTA existed to channel that feeling into something I can actually do.” 

“This isn’t something you just do in an election year”: After the 2016 election, Pushpa volunteered with a local group in New York to make voting more accessible. 

  • “I realized this isn’t something you just do in an election year. This is ongoing. During an important election, it needs to be all hands on deck. To be successful in the fall, you need a good foundation, and that takes time.” 

  • Pushpa has donated her time to our partners at Rock the Vote, When We All Vote, The Democracy Capacity Project, and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition – to name a few!

  • “This work would not be possible without volunteers like Pushpa,” says Sue Zachman, Director of The Democracy Capacity Project, an organization helping grassroots advocacy groups.

“Look for a project that speaks to you”: One of Pushpa’s favorite projects was with When We All Vote (WWAV) in 2020. She was tasked with making sure everything WWAV put on social media about voting was accurate. 

  • “I would see that the posts on social media were getting a lot of shares and clicks. I knew my work was impactful.” 

  • “Our work was made possible by volunteer lawyers like Pushpa who used her legal background to provide WWAV with up-to-the-minute information about the complex and frequently-changing election rules and deadlines across the country,” says Stephanie Young, Executive Director of WWAV and Senior Advisor of Civic Nation. 

  • Stephanie Young, continues, “Since 2020, we've seen more than 500 voter suppression bills introduced or passed in states across the nation. Now is not the time to be complacent, and we need the action and support of lawyers like Pushpa as we fight to protect our sacred right to vote.”  

You don't have to take our word for it: Pushpa shares We The Action’s passion for volunteerism and offers great advice for lawyers thinking about volunteering for the first time.

  • “There’s always something you can do to help. It doesn’t have to be a months-long thing. A couple hours of research can make an organization’s work so much easier.” 

  • If you’re inspired and you love voting rights as much as Pushpa, here are a few  project ideas for you! 

On behalf of 42,000+ volunteer lawyers:

Thank you, Pushpa!

LAST THOUGHT: We The Action has been connecting lawyers with causes for five years! In honor of our 5th anniversary, we want to give a special shoutout to three volunteers (and past Amicus Mundi Award recipients) that have been with us since the beginning and have received a WTA badge for completing 10 or more projects! A huge thank you to Corey Preston, Deborah Tuchman, and Jeremy Coffey! Thank you for supporting our nonprofit partners and helping us reach this milestone.

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Helping Fathers with Their Legal Needs

Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and commitment to justice and equity.

With Father’s Day right around the corner, this month’s Amicus Mundi Award goes to a lawyer who has gone above and beyond to support dads as they navigate mental and legal challenges to be better fathers to their children.

Congratulations, Catherine Kelleher!

The big picture: A lawyer from Massachusetts with 17 years experience, Catherine volunteers with Fathers' UpLift to help fathers navigate a variety of challenges – mental health, incarceration, or other legal obstacles, for instance — as they try to fulfill or regain their responsibilities as fathers.

  • Over the past year, Catherine has worked one-on-one with fathers to offer legal advice, given presentations on how to prepare for family court, and prepare their testimony to regain their parenting rights.

  • “If you don’t have the resources to have someone advocating for you, the system is really stacked against a lot of people,” Catherine says. “It’s really rewarding to make a difference in my community.”

A different kind of satisfaction: While her job is professionally and intellectually rewarding, she gets a different kind of satisfaction from volunteering.

  • Catherine says she particularly remembers working with fathers returning from incarceration and building a workbook with resources to help fathers address the most common legal obstacles they may face.

  • “Returning citizens already have so much to overcome, but there is very little legal guidance for them,” Catherine says. “I realized right away that it’s often very, very unclear what these dads should be doing [to regain their responsibilities as fathers.]”

Overcoming barriers: Leonard Tshitenge, Director of Coaching & Family Interventions for Fathers' UpLift says that many of the fathers they serve — who are largely low income and men of color — struggle to understand their parental rights and navigate the court system.

  • “We support fathers and work with them to overcome barriers so they can engage in their children’s life,” Leonard says. “The more that dads are prepared to engage with courts, the more it helps.”

“Our insider resources for dads”: Fathers' UpLift serves a wide variety of mental health needs for fathers and says navigating legal issues can be particularly stressful for their clients, but Catherine’s empathy and mindfulness makes her an outstanding advocate for them.

  • “We don’t want to overlook the fact that interacting with the court is a huge mental stressor,” Leonard says. “I’m glad there’s an attorney who understands the mental health aspect of this work. Catherine is our insider resource to support our dads.”

Call to Action: Catherine says she originally signed up to help Fathers' UpLift because it was a small time commitment and she believed in the mission, but it soon grew into a passion project for her.

  • “I don’t practice family law,” she says. “I’m not volunteering in my specialty, but I’m willing to learn it. As long as you have the skills you learned in law school, you can figure it out.”

Want to join Catherine and volunteer with Fathers' UpLift? Click here to sign up!

On behalf of 42,000+ volunteer lawyers:

Thank you, Catherine!

We The Action turns five next month! Help us celebrate this anniversary by signing up for one of our 140+ active volunteer projects.

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Registering Trademarks that Heal Trauma

Research from the National Alliance on Mental Health has shown that volunteering offers mental health benefits. Here at We The Action, we have witnessed this impact in conversations with our volunteers who often report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation after completing a project. In celebration of Mental Health Month, which ended a few days ago, and of the mental health benefits that volunteering can bring to all of us, we’re proud to give the next Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer who provided outstanding service to Deep Water Soul Care, an amazing nonprofit that positively impacts the mental health of individuals who have experienced trauma. 

We hope the profile below inspires you to sign up for one of our 100+ active volunteer projects. 

Congratulations, Jothi Ravindran!

A service centered life: Three weeks after 9/11, Jothi Ravindran started her career as a corporate lawyer in Boston. “I came home from my post-bar trip and the world was melting around me.” Jothi’s Jesuit education inspired her to look for ways to help.

  • “If someone asks me to do a service project, I truthfully typically say yes, which is probably how I ended up with two rescue dogs,” says Jothi. “Volunteering provides an opportunity to provide legal work that I don’t get to do in my day to day job.” 

  • Through We The Action, Jothi found a way to connect her passion for trademark work to service. “I feel like people don’t really appreciate trademark work and you don’t often see trademark volunteer projects. The We The Action platform made it easy. It’s great to have targeted projects that find you.” 

The project: Nathan Cooley founded Deep Water Soul Care to provide safe, healing experiences in nature. The nonprofit combines Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with professionally guided outdoor adventure trips to help people find relief from trauma. 

  • When Nathan started the process to trademark their name and logo, the work became time consuming and expensive. 

  • “Every dollar counts in a small nonprofit. Finding a volunteer lawyer was insanely valuable,” says Nathan. “[The money saved will] keep our fees low for our target audience, so this is accessible to everyone.” 

“A great experience”: The sense of meaning and appreciation, critical to the mental health benefits of volunteering, was felt by both parties. 

  • “The project was great, right in my wheelhouse. I got to meet an organization I didn’t have experience with and I was able to learn about something new,” says Jothi. 

  • “Right off the bat there was a lot of connection and laughter. She heard me and was able to provide a solution that fit our organization. Overall, it was incredible, easy and fun. A great experience,” says Nathan. 

  • The impact of having their trademark in place will be felt for years to come. “Jothi’s recommendations saved us thousands of dollars.” In addition to time and money saved, the organization will now be able to receive corporate sponsorship. 

You don't have to take our word for it: Jothi shares We The Action’s passion for volunteerism and offers great advice for lawyers thinking about volunteering for the first time.

  • “Volunteering is an opportunity to hone new skills. It can be fulfilling and it’s not all-consuming. If you have the time and energy, these clients will be thrilled for any contribution.”

  • If you’re inspired and you love trademarks as much as Jothi, here’s a project for you! 

On behalf of 42,000+ volunteer lawyers:

Thank you, Jothi!

We The Action turns five next month! Help us celebrate this anniversary by signing up for one of our 100+ active volunteer projects.

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Fighting COVID-Related Evictions

It’s the last week of National Volunteer Month! Throughout April, we’ve been celebrating the contributions of all 41,000 We The Action volunteer lawyers. Thank you for joining the celebration by donating half a million dollars in free legal services this month.


As the celebration comes to an end, it’s only fitting that we give the monthly Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who has been working tirelessly to help Texans impacted by COVID get the resources they need to avoid eviction. We hope this profile inspires you to sign up for one of our 100+ active volunteer projects.

Congratulations, Pat Zacharie!

The big picture: As COVID-related evictions in Texas skyrocketed, Pat volunteered with the Ellis County Homeless Coalition to monitor eviction proceedings and ensure people facing eviction had the support and resources they needed to advocate for themselves.

  • A Texan herself, Pat monitored weekly eviction hearings, verified that courts followed the federal eviction moratorium, and ensured people facing eviction were represented properly.


A career of volunteerism: A lawyer with 27 years experience, Pat first volunteered her legal expertise just a few years after she left law school, when she represented a woman who had been denied social security benefits.

  • “There are people for whom the legal process seems intimidating,” Pat says. “Being able to help them with the skills I’ve gained — that’s one of the things I appreciate most about being a lawyer.”


An advocate for tenants: After volunteering during the 2020 elections to answer voter questions, Pat signed up with the Ellis County Homeless Coalition to help support the people most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Since then, Pat has been advocating for tenants in countless ways: monitoring eviction hearings, holding information sessions for tenants and legal aid attorneys alike, ensuring both tenants and the courts had up-to-date resources to avoid eviction, and more.

  • “There is this sense that homeless people are somehow responsible for being homeless,” Pat says. “But I’ve seen firsthand that’s not the case at all.”


“The best way to use my legal skills”: Though she’s been volunteering most of her life, Pat says that she’s particularly able to make an impact using her legal skills because it allows her to help people navigate their darkest moments.

  • James Bell, President of the Ellis County Homeless Coalition agrees. “Patricia was responsive to all our needs in a timely manner and worked tirelessly with our volunteers to coordinate with four courts in Ellis County,” he says. “It helped us educate the public about evictions and the process.”


“Something that has stayed with me”: Pat says that volunteering is one of the most rewarding things a lawyer can do, and it doesn’t have to take much time.

On behalf of 41,000+ volunteer lawyers: Thank you, Pat!

And thank you to every We The Action lawyer who dedicates their time year round to building a more just and equitable nation. National Volunteer Month may be over, but at We The Action, we celebrate you year round!

3 Ways Lawyers Like You Are Making a Difference

Happy National Volunteer Week! This week recognizes the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges. Already this year, lawyers like you have donated more than $2 million in free legal services to We The Action’s nonprofit partners. To celebrate our favorite week, we wanted to tell you about the impact you are having:

Three Ways Lawyers Like You Are Making a Difference (and Still Can!) in 2022

1. Protecting our Right to Vote
More than 250 volunteers have donated close to 2,500 hours this year in preparation for the midterm elections. You are staffing the national nonpartisan voter hotline, researching vote-by-mail rules for BlockPower, examining state election laws for When We All Vote, and are preparing to help the Election Official Legal Defense Network defend threatened election administrators.

2. Welcoming Afghan Evacuees by Offering Legal Support
50 volunteers joined the Welcome Legal Alliance's effort to connect with Afghan refugees seeking legal assistance. Twelve nonprofits have joined the alliance and projects are available for every legal background and schedule.

3. Ending Disenfranchisement and Discrimination Against People with Convictions
Volunteers have researched 12,621 cases to help people with previous felony convictions restore their right to vote. And there is still time to make a difference in this effort — You can join FRRC and lawyers from across the country this Friday from 1 - 3 PM ET for a training and Researchathon!

Need Some Inspiration? Read About Our 2022 Amicus Mundi Award Winners

From all of us at We The Action, happy National Volunteer Week and thank you for your commitment to volunteerism.

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy spring.

We The Action's Statement on the Confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

With the Senate’s vote to confirm Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, We The Action issued the following statement:

As the first Black woman  — and the first public defender— to ever serve on the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson promises to bring a fresh perspective to the Supreme Court. Throughout her years of dedicated public service, Justice Jackson has demonstrated a deep respect for the rule of law that recognizes the impact that rulings have on the people impacted.

Since our nation’s birth, the Supreme Court has sorely missed the perspectives of Black women, and today’s confirmation is a first step in addressing that failure. We’re also thrilled someone with such deep experience serving the public and working with vulnerable populations will sit on the Supreme Court.

We The Action was formed on the fundamental belief that lawyers have the power to advance justice and equity, and Justice Jackson’s career proves it. Her example will serve as an inspiration to the legal community and the nation for years to come. We join the legal community in celebrating this historic confirmation.

We The Action is the nation’s largest platform mobilizing the legal community towards pro bono projects working on the more pressing issues facing the country. In the last five years, We The Action’s community of 41,000+ volunteer lawyers have donated more than 250,000 hours of legal support worth nearly $106 million to projects by nearly 450 nonprofit organizations supporting immigrant communities, protecting the right to vote, advocating for racial justice, and more.

Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Honoring Her Ancestors by Empowering Black Voters

Happy National Volunteer Month! This month is dedicated to honoring all of the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism. To celebrate, we’re announcing our next Amicus Mundi Award winner. Award winners exemplify our shared values of service and dedication to building a more just and equitable society and are nominated by our 450+ nonprofit partners. We hope the profile below inspires you to sign up for one of our 88 active volunteer projects. 

We’re proud to give the next Amicus Mundi Award to a lawyer who honors her ancestors by empowering and mobilizing Black voters.

Congratulations, Laurel G. Yancey!

Honoring her ancestors: In January of 2021, Laurel G. Yancey opened an email in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In the email, We The Action asked Laurel to volunteer with our partners at BlockPower to celebrate the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.

  • “BlockPower was highlighted as an organization with a worthy project focused on empowering and mobilizing black voters. I thought ‘This is really innovative!’” says Laurel. She signed up because the project was a perfect combination of her legal expertise and passion for protecting voter rights.

  • Laurel follows in the footsteps of her ancestors, including lawyers who have advocated for equal justice and civil rights. “In 1779, my African-born male ancestor petitioned the State legislature in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to abolish slavery. Two of his descendants fought for civil rights as practicing attorneys in Massachusetts. Pursuing equal justice is in my blood, literally.” 

The project: According to Karthik Balasubramanian, Co-founder of BlockPower, “no one has figured out how to connect with people that don’t vote on a regular basis. And this status quo leaves out 30% of the population.” 

  • BlockPower is on a mission to increase voter turnout among Black citizens who don’t vote regularly. They do this by mobilizing Community Ambassador networks to expand voter outreach and increase civic engagement.

  • The organization came to We The Action because they needed legal advice related to the collection of data on voters. 

“She made an impact on our entire program”: For the past year, Laurel has volunteered well over 50 hours to help lay the groundwork for this new model of voter engagement. 

  • Karthik was quick to praise Laurel for her curiosity and willingness to jump in. “She believes in the cause and the mission, she made an impact on our entire program.”

  • Laurel’s work allowed BlockPower to confidently deploy its Community Ambassador program knowing that it could communicate with ambassadors and store their information in a safe, legal way.

You don't have to take our word for it: Laurel shares We The Action’s passion for volunteerism and offered great advice for lawyers thinking about volunteering for the first time.

  • “Voluntary pro bono public service is foremost a professional responsibility. A lawyer can fulfill this professional responsibility by joining We The Action. The platform presents worthy pro bono projects when most needed and identifies important causes seeking a variety of legal expertise.” 

  • We couldn’t say it any better! 

Want to help us celebrate National Volunteer Month? Sign up for one of our 88 active volunteer projects and invite your friends to join We The Action. You can even be like Laurel and volunteer with BlockPower!


On behalf of 41,000+ volunteer lawyers:

Thank you, Laurel!