MENG & ASSOCIATES (M&A) recognizes the importance of giving back to the communities where we are privileged to practice. Above and beyond what may be required by law, we believe that as a Firm and as individuals we have ethical and moral obligations to provide pro bono legal services to the low income individuals as well as to non-profit organizations. M&A strives to ensure that pro bono service is part of the practice of every lawyer and is committed to achieving the goal of contributing each year at least 30 billable firm hours to the provision of pro bono legal services to the poor.

Every lawyer and staff member is urged to provide volunteer service by supporting the work of social service organizations, charities and other groups helping the disadvantaged, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, serving food at a soup kitchen or working on a Habitat for Humanity project. While this is not “pro bono time”, it should continue and individual projects may be recognized by the firm from time to time.

Who are eligible for pro bono legal services from M&A?

• Low income persons; and
• Charitable, religious, community, educational organizations which operate on a not-for-profit basis and serve low income individuals or important societal needs.

Matters and Natures of Excluded Case

Although some of the following legal services might fall within the definition of pro bono legal services, M&A has, as a matter of policy, excluded the followings from our internal definition of pro bono time:

• Favours for friends or family members of attorneys, staff members or other employees of the Firm;
• Favours to clients;
• Legal services provided for employees of a paying client of the Firm;
• Business development (including legal services performed with the expectation of a fee either in the instant matter or in a future matter for that client or for a related client);
• Personally-affiliated religious and educational organizations (unless that work solely involves the charitable works of that institution or involves the provision of other direct benefits for low income individuals);
• Community service activities; and
• Board and Trustee Service

Please contact M&A on how to avail yourself of our pro bono legal services.